Jacob Young is an internationally acclaimed jazz guitarist, composer, and ECM recording artist whose music blends lyrical European introspection with deep roots in the American jazz tradition. Born in Lillehammer, Norway, in 1970, Jacob was introduced to jazz by his American father. He picked up the guitar at age 11 and began exploring the instrument as a self-taught musician. Later, he took private lessons from Oslo-based guitarists Paul Weeden, Staffan William-Olsson, Bjørn Klakegg, and Knut Værnes, eventually studying music formally at the University of Oslo before receiving a scholarship to attend the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in Manhattan.

In New York, Jacob studied with legendary jazz guitarist icon Jim Hall, who became a major influence. He also studied guitar with greats John Abercrombie, Vic Juris, and composition with Richie Beirach, Bob Belden, and Kenny Werner. He freelanced around the city post-graduation, performing with a wide range of notable musicians including Rashied Ali, Marc Copland, Junior Mance, Larry Goldings, and Arnie Lawrence.

Jacob’s recording debut as a leader came in 1994 with the album This is You, featuring a stellar lineup including trumpeter Nils Petter Molvær, pianist Larry Goldings, saxophonist Bendik Hofseth (an early mentor who also produced the recording), bassist Terje Gewelt, and drummer Per Oddvar Johansen. After returning to Oslo in 1996, he formed a long-running quintet with pianist Vigleik Storaas, saxophonist Trygve Seim, bassist Mathias Svensson/Mats Eilertsen, and drummer Per Oddvar Johansen, releasing important Norwegian jazz albums for that late 1990s generation: Pieces of Time (1997) and Glow (2001) on the Curling Legs label.

A unique collaboration began shortly after when legendary Norwegian jazz icon and vocalist Karin Krog invited Jacob to work together. Their creative partnership led to the John Surman-produced album Where Flamingos Fly (2001), which also featured legendary bassist Arild Andersen on three tracks. The Karin Krog & Jacob Young duo toured extensively around the globe, appearing on national TV and playing European festivals, as well as touring in the USA and India.

Jacob’s musical voice found a natural home on the iconic ECM label. His international debut for ECM, Evening Falls (2004), featured a quintet with legendary Norwegian drummer Jon Christensen, alongside bassist Mats Eilertsen, bass clarinet and saxophonist Vidar Johansen, and trumpeter Mathias Eick, which showcased Jacob’s all-original compositions. Jacob’s following ECM album, Sideways (2007), further explored original compositions, this time pushing the boundaries of the quintet format. This group toured in Europe, Japan, China, and South Korea.

Among Jacob’s other acclaimed ECM recordings is Forever Young (2014), another successful collaboration with pianist Marcin Wasilewski and his trio with Sławomir Kurkiewicz on bass and Michał Miśkiewicz on drums. The album blends modern lyricism with the rhythmically rich language of the Polish piano jazz trio. Add saxophonist Trygve Seim, Jacob’s longest musical partner and friend from high school, who played a crucial role in the idea of this album. The session was again produced by Manfred Eicher for ECM. The music was once again all originals written for the session. This quintet toured and played at the SF Jazz in San Francisco, the Rochester Jazz Festival in New York, and toured in Norway, Germany, Poland, the Jarasum Jazz Festival in South Korea, and Italy.

In 2021, Jacob recorded his first trio jazz guitar album, the highly praised Eventually, released in 2023. The album features Mats Eilertsen on bass and Audun Kleive on drums, and is a mature and spacious exploration of melody, interplay, and quiet fire—further solidifying Jacob’s reputation for melodic depth, improvisation, and melodic compositions.

In 2023, Jacob took part in the profoundly moving project El Viejo Caminante with Argentine bandoneon legend Dino Saluzzi and his son José Saluzzi. Invited to Buenos Aires by Dino himself, Jacob contributed three original compositions to this trio album, recorded when Dino was 88 years old. The album is a soulful meeting of worlds—jazz, folklore, and Argentine tango—woven together with subtlety and spirit. This album was released worldwide in 2025.

Jacob has built a rewarding collaboration with Norwegian vocalist Siril Malmedal Hauge. Their debut album Last Things (2018) also marked Jacob’s first appearance as a vocalist (!) and lyricist, and was met with widespread critical acclaim—winning a Silver Award from Japanese jazz reviewers and an Independent Music Award nomination in New York City. Their follow-up album Chasing Sunsets was released in 2020 and continued to build on their distinctive voice as a duo, blending jazz and pop-inflected standards with intimate, poetic originals.

Jacob co-founded Oslo Session Recordings, a boutique label focusing on limited-edition 180-gram vinyl releases. The label was launched as a creative outlet for sideman projects and collaborations outside the ECM umbrella. The first release, The Maze (2017), brought together an all-star lineup: Mike Mainieri (Steps Ahead) on vibes, Paolo Vinaccia on drums, Mats Eilertsen, on bass and Bendik Hofseth on sax. The second release, Rathkes Gate 12:21:58, featured a collaborative trio with Paolo Vinaccia and Bendik Hofseth, showcasing original music from all three artists.

Throughout his career, Jacob Young has been a deeply sought-after sideman and collaborator. He has played with many of Norway’s most iconic jazz voices, including Knut Riisnæs, Jan Erik Vold, Egil Kapstad, Bugge Wesseltoft, Nils Petter Molvær, Arild Andersen, and Jon Christensen, but has also been a part of Malian percussionist Sidiki Camara's different recordings and groups, as well as Mozambican alto player Ivan Mazuze's jazz tours and projects in the Afro-jazz style. In 2010, he was the guitarist on Manu Katché's ECM album Third Round, which also featured Norwegian saxophonist Tore Brunborg and the two British musicians Jason Rebello (piano) and legendary electric bassist Pino Palladino.

An important mentor from the early 2000s was the legendary drummer Jon Christensen, who was not only a vital part of Jacob’s ECM debut Evening Falls (2004) and Sideways (2007) but also played with Jacob live for several years.

Jacob’s work with the jazz/rock trio Interstatic with Hammond Organ player Roy Powell and drummer Jarle Vespestad displays his more electric, groove-oriented side. Meanwhile, his genre-crossing collaborations continue to expand his musical palette, while always grounded in melody and openness.

Since 2024, his touring trio has included Mats Eilertsen on bass and Veslemøy Narvesen on drums. They have played concerts all over Norway and at the Unterfahrt in Munich, Montmartre in Copenhagen, and in Marseille, France.