“Mikkel Ploug is the latest sensation in European jazz guitar with a personal voice and sound that shines.”
— La Vanguardia

Danish guitarist and composer Mikkel Ploug (b.1978) has performed all over Europe, Brazil and the US with his bands Mikkel Ploug Group, Mikkel Ploug Trio and Equilibrium. He has recorded three albums for Spanish label Fresh Sounds New Talent, three for the Canadian label Songlines Recordings and one album for the London-based imprint Whirlwind Recordings. Mikkel has performed as a soloist with The Royal Ballet in Copenhagen and works with US choreographer Tilman O’Donnell. He is a sideman with danish popartist Tue West and has worked as a sideman in Sean Carpio’s Wowos and for NYC alto player Pete Robbins Transatlantic and as an opening act for Wayne Shorter. Mikkel who started out on drums at the age of four has a master awarded with a distingtion for composition from the Royal Conservatory in the Hague, Holland, he has lived in Berlin, and now resides in Copenhagen.

Performances:

Brazil, USA, Ireland, Spain, Belgium, France, Germany, Czech Republic, Holland, England, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Slovakia, Poland, Italy, Switzerland. Mikkel has appeared at Elb Jazz Festival, Savassi Festival Belo Horizonte, Northsea Festival The Hague, Brey Jazzfestival, Copenhagen Jazzfestival, Spalicek Festival, United Islands Prague, Musik i Lejet. and at clubs like Pizza Express (London) Jamboree (Barcelona), Sunset (Paris), A-Trane (Berlin), Unterfahrt (Munchen) Oslo Nasjonalscene (Oslo) Jazzhouse (Copenhagen) Moods (Zurich) Singen Jazzclub (Singen) and many more.

Performed as a leader and sideman with:

Mark Turner, Loren Stillman, Bill McHenry, Theo Bleckman, Pete Robbins, Tommy Crane, Joachim Badenhorst, Sissel Vera Pettersen, Jeppe Skovbakke, Rebecca Collins, Marlon Browden, Sean Carpio, Kresten Osgood, Anders Christensen, Mikkel Hess, Niels Lykkegaard, Kenny Wheeler, Eivind Opsvik, Robin Fincker, Simon Jermyn, Jonas Westergaard, Hugo Rasmussen, Kevin Brow, Niels Vincentz, Flin Van Hemmen, Robert Stillman, The Unusual History Of Ether and many more.

Teaching:

Mikkel has worked as an external expert for master exams at University of Basel and the Conservatory of Luzern. He has taught as a guest teacher at Prague International Jazz Workshop, Conservatory of Würzburg, Jydsk Conservatory Stævne Uge, Århus, Odense and Rytmisk Conservatory in Copenhagen.

Lectures:

Mikkel gives lecture on harmonies in human speech. The project is entitled “The Hidden Composition”.

Education:

Mikkel received his master from the royal conservatory of the hague in 2005 and was awarded a distinction for his original compositions. Mikkel originally started out on drums at the age of four before changing to guitar at twelve.

Various:

Board of direction Jazz Danmark
Lecture at Conference for Danish Venues
Danish Radio liverecording at Copenhagen Jazzhouse
Support for Wayne Shorter