Since Michael Mantler's return to Europe in 1991 he has met a number of Scandinavian musicians who have become involved in his recent projects.

With Mona Larsen he has found yet another exceptionally interesting voice who has contributed an unparalleled emotional depth to his Cerco Un Paese Innocente album (singing brilliantly in Italian - not her native language...!). She has also been a member of his Chamber Music and Songs Ensemble (Songs and One Symphony) and appears in an important role in The School of Understanding.

She is one of Europe's finest singers and has worked with many musicians and groups including Palle Mikkelborg, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Thomas Clausen, Thad Jones, Clark Terry, the Danish Radio Big Band, the WDR (Cologne) Big Band and the Danish Radio Concert Orchestra. Her rock-oriented Halberg/Larsen Band was one of Denmark's most popular commercial groups for years, also marking her debut as composer/lyricist. She has recorded many albums, including Ships In The Night (with pianist Jørgen Emborg), as well as Freedom Jazz Dance (a collaboration with singer Norma Winstone). She has frequently performed live with Emborg as well as with with her own quintet with Lotte Anker and continues to appear often with Thomas Clausen. A trio project with Kim Kristensen and Fredrik Lundin was released on CD as Erindringens Brønd. Her most recent recording is Never Let Me Go

More (and most recent) information at the Mona Larsen Home Page.

Another find from the Danish jazz scene was guitarist Bjarne Roupé, continuing the tradition of electric (and in this case, also acoustic) guitar soloists in Mantler's music as a member of the Chamber Music and Songs Ensemble and participating in the Cerco Un Paese Innocente and School of Understanding recordings and performances. His most recent appearances with Mantler are on his Songs and One Symphony album and on his latest release Hide and Seek.

He is a well-known and immensely experienced musician who has performed and recorded with a multitude of musicians and groups, including the Danish Radio Big Band, Palle Mikkelborg and Miles Davis (Aura), the group Ocean Fables with Marilyn Mazur, Bo Stief's Chasing Dreams, as well as his own groups. He also works freelance in the theaters and recording studios and teaches at Copenhagen's Rytmisk Musikkonservatorium.

His latest collaboration with Mantler was his appearance as soloist in his Concertos project at the Berlin JazzFest 2007.

Kim Kristensen, also involved in Mantler's recent live and recording projects (Cerco Un Paese Innocente, School of Understanding and Songs and One Symphony), has led various ensembles of his own as composer and keyboardist, and his group Ildvæverne was featured and recorded during the Jazzpar Prize concerts 1993. He has appeared with many groups live and on records, among them Ocean Fables and Frederik Lundin/Trine-Lise Væring. His compositions have been performed by the Danish Radio Concert Orchestra, Ars Nova, Jazzgroup 90, the New Music Orchestra, the Danish Radio Big Band, the New Danish Saxophonquartet, the Esbjeg Chamber Ensemble and the Copenhagen Art Ensemble. He has also composed music for the theater and collaborated on a project with painter Bjarne Werner Sørensen. Among his recent record releases are Nomads of Tomorrow with Jens Winther, Erindringens Brønd with Mona Larsen, Visible Secrets with his SOUK trio, and Streaming Steps with the Letmark Quartet.

More (and most recent) information at the Kim Kristensen Home Page.

Susi Hyldgaard first worked with Michael Mantler in the recording and performances of The School of Understanding and their latest collaboration is Hide and Seek, featuring her voice as well as her accordion playing, not only on the recording, but also in its theatrical productions.

She is one of Denmark's most exciting and original multitalented artists (singer, songwriter, instrumentalist). Her debut CD My Female Family, supported by live and TV appearances, produced not only intense media interest in general, but also unanimous critical acclaim. This was followed by Something Special Just  For  You, which was equally well-received, and in 1999 she won a Danish GRAMMY award.

Having been classically trained as pianist and singer, she already won Berlingske Tidendes Musikpris at the age of 16. Her continuing interest in other types of music has also led her to study voice in India, as well as to attending Berklee College in the USA, and even to working for Danmarks Radio's classical music program Bolero as journalist/broadcaster.

She has participated in a variety of recordings and performances with, among others, Go 4, Dalia Faitelson and Marilyn Mazur. She continues record and to tour throughout Europe with her own bands. Her latest solo release is Magic Words.

More (and most recent) information at the Susi Hyldgaard Homepage.

Per Jørgensen, who brilliantly appeared in the important role of the "Teacher" in Mantler's recording and live productions of The School of Understanding, has been a major creative force on Norway's jazz scene for many years. Although appearing here as a singer, his main instrument is actually the trumpet.

Played early on with various bands in Norway, among them the African-inspired Tamma E'Olen, reflecting his growing interest in ethnic music. His first band as a leader was Artists Decided, which was also involved in projects with painter and performance artist Kurt Johannesen.

His musical ideas were later continued and developed together with pianist Jon Balke and drummer Audun Kleive, forming the trio Jøkleba. He has toured extensively in Europe, USA, Japan and India, as well as released a number of recordings, the latest one being Jøkleba Live.

He has also worked with many other well-known Scandinavian groups, including Pierre Dørge's New Jungle Orchestra, Marilyn Mazur's Pulse Unit and Jon Balke's Magnetic North Orchestra, and has recently appeared in duo performances with singer Cæcilie Norby. He was awarded the Jossa-Jazz Pris and was elected "Jazz Musician of the Year" by the Norwegian Jazz Musicians Association.

His most recent collaboration with Michael Mantler was during the live performances of Hide and Seek.