The Firebirds – Banke, Filipsen & Pasborg

The acclaimed and genre-defying Danish trio The Firebirds – Banke, Filipsen & Pasborg strives to fuse 20th-century classical repertoire with their unique blend, combining improvisational jazz and a distinctive 1970s sound. The trio consists of saxophonist and clarinettist Anders Banke, keyboardist Anders Filipsen and drummer Stefan Pasborg.

In 2015, the trio made their debut as The Firebirds with an album featuring excerpts from Stravinsky’s The Firebird Suite and The Rite of Spring . Their second album, Aladdin’s Dream from 2017, paid homage the Danish national composer Carl Nielsen. In 2017, the New York City Jazz Record labeled The Firebirds ‘one of Europe’s most compelling ensembles’.

The Firebirds have performed over 50 concerts across Europe and have appeared at festivals in Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Serbia, and Scandinavia. They have collaborated with ensembles such as the Esbjerg Ensemble, the Carl Nielsen Quintet, the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra and the Blood, Sweat, Drum ’n Bass Big Band