John Abercrombie

Item: Selected Recordings
Author: Jeff Cebulski

Selected Recordings

(2004)

Reviewed by Jeff Cebulski

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Label ECMThe Phantom Tollbooth2005

jazz jazz fusion

This collection of Abercrombie "hits" is one of the finest of its genre. Here (no doubt aided by the wisdom of John himself) is a truly representative list of the guitarist's 30-year work for ECM, beginning with the classic tone poem "Timeless," and featuring moments with his initial progressive improvisational trio Gateway (with hall of fame mates Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette); a contribution to an album by trumpet star Kenny Wheeler; his duo classic with Ralph Towner, "Sargasso Sea," that typified the kind of modern chamber music ECM was known for; his second basic trio with Marc Johnson and Peter Erskine; and ultimately his work with organist Dan Wall and the painfully little-appreciated Adam Nussbaum. There's nothing weak or puzzling about this arrangement. A real treat.

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