Wadada Leo Smith + Jakob Bro + Marcus Gilmore

Improvisation as cosmic play. Trumpet, guitar, and drums weave a universe of sound

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This new ensemble, which skips generations and seeks out the musical boundaries by way of improvisation, will be making its first appearance in Europe. The Danish guitarist Jakob Bro thereby invites two big jazz names to further refine the music from their first recording. ‘Wadada succeeds in breaking through all the 'correct' and logical musical choices like a primal force. He takes you to parallel sound universes, where everything you thought you knew no longer counts. It seems as though he has found a back door into the other side, into a place filled with mystery, creativity and beauty’, says Bro, who describes Marcus Gilmore as an ‘unbelievable jazz musician who is at home in multiple markets’, but also as a contemporary free-thinker and improviser who fits perfectly into the group. The special guest on this special evening is the unique double bassist and Bro’s ‘musical soulmate’ Thomas Morgan.

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Wadada Leo Smith, Jakob Bro and Marcus Gilmore first played together in Power Station (formerly known as Avatar Studios) in New York. The natural chemistry between the trio already became clear during this first recording session.

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The legendary trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith had previously made recordings with Jakob Bro, together with their mutual friend Andrew Cyrille, and jazz drum genius Marcus Gilmore had already played with both in New York, after he replaced Bro’s band in the jazz club Village Vanguard, but this was the first time that all three of them shared a stage.