John AbercrombieJohn 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." |
