JOHN ABERCROMBIE - Selected Recordings (Rarum XIV) (2004) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Perhaps no single player's sound is more associated with ECM recordings -- with the possible exception of Jan Garbarek's -- than guitarist John Abercrombie's. His dulcet, multivalent tones have been gracing ECM titles since 1974 and his landmark recording as a leader, Timeless, with keyboardist Jan Hammer and drummer Jack DeJohnette. Abercrombie has remained with the label since that time, and has issued no less than 22 recordings as a leader, and has appeared on at least two dozen others. On his Rarum volume, Abercrombie selects ten tracks from his tenure with ECM as both a leader and a sideman. Some tracks are givens, such as "Timeless," "Sorcery I," form Gateway, and "Big Music," from November; both others are surprises such as "Ma Belle Hélène," from Kenny Wheeler's The Widow in the Window, and "Carol's Carol," from the trio album While We're Young set from 1992. Abercrombie's notes explicating his choices and his career are warm and insightful, making this a fine package for the price. by Thom Jurek
Tracklist :
1    John Abercrombie–    Timeless 12:02
Drums – Jack DeJohnette
Electric Guitar – John Abercrombie
Organ, Synthesizer – Jan Hammer
Written-By – John Abercrombie
2    Gateway –    Sorcery I 10:57
Double Bass – Dave Holland
Drums – Jack DeJohnette
Electric Guitar – John Abercrombie
Written-By – Jack DeJohnette
3    John Abercrombie / Ralph Towner–    Avenue 5:14
Acoustic Guitar – John Abercrombie
Classical Guitar – Ralph Towner
Written-By – John Abercrombie
4    John Abercrombie–    Memoir 3:10
Acoustic Guitar [Acoustic Guitars] – John Abercrombie
Written-By – John Abercrombie
5    Abercrombie Quartet–    Stray 6:30
Double Bass – George Mraz
Drums – Peter Donald
Mandoguitar [Mandolin Guitar] – John Abercrombie
Piano – Richard Beirach
Written-By – Richard Beirach
6    John Abercrombie–    Big Music 5:40
Double Bass – Marc Johnson)
Drums – Peter Erskine
Electric Guitar – John Abercrombie
Written-By – John Abercrombie
7    Kenny Wheeler Quintet–    Ma Belle Hélène 8:42
Double Bass – Dave Holland
Drums – Peter Erskine
Electric Guitar – John Abercrombie
Piano – John Taylor
Trumpet – Kenny Wheeler
Written-By – Kenny Wheeler
8    John Abercrombie–    Carol's Carols 8:46
Drums – Adam Nussbaum
Electric Guitar – John Abercrombie
Organ – Dan Wall
Written-By – Dan Wall
9    Gateway –    Homecoming 12:34
Double Bass – Dave Holland
Drums – Jack DeJohnette
Electric Guitar – John Abercrombie
Written-By – Dave Holland
10    John Abercrombie–    Convolution 5:30
Double Bass – Marc Johnson
Drums – Joey Baron
Electric Guitar – John Abercrombie
Violin – Mark Feldman
Written-By – John Abercrombie