John Abercrombie

John Laird Abercrombie (December 16, 1944 – August 22, 2017) was an American jazz guitarist. His work explored jazz fusion, free jazz, and avant-garde jazz. Abercrombie studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. He was known for his understated style and his work with organ trios.

Early life and education

John Abercrombie was born on December 16, 1944, in Port Chester, New York. Growing up in the 1950s in Greenwich, Connecticut he was attracted to the rock and roll of Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Fats Domino, and Bill Haley and the Comets. He also liked the sound of jazz guitarist Mickey Baker of the vocal duo Mickey and Silvia. He had two friends who were musicians with a large jazz collection. They played him albums by Dave Brubeck and Miles Davis. The first jazz guitar album he heard was by Barney Kessel.

He took guitar lessons at the age of ten, asking his teacher to show him what Barney Kessel was playing. After high school, he attended Berklee College of Music. At Berklee, he was drawn to the music of Jim Hall, the 1962 album The Bridge by Sonny Rollins, and Wes Montgomery on his albums The Wes Montgomery Trio (1959) and Boss Guitar (1963). He cites George Benson and Pat Martino as inspirations. He often played with other students at Paul's Mall, a jazz club in Boston connected to a larger club, Jazz Workshop. Appearing at Paul's Mall led to meetings with Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, and organist Johnny Hammond Smith, who invited him to go on tour.

Dreams and Gateway

Abercrombie graduated from Berklee in 1967 and attended North Texas State University before moving to New York City in 1969. He became a popular session musician, recording with Gato Barbieri in 1971, Barry Miles in 1972, and Gil Evans in 1974. In 1969 he joined the Brecker Brothers in the jazz-rock fusion band Dreams. He continued to play fusion in Billy Cobham's band, but found that he disliked its focus on rock over jazz. Nonetheless his reputation grew with the popularity of both Cobham and Dreams. The band shared billing with such acts as the Doobie Brothers, but Abercrombie found his career taking an unwanted direction. "One night we appeared at the Spectrum in Philadelphia and I thought, 'What am I doing here?' It just didn't compute."

An invitation from drummer Jack DeJohnette led to the fulfillment of Abercrombie's desire to play in a jazz-oriented ensemble. Around the same time, record producer Manfred Eicher, founder and president of ECM Records, invited him to record an album. He recorded his first solo album, Timeless, with DeJohnette and keyboardist Jan Hammer, who had been his roommate in the 1960s. In 1975 he formed the band Gateway with DeJohnette and bassist Dave Holland, recording the albums Gateway (1976) and Gateway 2 (1978). Though Abercrombie would record for other labels going forward, ECM became his mainstay, and his association with that label continued for the rest of his career.

Working as a leader

The band played songs written by all three members, in a free jazz style. After the Gateway albums, Abercrombie moved to playing in a more traditional style, recording for ECM three albums, Arcade (1979), Abercrombie Quartet (1979), and M (1981) with a quartet that included pianist Richie Beirach, bassist George Mraz, and drummer Peter Donald. Abercrombie said, "it was extremely important to have that group...it was my first opportunity to really be a leader and write consistently for the same group of musicians." During the mid-1970s and into the 1980s, he contributed to ensembles led by DeJohnette and participated in other sessions for ECM, occasionally doubling on electric mandolin. He toured with guitarist Ralph Towner with whom he recorded two albums, Sargasso Sea (1976) and Five Years Later (1981). During the mid-1980s, he continued to play standards with bassist George Mraz, and he played in a bop duo with guitarist John Scofield. He also appeared on a number of ECM releases in various ensembles with other artists on the label.

Between 1984-1990, Abercrombie experimented with a guitar synthesizer. He first used the instrument, though not exclusively, in 1984 in a trio with Marc Johnson on bass and Peter Erskine on drums, as well as with pianist Paul Bley in a free jazz group. The synthesizer allowed him to play what he called "louder, more open music." Abercrombie's trio with Johnson and Erskine released three albums during this time showcasing the guitar-synth: Current Events (1986), Getting There (1988, with Michael Brecker), and a live album, John Abercrombie / Marc Johnson / Peter Erskine (1989).

The 1990s and 2000s marked a time of many new associations. In 1992, Abercrombie, drummer Adam Nussbaum, and Hammond organist Jeff Palmer made a free-jazz album. He then started a trio with Nussbaum and organist Dan Wall and released While We're Young (1992), Speak of the Devil (1994), and Tactics (1997). He added trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, violinist Mark Feldman and saxophonist Joe Lovano to the trio to record Open Land (1999). The Gateway band reunited for the albums Homecoming (1995) and In the Moment (1996).

