Flemming Agerskov is known as one of Scandinavias most lyrical and melodic instrumentalist. Recognized as a trumpetplayer who is capable of playing with a warm sonority and always seeking his own melodic lines in the different languages of improvised music.

In particular his dark and airy sound on flugelhorn is a voice which enhances meditative and spatial elements of music. Although playing jazz and improvised music, Agerskov has been associated a lot with a nordic sound aproach to trumpet playing due to simplicity and transparancy in his improvisations.  The norwegian jazz critic Jan Granlie has compared him with british/canadian trumpetplayer Kenny Wheeler.  

He has, howewer, played in a broad variety of styles from freejazz and electronic groups as well as recording with many pop/rock groups.

Among them the CV Jørgensen Band from 1994 – 2003.

 

 

With a discography of more than 100 recordings he is heard on recordings in the styles of jazz, pop/rock, electronics and nordic jazz and crossover. As a composer he writes for small ensembles in an often chamber resembled style emphasizing colour and minimalism.

He has been recording several albums in the legendary Rainbow Studio in Oslo with Jan Erik Kongshaug as an engineer with such diverse groups as his own Face to Face, the electronic avantgarde trio Takuan, Danish Music Award Winner 2001, and the trio Binocular with Italian accordionist Francesco Cali and Japanese pianist Makiko Hirabayashi.

 

 

Apart from the influcence from jazz he has been exploring the aesthetics of music from eastern traditions as well as music from folk and religious music. Music traditions with more focus on melodic lines and sound –The religious music from European middle age or from Japanese masters like Kōhachiro Miyata 宮田 耕八朗 - and Hōzan Yamamoto 山本 邦山. French compersers like Olivier Messiaen, Jacques Ibert, Maurice Ravel, Henri Dutilleux and contemporary composers Steve Reich, Morton Feldman and Arvo Pärt are among his inspirations.

 

From these influences also an interest for improvisation emerge. Improvisation as a language in close dialogue with both western classical contemporary composition, jazz - related music and idioms and of course ethnic music forms. 

 

 

Played and recorded with great foreign musicians like

Julian Argüelles (UK), Ray Charles (US), Bob Brookmeyer (US), Lee Konitz(US),  Tim Berne (US), Bob Berg(US), Bob Mintzer (US), Iain Ballamy (UK), Duke Jordan (US), Thomas Strønen (N), Marc Ducret (FR), Eliane Elias (BR), Martin France (UK), David Braid (CA), Marilyn Mazur (DK), Francesco Cali (IT) Makiko Hirabayashi (JP), Ars Nova (DK), Egberto Gismonti (BR), Marc Johnson (US), Bob Berg (US) Fred Wesley (US), Bobo Stenson (S), Joakim Milder(S), Gustavo Toker(AR), Arkhady Shilkloper (RU), Mats Eilertsen (N) Jon Balke (N), Josefine Cronholm (S), Ulf Wakenius (S), Herman Müntzing (S), Takuan, Peter Danemo (S), Krister Jonsson (S) Jakob Karlzon (S) Hans Andersson, Thomas Gustafsson(S), Herb Pomeroy(US), Tolvan Big Band.

 

Played and recorded with great danish musicians like

C.V. Jørgensen, Kresten Osgood, Fredrik Lundin, Christina von Bülow, Thomas Clausen, Sanne Salomonsen, Jacob Anderskov,

Anders Christensen, Erling Kroner, Nils Davidsen, Randi Laubæk, Simon Spang Hanssen, Kasper Winding, Morten Kargaard, Lisbeth Diers, Jeppe Kjellberg, Hans Ulrik, Jonas Johansen, Aske Jacoby, Ben Besiakow, Lars Togeby, Bjarne Rostvold, Thomas Blachman, Torben Westergaard, 

New Music Orchestra, Copenhagen Art Ensemble, Jazzgruppe 90, Toneart Decagon.

 

Awards

• Danish Music Award 2001 Takuan – Push to Participate.

• Platinum Award CV Jørgensen Fraklip Fra Det Fjerne 2002

• 1. Prizewinner of 1991 Contest for jazz trumpet players in the Danish Radio Concert Hall

• Prizewinner at The International Jazz Contest in Prague with the trio Gert Frisch/Fredrik Lundin/Flemming Agerskov 1990.

 

 

Compositions

Composed more than 300 songs/compositions for a broad variety of constellations

 

 

Compositions for projects like

• Binocular                                              Trio with Makiko Hirabayashi and Francesco Calí /Stunt Records

• Göteborg Art Sounds 2012                Relay Meeting - Gas Festival

• Face To Face                                         Own group Martin France/Julian ArgüellesHans Andersson/Pet Danemo Dacapo 1999

• Danish Design School                         Commisioned work for 125 years anniversary jubilee in 2000.

• Decoy Quintet                                      Olufsen Records

• Takuan                                                  Takuan and Push To Participate (Danish Music Award 2001

• Flemming Agerskov Trio                    Original music for his own trio

• Copenhagen Art Ensemble                ”Matutin” composition for Jazzgruppe 90

• Eliane Elias Group                               Elias/Mazur/Johnson/Ulrik/Agerskov Tour Jazzvisits, Stunt 1999

• Discovery Of Slowmotion                  Electronic duoproject with Jeppe Kjellberg

• "POV" film af Tomas Gislasson         Musik af Kasper Winding/Thomas Blachmann/Flemming Agerskov

 

Youth and Studies

Born 29. September 1963 in Holstebro - Jutland

Started to play the trumpet at the age of 8 and started at MGK in 1980. 

Studied at the Royal Academy Of Music in Aarhus from 1983-1985 studying classical trumpet while playing improvised music in different bands alongside studies. Joined masterclasses with professor Bengt Eklund Gothenburg, Sweden and Vincent Chicowicz, Chicago Symphony Orchestra. 

 

Went to Japan, going into the 3rd year of conservatory studies, and lived in Kyoto for a year while playing live jazz in REPOS NIGHTCLUB with a japanese quartet. An intense period of playing 350 gigs in one year - enhancing experience. 

The influence of the japanese culture, aesthetics and art, led to a lifelong interest for japanese culture and language.

 

Back in Copenhagen in the summer of 1986 he began playing with respected musicians on records, at concerts, festivals and touring around Scandinavia and the rest of Europe.

 

Began teaching at Rythmic Music Conservatory in the beginning of the 90´.

Became an Associate Professor in 1994 and got deeply involved in the questions and methods you are dealing with as a young musician. Wrote a book on integrated eartraining in cooperation with H. Sveidahl. 

 

Currently teaching at DKDM (Royal Danish Music Conservatory) RMC (Rythmic Music Conservatory) MGK Helsingør and occassionally at 

Musikhögskolan i Malmö/Konstnaliga Fakulteten Vid Lunds Universitet.

 

Giving lectures on music & learning aspects and holding clinics and workshops in the fields of improvisation, imitation, eartraining etc.