When Miles Davis led the 1948-50 sessions that became jazz’s Birth of the Cool releases, the most bewitching solo voice apart from his own trumpet was that of a little-known 21-year-old called Lee Konitz. The alto saxophonist’s quietly captivating work still shimmers as a central feature of Danish guitarist Jakob Bro’s Taking Turns, also recorded in New York but more than 60 years later, and strangely consigned to ECM’s vaults from 2014 until now.
Bro’s reputation grew when he succeeded Bill Frisell in drum master Paul Motian’s band in 2006, the connection that first introduced him to Konitz, who can instantly invent fresh lines to any composition put in front of him. Bro credits this ability with his own understanding of how to lead an improviser’s band that plays composed music with looseness and flow.
