Jakob Bro with Midori Takada and Mark Turner
7th edition of Jazz Meets Symphonic, featuring Danish multi-instrumentalist Jakob Bro and the Brussels Philharmonic
For this seventh edition, Danish multi-instrumentalist Jakob Bro comes to Belgium. Known for his minimalist yet emotionally rich guitar playing, Bro will compose a brand-new work for orchestra, chamber choir, and his own trio. It comes as no surprise that he specifically requested the Radiokoor to be part of his musical palette for this project: “Much of my music is built around melody. My compositions are almost like songs,” he explains.
His inspiration stems from the vibrant, playful paintings of fellow Dane Tal R, while his collaboration with Opiate — an electronic project rooted in melodic techno — adds an intriguing extra layer.
Under the Jazz Meets Symphonic banner, Jakob Bro now joins an illustrious lineup of past collaborators, including Brad Mehldau, Avishai Cohen, Tigran Hamasyan, Uri Caine, Bill Frisell, and Craig Taborn.
The Jazz Meets Symphonic series continues to make waves internationally — proven by its 2025 Grammy Award nomination for the recording with Bill Frisell. Although it didn’t take home the prize, the list of world-class jazz artists eager to collaborate with the founding partners — Brussels Philharmonic, Flagey, and Muziekcentrum De Bijloke — keeps growing.
Concert
Programme
Jakob Bro
A Trail of Sonic Sparks (Across an Analog Landscape) (world premiere, inspired by artworks of Tal R)
>> co-commissioned by Muziekcentrum De Bijloke, Brussels Philharmonic, Flagey in the series Jazz meets Symphonic
>> due to unforeseen circumstances, Ambrose Akinmusire (trumpet) will be replaced by Mark Turner (saxophone)
with the support of Beside Tax Shelter and the Belgian Tax Shelter
Artists
Brussels Philharmonic
Vlaams Radiokoor
Angeliki Ploka preparation choir
Edwin Outwater conductor
Jakob Bro guitar
Midori Takada percussion
Mark Turner saxophone
Opiate sound design
Michael P Atkinson orchestration
Tal R artwork