Poems: Ursula Andkjær Olsen - Music: Jakob Davidsen Release August 21, 2026
Anders Banke
Saxophone & clarinet
ANDERS BANKE, born 1971, is a versatile Danish saxophonist and clarinetist whose career spans a wide range of musical genres and international collaborations. He has performed and toured with numerous bands and orchestras around the world, appeared on more than 100 recordings, and led and composed music for his own projects, with a particular focus on the creative intersection between composition and improvisation.
His stylistic work is notably broad. In the classical field, he has performed with ensembles associated with the Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR), contributing to orchestral and chamber music settings. In popular music, he has collaborated with acts such as The Antonelli Orchestra and Rasmus Seebach, demonstrating his ability to move fluidly between genres and audiences. Jazz, however, remains his primary artistic home, where he has developed an extensive and diverse profile.
In the contemporary jazz and improvisation scene, he currently performs with ensembles and artists including Pierre Dørge’s New Jungle Orchestra, The Firebirds, Banke/Solborg/Heebøll, Copenhagen Clarinet Choir, Jacob Anderskov’s Emerald, and the DR Big Band. These collaborations highlight his strong presence in both large ensemble contexts and more intimate, experimental group settings.
Across his career, Anders Banke has established himself as a dynamic and adaptable musician whose work bridges classical music, pop, and jazz. His contributions as performer, composer, and bandleader reflect a consistent artistic curiosity and a commitment to expanding the possibilities of his instruments.