Danish guitarist and composer Jakob Bro makes expansive, forward-thinking jazz that's atmospheric and experimental, while still being grounded in the tradition. Born in Risskov, Denmark in 1978, Bro played trumpet in his youth and first became exposed to jazz via his father's big-band and jazz record collection. Around age 12, Bro also started playing guitar, a passion that overtook trumpet and led to stints studying music at such institutions as Denmark's Rhythmic Conservatory, the Berklee College of Music in Boston, and the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York. Although he never secured a degree, his adept approach to improvisation and group interplay caught the ear of local N.Y.C. musicians including Paul Motian, who hired him to play with his Electric Bebop Band. Since the mid-2000s, Bro has worked with a bevy of artists including Lee Konitz, Bill Frisell, Paul Bley, Chris Cheek, Ben Street, Mark Turner, Chris Speed, David Virelles, and others. As a leader, Bro has released a steady stream of albums including Daydreamer (2003), Pearl River (2007), The Stars Are All New Songs (2008), White Rainbow (2008), Who Said Gay Paree (2008), Balladeering (2009), Bro/Knak (2011), and December Song (2013). In 2015, Bro made his ECM debut with Gefion, which showcased his trio with bassist Thomas Morgan and drummer Jon Christensen. Streams followed a year later with Joey Baron in the drummer's chair. ~ Matt Collar