Abercrombie continued to tour and record to the end of his life. He also continued to release albums on the ECM label, an association which lasted for more than 40 years. As he said in an interview, "I'd like people to perceive me as having a direct connection to the history of jazz guitar, while expanding some musical boundaries."

In 2017, Abercrombie died of heart failure in Cortlandt Manor, New York, at the age of 72.

As leader or co-leader

• Timeless (ECM, 1975) with Jan Hammer, Jack DeJohnette
• Sargasso Sea (ECM, 1976) with Ralph Towner
• New Directions (ECM, 1978)
• Characters (ECM, 1978)
• Arcade (ECM, 1979) as John Abercrombie Quartet with Richie Beirach, George Mraz, Peter Donald
• Abercrombie Quartet (ECM, 1980) as John Abercrombie Quartet with Richie Beirach, George Mraz, Peter Donald
• Straight Flight (Jam, 1980) as John Abercrombie Trio with George Mraz, Peter Donald
• M (ECM, 1981) as John Abercrombie Quartet with Richie Beirach, George Mraz, Peter Donald
• Five Years Later (ECM, 1982) with Ralph Towner
• Night (ECM, 1984) with Michael Brecker, Jan Hammer, Jack DeJohnette
• Drum Strum (1750 Arch, 1984) with George Marsh
• Solar (Palo Alto, 1984) with John Scofield
• Current Events (ECM, 1986) with Marc Johnson, Peter Erskine
• Emerald City (Pathfinder, 1987) with Richie Beirach
• Getting There (ECM, 1988) with Marc Johnson, Peter Erskine, Michael Brecker
• John Abercrombie / Marc Johnson / Peter Erskine (ECM, 1989)
• Upon a Time (New Albion, 1989) with Mel Graves, George Marsh
• Animato (ECM, 1989) with Vince Mendoza, Jon Christensen
• Double Variations (Justin Time, 1990)
• Witchcraft (Justin Time, 1991) with Don Thompson
• Farewell (Musidisc, 1993) with Andy LaVerne, George Mraz, Adam Nussbaum
• November (ECM, 1993) with John Surman, Marc Johnson, Peter Erskine
• While We're Young (ECM, 1993) with Dan Wall, Adam Nussbaum
• Speak of the Devil (ECM, 1994) as John Abercrombie Trio with Dan Wall, Adam Nussbaum
• Tactics (ECM, 1997) with Adam Nussbaum, Dan Wall
• Open Land (ECM, 1999) with Kenny Wheeler, Joe Lovano, Mark Feldman, Dan Wall, Adam Nussbaum
• The Hudson Project (Stretch, 2000) with Peter Erskine, Bob Mintzer, John Patitucci
• Cat 'n' Mouse (ECM, 2002) with Mark Feldman, Marc Johnson, Joey Baron
• Three Guitars (Chesky, 2003) with Larry Coryell, Badi Assad
• Animations (Underhill Jazz, 2003) with John Basile
• Class Trip (ECM, 2004) with Mark Feldman, Marc Johnson, Joey Baron
• Alone Together (Acoustic Music, 2004)
• Brand New (Challenge, 2004)
• Echoes (Alessa, 2005) with Arthur Blythe, Gust Tillis, Mark Feldman
• Structures (Chesky, 2006) with Eddie Gomez, Gene Jackson
• The Third Quartet (ECM, 2007) with Mark Feldman, Marc Johnson, Joey Baron
• Topics (Challenge, 2007)
• Coincidence (Whaling City Sound, 2007)
• Wait Till You See Her (ECM, 2009) as John Abercrombie Quartet with Mark Feldman, Thomas Morgan, Joey Baron
• Cradle of Light (EFCM, 2009)
• Speak to Me (Pirouet, 2011) with Marc Copland
• Within a Song (ECM, 2012) as John Abercrombie Quartet with Joe Lovano, Drew Gress, Joey Baron
• 39 Steps (ECM, 2013) as John Abercrombie Quartet with Marc Copland, Drew Gress, Joey Baron
• The Angle Below (SteepleChase, 2013)
• Inspired (ArtistShare, 2016) with Peter Bernstein, Lage Lund, Rale Micic
• Up and Coming (ECM, 2017) as John Abercrombie Quartet with Marc Copland, Drew Gress, Joey Baron

