Search - John Abercrombie :: Timeless

The BEST jazz-rock fusion

greg DOBROV | chicago, IL USA | 05/29/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"John Abercrombie emerged in the shadows of McLaughlin and Di Meola. He is subtler and, in some ways, more restrained and accomplished. The result here on his ECM debut is a session that really stands the test of time: TIMELESS indeed! I am particularly fond of the title track and the acoustic pieces (there are two here and they are sophisticated entries in the same vein as Mahavishnu's "Thousand Island Park" and Return to Forever's acoustic material: if only fusion had done MUCH MORE of this it would not have mutated into a parody of itself).

The sound of the record is tight, energetic, yet somehow mellow. Jack DeJohnette is superb throughout, Jan Hamer makes a rare appearance on Hammond B3 and just sizzles! On the up-tempo side is "Lungs" an opening burner that settles into an exploratory groove. On the mystical, searching side is the title track that takes a simple motiff and weaves a long gorgeous story that has much more to do with what we think of as the "ECM sound" than "fusion". This should be your first stop on the way to discovering the rich discography of John Abercrombie. Five Stars (meaning: EVERY track is superb, no clunkers, no filler)"

Lives Up To Its Title

Dave_42 | Australia | 06/23/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Timeless" is a very good album featuring the U.S. Jazz Guitarist. On it, he teams up with Jan Hammer (organ, synthesizer, piano) and Jack De Johnette (drums). There are only six pieces on this album, all instrumental. The best track is undoubtedly the haunting title track which closes the album, which forms a nice set of book-ends for the album with the opening piece "Lungs". Each of them is about 12 minutes long, and together are over half the album. In addition, I think "Red And Orange" is a very good track. The other three pieces are not as strong, but each of them has its moments, and none of them are bad."

Unique Twist On The Organ Trio

P. McKenna | Atlanta GA | 12/03/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"John Abercrombie's first outing as a leader was not something you just put on quietly in the background and forgot about, it alternately grabbed you by the throat or hypnotised you. Joined here by the ever versatile Jack DeJohnette on drums and keyboard whiz Jan Hammer (taking a VERY rare turn on Hammond organ as well as piano and Mini Moog. Such a shame he didn't play organ more, he sounded GREAT on it!), JA blasts off with his own unique take on fusion, emphasizing the jazz end of the equation more than some of his contemporaries at the time.



1. Lungs - Gets off to a fiery start with call-and-response phrases at times reminiscent of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, it then starts to wind down to a mysterious and spooky mid-section (conjuring up images of a fog shrouded night in the woods) before ending on an unexpected funk jam to a fade out.



2. Love Song - Hammer and Abercrombie go for forlorn musical hues in this guitar/piano duet.



3. Ralph's Piano Waltz - Not forgettig his more traditional jazz roots, JA cooks up a piece that seems to evoke Miles Davis in it's memorable melody line, and featuring a SMOKING Hammond solo by Hammer.



4. Red And Orange - Baring the fangs this time with a Jan Hammer tune that rocks out yet retains the looseness of jazz. Great intense melody line too.



5. Remembering - A dissonant, angular piano/guitar duet that builds tension and pulls you along in its spell



6. Timeless - As another reviewer pointed out, it was amazing how JA could take a very simple phrase with chordal drones and turn it into something very mysterious and open, I couldn't agree more, definitely the most hypnotic track on the disc and a great closer.

"