Jakob Bro has never sounded more brooding and stark than here on Strands. And we'd put that factor down to the mesmerising presence on this Danish supergroup of a trio of Palle Mikkelborg whose atmospheric trumpet playing is matched by the ever expansive percussive ideas from Marilyn Mazur. A live album recorded at the Danish Radio Concert Hall earlier this year drawing on music from guitarist Bro's albums Returnings and Gefion, there is a beautful aching quality to the development of the pieces that always take their time and linger long in the imagination. Mikkelborg is superb throughout - I'd pick out 'Returnings' with its generous smears and dirty bluesiness as some of his best playing. And the spirit of Miles Davis you could even say hovers over the record, not surprising perhaps given both Mikkelborg and Mazur both collaborated with Miles. As for Bro he continues to conjure remarkable modal moods and on the title track particularly the sheer humanity of his sound shines through and always arrives kind of blue. SG

l-r: Palle Mikkelborg, Marilyn Mazur, Jakob Bro, photo: Jakob Jepsen/ECM