John Abercrombie is without question a master of the jazz
guitar. He is the consummate "musician's musician," a wonderfully creative
composer, improviser and educator. His ability to communicate with his
audiences and with students is a delight to behold in person.
Born in 1944 in Port Chester, New York, John grew up in Greenwich,
Connecticut and began playing the guitar at fourteen years of age. By the
time he was out of high school, he was ready to veer away from imitative
Chuck Berry licks in favor of learning to play the instrument more
seriously. While enrolled at Boston's Berklee School of Music, Abercrombie
worked with other students and played local clubs and bars. "It was pretty
much your standard guitar-organ-drums set up," he recalls.
An offer to tour with organist Johnny Hammond Smith led to his going on
the road for weeks at a time, playing such spots as Count Basie's Lounge
and the Club Baron in Harlem. During that same period, John met the
Brecker Brothers, who were in the process of forming Dreams. They invited
Abercrombie to play with them, and he was heard on Dreams's debut album on
Columbia.
In 1969, following graduation, Abercrombie decided to head South in
hopes of breaking into the New York music scene. In the next few years he
developed into one of New York's most in-demand session musicians. He did
record dates with Gil Evans, Gato Barbieri, Barry Miles and many other
artists, and also became a regular with Chico Hamilton's group.
It was as the guitarist in Billy Cobham's band that Abercrombie first
began attracting widespread attention among the general public. This
ensemble was something of a Dreams reunion since it also included the
Brecker Brothers. Abercrombie is heard on Cobham's "Crosswinds" and "Total
Eclipse."
John Abercrombie possesses a unique voice as a jazz guitarist combining
evolving technologies with a tradition well-represented by jazz standards.
Further insight comes forth in a 1988 "Jazziz" interview: "Carrying the
tradition of jazz guitar from Charlie Christian and Django Reinhardt to
the present day is a very important aspect of my music... I'd like people
to perceive me as having a direct connection to the history of jazz
guitar, while expanding some musical boundaries which may not always
involve the guitar itself."
