Melodic Illusions for Sextet Kasper Tranberg

• 1 Mirage 04:55
• 2 Eidolon 08:19
• 3 Assemblages 10:43
• 4 Phantoms 09:44
• 5 Apparition 02:30
• 6 South Sound Spectre 10:10
• 7 Stella Maris 08:41
• Total Runtime 55:02

Info for Melodic Illusions for Sextet

New release from danish jazz heavy weight, Kasper Tranberg featuring a high-profile European sextet.


Melodic Illusions for Sextet explores melody as a collective, shifting space through intense ensemble interaction. Featuring six leading figures from the European improvisation scene, the album explores melody as a shared, multidimensional space. Through layered roles, collective energy and intense listening, the sextet creates music where melodic function, expression and illusion constantly changes. Drawing inspiration from contemporary jazz, electronic music and art-rock, the album challenges conventional jazz aesthetics, while remaining grounded in strong ensemble interplay and presence.

Tranberg is described as a unifying force in Danish jazz and improvised music. This release cements his significant position on the global music map. It’s a fabulating and explosive work with powerful ensemble interplay and strikingly present performances from each unique voice.

Kasper Tranberg, trumpet
Maria Faust, alto saxophone
Philip Zoubek, piano & keyboards
Carl Ludwig Hübsch, tuba & voice
Anja Jacobsen, percussion & voice
Oli Steidle, drums & percussion

Recorded at RMC, Copenhagen, May 20–21, 2025
Mixed & mastered June 2025 by John Fomsgaard, Karma Crew

Kasper Tranberg
(b. 1971) is a composing improviser who plays cornet and trumpet and likes poetry. Kasper took up the trumpet at the age of ten and was playing in local march and brass bands soon.

Early studies with Prof. Søren Emtoft from The Royal Conservatory of Music, Denmark. Aged 19 Kasper began studies at Berklee College of Music in Boston, US where his main teachers were legendary Herb Pomeroy and trumpeter Greg Hopkins. In 1993 Kasper returned to Copenhagen and got his first major gig with Mercer Ellington at The Duke Ellington Conference in 1994.

At the same time guitarist Niclas Knudsen and Kasper had formed the quartet “When Granny Sleeps” which recorded three successful albums with a.o. David Liebman and Ray Anderson. The band toured in Europe and also performed at The Bell Atlantic Jazz Festival in New York, US.

In the late 1990’s Kasper and guitarist Jonas Struck formed the band BUGPOWDER with space-trombonist Mads Hyhne and drummer Laust Sonne. The hard hitting unit recorded two albums, performed quite a bit and was nominated to a Nordic Music Council Award for the album “Autoabsence” released on Kaspers label Bugpowder Records formed in 1998.

Kasper also worked and recorded with many important Danish artists like : Pierre Dørge, Ib Glindeman, Hugo Rasmussen, Lars HUG, Bent Jædig, Paul Banks, Swan Lee, Mew, Fredrik Lundin, T.S Hawk, C.V. Jørgensen, John Tchicai, Savage Rose, Jesper Zeuthen and Jakob Anderskov among many others.

Kasper performed and recorded as a sideman with international artist like : Marc Ducret, Steve Swallow, Tim Berne, Michael Blake, Django Bates, Tyshawn Sorey, Gianluigi Trovesi, Yusef Lateef and Adam Rudolph.

This album contains no booklet.