With Gateway

• Gateway (ECM, 1976) with Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette
• Gateway 2 (ECM, 1978)
• Homecoming (ECM, 1995)
• In the Moment (ECM, 1996)

With Andy LaVerne

• Natural Living (Musidisc, 1990)
• Nosmo King (SteepleChase, 1994)
• Now It Can Be Played (SteepleChase, 1995)
• Where We Were (Double-Time, 1996)
• A Nice Idea (Steeplechase, 2005)
• Live from New York (Steeplechase, 2010)

As sideman

With Franco Ambrosetti

• Light Breeze (Enja, 1998)

With Gato Barbieri

• Under Fire (Flying Dutchman, 1971 [1973])
• Bolivia (Flying Dutchman, 1973)

With Billy Cobham

• Crosswinds (1974)
• Total Eclipse (1974)
• Shabazz (1975)

With Marc Copland

• Second Look (1996)
• That's for Sure (2002)
• ...And (2002)
• Brand New (2004)

With Jack DeJohnette

• Cosmic Chicken (Prestige, 1975)
• Untitled (ECM, 1976)
• Pictures (ECM, 1977)
• New Rags (ECM, 1977) with Directions
• New Directions (ECM, 1978)
• New Directions in Europe (ECM, Live 1979, rel. 1980)

With Danny Gottlieb

• Whirlwind (Atlantic, 1989)
• Brooklyn Blues (1991) with Jeremy Steig, Gil Goldstein, Chip Jackson

With Dave Liebman

• Lookout Farm (ECM, 1973)
• Drum Ode (ECM, 1974)
• Sweet Hands (Horizon, 1975)

With Rudy Linka

• Rudy Linka Quartet (Arta, 1991)
• Mostly Standards (Arta, 1993)
• Lucky Southern (Quinton, 2006)
• Every Moment (Acoustic Music, 2011)

With Charles Lloyd

• Voice in the Night (ECM, 1999)
• The Water Is Wide (ECM, 2000)
• Hyperion with Higgins (ECM, 2001)
• Lift Every Voice (ECM, 2002)

With Enrico Rava

• Katcharpari (MPS/BASF, 1973)
• The Pilgrim and the Stars (ECM, 1975)
• The Plot (ECM, 1977)

With Lonnie Smith

• Afro Blue (1993)
• Purple Haze: Tribute to Jimi Hendrix (1995)
• Foxy Lady: Tribute to Jimi Hendrix (1996)

With Collin Walcott

• Cloud Dance (ECM, 1975)
• Grazing Dreams (ECM, 1977)

With Kenny Wheeler

• Deer Wan (ECM, 1977)
• Music for Large & Small Ensembles (ECM, 1990)
• The Widow in the Window (ECM, 1990)
• It Takes Two! (2006)

With others

• Robert Balzar – Tales (2008)
• Joe Beck – Coincidence (Whaling City Sound, 2007)
• Jerry Bergonzi – Tenorist (Savant, 2007)
• Paul Bley – Live at Sweet Basil (Soul Note, 1988)
• Bob Brookmeyer and the WDR Big Band – Electricity (1994)
• Royce Campbell – Six by Six: A Jazz Guitar Celebration (rec. 1994, rel. 2004) with Larry Coryell, Pat Martino, Bucky Pizzarelli, Dave Stryker
• Gil Evans – The Gil Evans Orchestra Plays the Music of Jimi Hendrix (RCA, 1974)
• Jan Garbarek – Eventyr (ECM, 1981)
• Bobby Hutcherson – Un Poco Loco (1979)
• David Earle Johnson – Route Two (1981)
• Lee Konitz – Sound of Surprise (RCA Victor, 1999)
• Andy LaVerne – Liquid Silver (DMP, 1984)
• Andy Laverne – Plays the Music of Chick Corea (Jazzline 2008)
• Joe Lovano – Landmarks (Blue Note, 1991)
• Bob Mintzer – Hymn (Owl, 1990)
• Czesław Niemen – Mourner's Rhapsody (1974)
• Barre Phillips – Mountainscapes (ECM, 1976)
• Johnny "Hammond" Smith – Nasty! (Prestige, 1968)
• Stark Reality – The Stark Reality Discovers Hoagy Carmichael's Music Shop (1970)
• John Surman – Brewster's Rooster (ECM, 2009)
• Joseph Tawadros – The Hour of Separation (2010)
• Michał Urbaniak – Fusion III (Columbia, 1975)
• Jack Walrath – Neohippus (Blue Note, 1989)