John Abercrombie's tying together of jazz's many threads made him one of the most influential acoustic and electric guitarists of the 1970s and early '80s; his recordings for ECM have helped define that label's progressive chamber jazz reputation. His star has since faded somewhat, due largely to the general conservatism that's come to dominate jazz, though he has remained a vital creative personality.
Abercrombie's style draws upon all manner of contemporary improvised music; his style is essentially jazz-based, but he also displays a more-than-passing familiarity with forms that range from folk and rock to Eastern and Western art musics.
Abercrombie attended Boston's Berklee College of Music from 1962 to 1966. While at Berklee, the guitarist toured with bluesman
Johnny Hammond. After relocating to New York in 1969,
Abercrombie spent time in groups led by drummers
Chico Hamilton and
Billy Cobham. It was with the latter's Spectrum group that
Abercrombie first received widespread attention.
Abercrombie's first album as leader was
Timeless, a trio album with drummer
Jack DeJohnette and keyboardist
Jan Hammer. That was followed by
Gateway, another trio with
DeJohnette and bassist
Dave Holland replacing
Hammer.
Abercrombie's subtle and lyrical style is heard to best effect in small, intimate settings, with the recurring
Gateway trio or as captured in duos with fellow guitarist
Ralph Towner.
Abercrombie continued to be active as the 21st century opened, releasing
Cat 'n' Mouse in 2002,
Class Trip in 2004,
A Nice Idea (with pianist
Andy LaVerne) in 2005,
Structures (recorded with a single microphone) in 2006, and
Third Quartet in 2007.
Wait Till You See Her appeared in 2009.
–
Chris Kelsey, Rovi