JOHN ABERCROMBIE - While We're Young (1993) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Echoing tones from the well-known Timeless recording, Abercrombie is back in the organ-drums-guitar saddle. This time around, though, the sound is much more underground/labyrinth-like. His guitar molds and shapes these compositions, sometimes steely or snarly, at others passive and meditative. Dan Wall's intense organ stirs the drink, his orchestral, expansive approach evoking definite memories of Larry Young, while drummer Adam Nussabaum proves his extraordinary listening capacity while playing off his colleagues. The result is a stunning fusion of electrified in-your-head jazz, rooted on terra firma, gazing to the stars, and it won't let go. Abercrombie's writing reflects a stealth approach, his pieces have an underlying warmth that can at any time strike terror into your heart. "Stormz" has a soaring, loose yet cohesive mood, Nussbaum's quick drumming lighting the fuse, where, by contrast, "Dear Rain" has a gentler feeling Abercrombie inspired by Nussbaum's cymbal washes. "Scomotion" is really patient, no doubt a head nod to fellow guitarist John Scofield, with a lyrical line that is at once bluesy and cerebral. The showstoppers are written by Wall; "Rain Forest" is a dark, modal piece set up by a three-chord pattern from the organist. This trio hits on many different angles, from somber and reverent to acutely kinetic and truly electrifying. This is exploratory music, unique unto itself, and a landmark fusion of the '90s. If this kind of jazz is what you crave, those who were young in the '70s, it's a must-buy, no doubt. by Michael G. Nastos  
Tracklist :
1    Rain Forest 9:26
Composed By – Dan Wall
2    Stormz 6:01
Composed By – Adam Nussbaum, John Abercrombie
3    Dear Rain 5:54
Composed By – John Abercrombie
4    Mirrors 8:05
Composed By – Dan Wall
5    Carol's Carol 8:47
Composed By – Dan Wall
6    Scomotion 6:26
Composed By – John Abercrombie
7    A Matter Of Time 8:15
Composed By – John Abercrombie
8    Dolorosa 5:43
Composed By – Dan Wall
Credits :
Drums – Adam Nussbaum
Guitar [Guitars] – John Abercrombie
Organ [Hammond Organ] – Dan Wall
Producer – Manfred Eicher

JEFF PALMER, DAVID LIEBMAN, JOHN ABERCROMBIE, ADAM NUSSBAUM - Abracadabra (1987-1990) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Sound explorations are emphasized throughout this release with Jeff Palmer's atmospheric organ, the varied tones of John Abercrombie's guitar synthesizer, David Liebman's very passionate soprano and Adam Nussbaum's drums interacting over a variety of patterns. All of the compositions are group originals with five by Palmer and one apiece from the other three musicians. Whether it be the funky beat of "Hip Slick," the free jamming of "Mr. Adam," the spacey title cut or the almost New Age feel of "Mr. John," the themes are less important than the setting of moods and the advanced improvising. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Hip Slick 7:56
Jeff Palmer
2     Mr. Adam 3:01
Adam Nussbaum
3     Tango Dream 8:00
Jeff Palmer
4     Mr. John 4:41
John Abercrombie
5     Abracadabra 5:10
Jeff Palmer
6     The Unknown Known 6:33
Jeff Palmer
7     Mr. Dave 2:46
David Liebman
8     Girl Swirl 8:38
Jeff Palmer
9     On Fire 12:41
Jeff Palmer
Credits :
Drums – Adam Nussbaum
Guitar Synthesizer – John Abercrombie
Organ [Hammond B3 Electronic Organ-Bass Pedals] – Jeff Palmer
Producer – Paul Bley
Soprano Saxophone – David Liebman

JOHN ABERCROMBIE - Farewell (1993) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

This 1993 recording is a follow-up to an earlier duo session by Andy LaVerne and John Abercrombie, although they add bassist George Mraz and drummer Adam Nussbaum for this date. Following a rather upbeat, introspective arrangement of the standard "Beautiful Love," they stick to originals by either the pianist or the guitarist. LaVerne's "Mother of Pearl" is a shimmering post-bop work that is full of surprises, while "Opal" is a treasure of a different sort, prominently featuring Abercrombie's brittle-sounding electric guitar. Abercrombie's "Monk Like" has a quirky line much like its namesake might employ, and the unpredictable ballad "Farewell" serves as an appropriate conclusion to this enjoyable CD. by Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1     Beautiful Love 6:34
Haven Gillespie / Wayne King / Egbert VanAlstyne / Victor Young
2     Monk Life 5:42
John Abercrombie
3     Ralph's Piano Waltz 6:58
John Abercrombie
4     Mother of Pearl 6:53
Andy LaVerne
5     I Mean 8:21
John Abercrombie
6     Opus 25 6:28
John Abercrombie
7     Opal 7:09
Andy LaVerne
8     Farewell 5:33
John Abercrombie
Credits :
Bass – George Mraz
Drums – Adam Nussbaum
Guitar – John Abercrombie
Piano – Andy LaVerne

JOHN ABERCROMBIE TRIO - Speak of the Devil (1993) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

