Palle Mikkelborg

Palle Mikkelborg
Mikkelborg, performing at the Moers Festival, 2010
Background information
Born (1941-03-06) 6 March 1941
Copenhagen, Denmark
GenresJazz, jazz fusion
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, arranger, record producer
Instrument(s)Trumpet and flugelhorn
Years active1960–present
LabelsECM

Palle Mikkelborg (born 6 March 1941) is a Danish jazz trumpet player, composer, arranger and record producer.

He is self-taught on the trumpet, although he studied conducting at the Royal Music Conservatory in Copenhagen. He became a professional musician in 1960 and joined the Danish Radiojazzgruppen three years later. Mikkelborg became their leader in 1967 and retained that position until 1972. In addition, he was a member of the Radioens Big Band over a similar time frame. He played trumpet in both, but also wrote, arranged, and conducted both. Forming a jazz quintet with drummer, Alex Riel they performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival and Newport Jazz Festival (1968). He later led an octet, V8, in the 1970s, and another outfit, Entrance, from the mid-1970s until 1985. His compositions were made for various ensembles, including extended pieces for larger outfits.

In 1984, he composed Aura, a tribute to Miles Davis.