Home » Jazz Articles » Extended Analysis » Jakob Bro: Jakob Bro: December Song

Jakob Bro: Jakob Bro: December Song

By Henning Bolte
October 10, 2013
View read count

December Song is the final part of a trilogy which started with Balladeering (2009) and continued with Time (2011). It started with the fivesome of

Jakob Bro

guitar
b.1978

" data-original-title="" title="">Jakob Bro himself,

Bill Frisell

guitar, electric
b.1951

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Frisell,

Lee Konitz

saxophone, alto
1927 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Lee Konitz, Ben Street and the late

Paul Motian

drums
1931 - 2011

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Motian. When Time was recorded in September 2011 at Avatar,

" data-original-title="" title="">Thomas Morgan subbed for Ben Street. Paul Motian could not make it anymore. He passed away soon after. Notwithstanding he can be sensed on both Time and December Song very clearly. To fulfill the mission, pianist

Craig Taborn

piano
b.1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Craig Taborn been invited for the third part.

Konitz's voice not just fits in in this musical context; it that makes him sound at his best. It seems he himself is the one surprised most about it, surprised also about what he is doing: "I spent my whole life being influenced by

Charlie Parker

saxophone, alto
1920 - 1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Charlie Parker,

Lennie Tristano

piano
1919 - 1978

" data-original-title="" title="">Lennie Tristano,

Lester Young

saxophone
1909 - 1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Lester Young and all the great jazz players and all of a sudden I play whole notes and half notes and chord progressions and I don't know why. It's not folk music, it's not jazz, it's not pop music, it's not funk, you know, it's just balladeering or whatever."

Bro's and Frisell's wonderfully intertwined guitar-lines undulate like M?bius strips in ever changing shadings. It is amazing how Konitz comes in from time to time, how his sound arises from the gently undulating guitar sounds, how he transcends it and makes the song sing. His now and then brittle sound is an ideal medium here. Thomas Morgan's extraordinary bass-playing anchors and raises the whole by very well chosen countering, topping and elongating accents. Brilliantly he focuses on melody and form and keeps the space open by putting in his very own exclamation marks. In certain respect his remarkable new way of playing reverses and redefines the role of the bass. He is the one who has played the longest with Jakob Bro. Both know each other from the bands of Paul Motian. They have developed a highly refined form of mutual understanding which is an important cornerstone of the album's music.

From the outside view it is hard to imagine there is still place for a piano- voice to contribute in a significant way. That is exactly what is happening here, however, and few will be able to use the inherent possibilities as carefully and well as Taborn is able to do with his absolute orientation on sound and shape. Together they dig up treasures and let them shine. Bro's lines prosper by generosity and alertness of all musicians.

Bro and Co. go on where

Carla Bley

piano
1938 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Carla Bley's legendary "Utviklingssang"(Social Studies , WATT 1981) once left. In Bley's piece, and on a larger scale in Bro's trilogy, deeper properties of Scandinavian song are manifestated and reflected. Bro discovered it by himself and found the confidence not only to stick with the essence but also to let it unfold freely. December Song is not just more of the same but opens up a still broader spectrum on a higher level.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Laxness; Giant; Zygaena; Tree House; Lys; Kong Oscar; Risskov; Vinterhymne.

Personnel

Jakob Bro

guitar

Jakob Bro: guitar; Bill Frisell: guitar; Lee Konitz: alto saxophone; Craig Taborn: piano; Thomas Morgan: double bass.

Album information

Title: Jakob Bro: December Song | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: Loveland Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Infinite Reflection
< Previous

The Angle Below
Next >

Jakob Bro Concerts

Sep 23 Tue

Jakob Bro

BlÅ
Oslo, Norway

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.