Mikkel Ploug Trio - At Black Tornado (2015)

'At Black Tornado' is the debut Whirlwind Recordings release from Danish guitarist Mikkel Ploug, who has released six previous albums to worldwide acclaim.

This outing features his long standing trio who have performed together extensively on a global scale the past ten years and captures the feel, fun, groove and joy of three like-minded musicians. With Jeppe Skovbakke on double bass and Sean Carpio on drums, the trio has often toured and recorded in company of renown musicians such as Mark Turner and Loren Stillman, but the goal of this record was to capture the aesthetics they have come to inhabit as their own sound.

From the first track on the album it is apparent Mikkel's trio is completely at ease with itself, as they settle into the feel and slowly allow the music to develop and evolve organically while hinting and exploring the DNA of the composition. Their group sound in part stems from the mix of Carpio's ever evolving, longsighted rhythmic variations; the melodic and chordal Monk-inspired quirk of Mikkel's phrasing along with his signature dusty and woody guitar tone; and Jeppe's 1950's inspired high string height - think no amp - double bass sound with the rootedness he brings as a result of touring with the popular Indie Rock band I Got You On Tape.

Personnel: Mikkel Ploug (guitar), Jeppe Skovbakke (double bass), Sean Carpio (drums)