 The follow-up to While We're Young has a less melodic, more loosely structured feel, as if it were all kinetically inspired and freely improvised within various structures. The intuition or trust level of electric guitarist John Abercrombie, organist Dan Wall, and drummer Adam Nussbaum is clearly evident: They are listening, reacting, and responding to each other from measure to measure, and that is the basis for their music making. It's a fusion of feelings, and those moods -- many times dark -- lie beneath the surface only to rise at their behest. The snarly, stealth, and swirling sound is evident on the introductory cut "Angel Food," courtesy of Abercrombie, Wall, and Nussbaum, respectively, going to a tick-tock beat that is positively blackened on the closer "Hell's Gate." In between you get two free, seemingly unstructured pieces: the unhurried "Now & Again" and the more reverent but interactive "Farewell." "Dreamland" is like "Angel Food" in attitude, while the collective improvisation "Mahat" has hopping 2/4 tom tom beats from Nussbaum moving into full drum kit swing. The melodies are either nonexistent or harder to grasp; Abercrombie's searing or lilting guitar sound requires close attention. Skating around a melody for "Chorale," you actually get the impression the leader is building disparate, multiple, chameleonic changes within a more definite swing. A true melodic motif, albeit slight, informs "BT-U" in a more rock/R&B beat, while the waltz "Early to Bed" suggests a lovely, extrapolated Bill Evans line, perhaps from "Very Early." Though "While We're Young" was a definitive recording for Abercrombie's vaunted trio, this CD simply offers a different slant. It's the sign of a group either in transition of evolution, and whatever the case, it's an intriguing step for these three uncanny sonic explorers. by Michael G. Nastos  
Tracklist :
1     Angel Food 7:52
Dan Wall
2     Now And Again 6:13
John Abercrombie / Adam Nussbaum / Dan Wall
3     Mahat 8:24
John Abercrombie / Adam Nussbaum / Dan Wall
4     Chorale 8:19
John Abercrombie
5     Farewell 6:15
John Abercrombie
6     BT-U 6:20
Adam Nussbaum
7     Early To Bed 8:17
John Abercrombie
8     Dreamland 9:08
Dan Wall
9     Hell's Gate 7:07
Dan Wall
Credits :
Design [Cover Design] – Barbara Wojirsch
Drums – Adam Nussbaum
Guitar [Guitars] – John Abercrombie
Organ [Hammond B3 Organ] – Dan Wall
Producer – Manfred Eicher

JOHN ABERCROMBIE / DAN WALL / ADAM NUSSBAUM - Tactics (1996) APE (image+.cue), lossless

This set is a little different than most ECM releases, because the trio (guitarist John Abercrombie, organist Dan Wall and drummer Adam Nussbaum) performs a couple of fairly straight-ahead standards -- "You and the Night and the Music" and "Long Ago and Far Away" -- in addition to six originals, including Wall's rhythmic "Bo Diddy." Not sounding at all like a typical soul-jazz organ group, these musicians take more advanced improvisations, with Wall (whose accompaniment of Abercrombie is quite atmospheric) emerging as the top soloist. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Sweet Sixteen 11:21
John Abercrombie
2     Last Waltz 11:14
John Abercrombie
3     Bo Diddy 11:43
Dan Wall
4     You and the Night and the Music 10:15
Howard Dietz / Arthur Schwartz
5     Chumbida 5:46
Adam Nussbaum
6     Dear Rain 7:38
John Abercrombie
7     Mr. Magoo 8:44
Dan Wall
8     Long Ago (And Far Away) 9:42
Ira Gershwin / Jerome Kern
Credits :
Drums – Adam Nussbaum
Guitar [Guitars] – John Abercrombie
Organ [Hammond B3 Organ] – Dan Wall

JOHN ABERCROMBIE - Open Land (1999) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Here, Abercrombie grafts three soloists -- trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, tenor saxman Joe Lovano, and violinist Mark Feldman -- onto his organ trio and comes out with an absorbing set of elegantly textured, poly-styled music laced with his drifting, occasionally jagged yet never overbearing guitar. On the title track and, not unexpectedly, on "Free Piece Suit(e)," the sextet veers onto the outside, but they always do so in a relaxed ECM manner, without jangling any nerves. "Little Booker," a reversal of the names of the short-lived trumpeter, is the nicest track, outfitted with a memorable tune, and "That's for Sure" has an off-kilter, loose-jamming country feeling. Both Lovano and Wheeler play sparely and tastefully, and Feldman occasionally emits a gust of shock fiddling but mostly stays within lyrical bounds. Adam Nussbaum's drumming is loose, unpredictable, and adaptable; Dan Wall's organ discreetly lays in the background or steps forth in the usual Jimmy Smith-derived idiom.  by Richard S. Ginell
Tracklist :
1     Just in Tune    6:36   
John Abercrombie
2     Open Land    10:08   
John Abercrombie
3     Spring Song    8:59
John Abercrombie / Felix Mendelssohn
4     Gimme Five    7:23 
John Abercrombie
5     Speak Easy    6:43   
John Abercrombie
6     Little Booker    6:10 
John Abercrombie
7     Free Piece Suit(e)    6:56   
John Abercrombie / Mark Feldman / Joe Lovano / Adam Nussbaum / Dan Wall / Kenny Wheeler
8     Remember When   7:58  
John Abercrombie
9     That's for Sure    4:08
John Abercrombie
Credits :
Drums – Adam Nussbaum
Guitar – John Abercrombie
Organ – Dan Wall
Tenor Saxophone – Joe Lovano
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Kenny Wheeler
Violin – Mark Feldman