Jesper Thilo

From 1970 onward, Danish reed player Jesper Thilo ranked among Europe's foremost straight-ahead jazz figures. He joined American musicians on numerous sessions while also documenting work with Danish colleagues. His tenor saxophone approach recalled Zoot Sims. Thilo doubled on alto saxophone and clarinet on occasion. His first date as leader appeared on Storyville in 1973. Storyville projects from the 1980s and 1990s placed him with sidemen that included Hank Jones, Kenny Drew, Clark Terry, Roland Hanna, and Harry "Sweets" Edison. He performed on Miles Davis' Aura, issued by Columbia in 1989 and featuring compositions and arrangements by fellow Dane Palle Mikkelborg. After 2000 he sustained an active recording career across assorted labels, among them several Stunt Records releases: Remembering Those That Were (2009), On Clarinet (2010), and Scott Hamilton Meets Jesper Thilo (2011).