Jakob Bro Trio Bay of Rainbows Review

Jakob Bro is a Danish guitar player and composer living in Copenhagen, Denmark. Bro is a former member of Paul Motian & The Electric Bebop Band (Garden of Eden, ECM – 2006) and of Tomasz Stanko’s Dark Eyes Quintet (Dark Eyes, ECM – 2009). Bro has released 15 records as a bandleader that feature musicians such as: Lee Konitz, Bill Frisell, Paul Motian, Kenny Wheeler, Paul Bley, Chris Cheek, Thomas Morgan, Ben Street, Mark Turner, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Andrew D’Angelo, Chris Speed, George Garzone, Craig Taborn, Oscar Noriega, David Virelles, Jon Christensen, Jesper Zeuthen, Anders Christensen, Peter Laugesen, Kresten Osgood, Jakob Høyer, Nicolai Munch-Hansen, Jonas Westergaard, Søren Kjærgaard, Nikolaj Torp Larsen and many more.

About the Album

Bro is currently leading a trio with Joey Baron and Thomas Morgan. The trio is releasing a new ECM album titled, Bay Of Rainbows, recorded at the Jazz Standard in New York. The album has six tracks performed by the trio. The music is interactive, atmospheric and musical. “Mild” builds over time with Bro playing a beautifully arpeggiated figure that is developed precisely. “Dug” has an interesting groove and prodigious bass playing by Morgan and a driving rhythmic pattern from Baron. A second version of “Mild” included, which gives the listener a chance to hear the trio’s approach in two different instances of time. Because this live recording comes from ECM Records, the recording quality is first-rate and the fidelity comes though on each note with clarity.

Our Favorite Track

Our favorite track is “Dug.” The track’s opening with Morgan’s double stops is a powerfully executed idea, that builds to Baron’s swirling drum entrance. Baron and Morgan set into a groove as Bro uses his delay pedals to create atmospheric sounds and colors over the groove. Rather than just diving in and playing the melody, Bro builds the song, letting it develop and unfold. For the melody Bro chooses a slightly distorted sound, giving his lines power and direction. Bro is a master and incorporating sounds generated by his pedals and various techniques on the guitar to create layers. He builds these orchestrated layers to form complex backgrounds that he solos against, allowing Baron and Morgan to interact with emphasis. Furthermore, that is where the beauty of this track resides, the interaction and level of listening that the three musicians display is inordinate. It is obvious that the focus is on a group sound and musical statement.  Consequently, the music sounds organic and in focus.

In Conclusion

Bay of Rainbows is a harmonically complex listen that offers robust and complex flavors, like a fine tasting coffee, it percolates with brimming flavors that linger long past the listen.  A highly recommended experience which can be enjoyed many times over, as each listen revels more of the subtle flavorings and spice.