John Abercrombie

There was a time growing up when I felt I could pick up any record on ECM and be happy. It was only recently I learned that what I really meant was I like every record that has Jan Garbarek playing on it. But since Garbarek played on damn near every single ECM record, it's ok.

I've listened to all 24 John Abercrombie records I have and frankly I can't tell you much more about him than he's your typical ECM jazz artist, infected with the Norwegian production virus that has shaped his sound ever since. I like that. He's got a kind of Willie Nelson vocal esthethic to his playing, hitting the note a touch early or a touch late and yet in a rather tasteful and interesting spot. He's stayed interesting to me even on his most recent stuff, and he seems to be churning out 2-3 records a year at this point.

He also passes the Sweetie's Sunday afternoon background music standard. My review is terrible because I do that too. I don't listen to him so much as his playing simply makes the rest of life more pleasant.

There are some Abercrombie records I don't care for, all depending on who is playing with him. I've pretty much come to the conclusion that Bob Mintzer ruins everything he touches, and Abercrombie made a lot of records with him. I'm beginning to think that John Surman has this suckifying effect in every quartet or trio he darkens.

There's this one particular style of combo that I just can't stand, the serial noodlers. You get three or four guys together and there's about 45 seconds of song, then the guitar goes noodle noodle noodle, then the piano goes noodle noodle noodle, then the bass goes noodle noodle noodle, then there's the drum solo. God I hate drum solos. The only jazz drum solo I like is the one on A Love Supreme, and the only reason why I like that one is that it's on A Love Supreme.

But enough about what I don't like in jazz. John Abercrombie's guitar is a lot of what I do like in jazz. Enough to have two dozen of his records and want more.