Search - John Abercrombie :: November

As fresh and wonderful as today

Ian Muldoon | Coffs Harbour, NSW Australia | 12/28/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Recorded a decade ago in 1992 this music is as fresh and wonderful as today. One lonely standard - Come Rain or Come Shine - sits penultimately among 11 originals. The leader Mr Abercrombie, contributes five of these alone with an additional two in collaboration. Atmospheric, and well balanced programme of ballads (mainly) bookended by an opening uptempo free improvisation (terrific!) and a gutsy work by Mr Abercrombie (terrific two!). Outstanding solos throughout with Mr Surman providing a distinctive voice on bass clarinet, soprano sax and baritone sax - dig his lovely solo on this last on JS. Not a wasted note on this CD. After many plays over six years still great listening. Four modern masters, each a leader, composer, soloist of distinction. Excellent moments: the opening strings on the title track - Mr Surman's distinctive soprano tone, like a cry, on Rise and Fall - bass/drum duo on Tuesday Afternoon. Superbly recorded."

November Sound

Felix Schultz | Canton, Ohio United States | 12/13/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The melding of the Abercrombie trio with John Surman is amzing.
The music has the dark feeling of the coming winter, the aura of
the north wind outside the door. It is smooth and warm, though,
like the warmth indoors in November, with the bass clarinet and
tenor sax of Surman playing off the guitar of Abercrombie and the
bass of Johnson. It is a recording that takes some getting used
to, then it becomes one to go back to again and again."