John Abercrombie (guitarist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Abercrombie
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Abercrombie at Bratislava Jazz Days, 2007
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | John Laird Abercrombie |
| Born | December 16, 1944 Port Chester, New York, U.S. |
| Died | August 22, 2017 (aged 72) Cortlandt Manor, New York |
| Genres | Jazz, jazz fusion, free jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1969–2017 |
| Labels | ECM |
John Laird Abercrombie (December 16, 1944 – August 22, 2017) was an amazing American jazz guitarist. He explored many styles of jazz, including jazz fusion (which mixes jazz with rock) and free jazz (a more experimental kind of jazz). John Abercrombie was known for his calm and subtle playing style. He also played a lot with groups that featured an organ, called organ trios.
Contents
John Abercrombie's Musical Journey
Early Life and Learning Music
John Abercrombie was born on December 16, 1944, in Port Chester, New York. He grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut, during the 1950s. Back then, he loved listening to rock and roll artists like Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley. He also liked the sound of jazz guitarist Mickey Baker.
He had two friends who were musicians and had a huge collection of jazz music. They introduced him to albums by jazz legends like Dave Brubeck and Miles Davis. The first jazz guitar album he ever heard was by Barney Kessel. John started taking guitar lessons at age ten. He even asked his teacher to show him how Barney Kessel played!
After high school, John went to the Berklee College of Music. There, he was inspired by guitarists like Jim Hall and Wes Montgomery. He also looked up to George Benson and Pat Martino. While at Berklee, he often played with other students at a jazz club in Boston. This led him to meet other musicians, including Michael Brecker and Randy Brecker, and organist Johnny "Hammond" Smith. Johnny Hammond Smith even invited John to go on tour!
Starting Out: Bands and New Sounds
John Abercrombie finished Berklee in 1967. He then moved to New York City in 1969. Before becoming a popular session musician (someone who plays for recordings but isn't a main band member), he joined a band called Stark Reality in 1969. He also recorded with famous musicians like Gato Barbieri and Gil Evans.
In 1969, he joined the Brecker Brothers in a jazz-rock fusion band called Dreams. He continued playing fusion music with Billy Cobham's band. However, John felt that these bands focused too much on rock and not enough on jazz. Even though his reputation grew, he felt his career was going in the wrong direction. He once said, "One night we appeared at the Spectrum in Philadelphia and I thought, 'What am I doing here?' It just didn't compute."
Luckily, drummer Jack DeJohnette invited John to join a jazz-focused group. Around the same time, Manfred Eicher, who started ECM Records, asked him to record an album. John recorded his first solo album, Timeless, with DeJohnette and keyboardist Jan Hammer.
In 1975, John formed a band called Gateway with DeJohnette and bassist Dave Holland. They released two albums, Gateway (1976) and Gateway 2 (1978). Even though John would record for other labels, ECM Records became his main home for the rest of his career.
Leading His Own Groups
The Gateway band played songs written by all three members, often in a free jazz style. After his albums with Gateway, John Abercrombie started playing in a more traditional jazz style. He recorded three albums with his own quartet: Arcade (1979), Abercrombie Quartet (1979), and M (1981). He said this group was very important because it was his first chance to truly be a leader and write music for the same musicians consistently.
In the mid-1970s and 1980s, he also played with Jack DeJohnette's groups and on other recordings for ECM. He even toured and recorded two albums with guitarist Ralph Towner. John also played with bassist George Mraz and in a duo with guitarist John Scofield.
Between 1984 and 1990, John experimented with a guitar synthesizer. This instrument allowed him to play "louder, more open music." His trio with bassist Marc Johnson and drummer Peter Erskine released three albums using the guitar-synth.
The 1990s and 2000s brought many new collaborations for John. In 1992, he formed a trio with drummer Adam Nussbaum and organist Dan Wall. They released several albums together. The Gateway band also reunited for two more albums in the mid-1990s.
John Abercrombie continued to tour and record music until the end of his life. His connection with ECM Records lasted for over 40 years. He once said he wanted people to see him as someone who was connected to the history of jazz guitar, but also someone who helped expand musical boundaries.
John Abercrombie passed away from heart failure on August 22, 2017, at the age of 72.
Discography
John Abercrombie released many albums as a leader and also played on many recordings with other famous jazz musicians. His music can be found on the ECM label, which was his main record company for over four decades.
With Gateway
- Gateway (ECM, 1976)
- Gateway 2 (ECM, 1978)
- Homecoming (ECM, 1995)
- In the Moment (ECM, 1996)
See also
In Spanish: John Abercrombie (guitarrista) para niños
