Over the years their collective composition and improvisation gradually developed. All three musicians are accomplished composers and improvisers. Palle Mikkelborg is a living legend, well known as one of Denmark’s most highly acclaimed jazz musician and composers. Michael Riessler is a leading performer of contemporary music based in Munich, Germany. He is also an active jazz improviser and a prolific composer, who has created numerous film scores. Wayne Siegel is an American born composer living in Denmark who composes music in many genres from electronic to orchestral. He often performs using his “motion-tracking system”, a computer-based instrument of his own invention that allows him to control electronic sounds by moving his hands.
Each year from 2014 to 2024 these three musicians were invited to visit the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Humlebæk, Denmark. They stayed at the museum’s guest house overlooking the sea for two weekends in August. With plenty of good food and wine, they met to talk, enjoy the museum and the seaside, and to play music. Besides a deepening friendship, this collaboration resulted in a series of outdoor concert performances in the sculpture park on the beautiful grounds of the iconic museum.
Louisiana Ritual, available from Da Capo Records, Denmark
The tracks on this album were all recorded at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. After performing together in the sculpture park for ten consecutive years, the trio decided it was time to record some of their collaborative works. They met for two days in November, 2023 for two long recording sessions in the museum’s beautiful concert hall. Two videos with music from these recordings were produced by the respected French music video director Stéphan Aubé and released on the Louisiana Music channel (see the links). In addition to these “studio” recordings, this album includes an unedited recording from August 2019 of the trio performing live in the sculpture garden.