Abby and Norm (Abigail Aronson and Norman Zocher) are the only married
Assistant Professors of Guitar at Berklee College of Music, Boston, where
their jazz guitar oriented quartet in the tradition of John Scofield, Pat
Metheny, and John Abercrombie - who wrote the liner notes for this C.D. - has
earned them a loyal following. For two cuts on this recording, George Garzone
guests, to make a quintet. abby & norm met as students in Advanced
Harmony Class at New England Conservatory in 1987. Five years ago (when Abby
joined Norm at Berklee College of Music as Professors of Guitar where they
both teach today, and Norm joined Bevan Manson on the New England
Conservatory Jazz faculty) the Abby & Norm Group was formed, with atomic jazz
pianist Bevan and outstanding young drummer Brooke Sofferman, and the group
has been performing to a loyal following since.
This recording - Volume I: the Book of Norman - produced with care by
Abby and Norm, features Norm's compositions, so grounded in traditional
strengths that one could swear each tune was an old great that somehow, has
not yet been heard; yet utterly modern, and a completely individual statement
that speaks truthfully to the jazz, rock, or blues lover; player and listener
alike. Likewise is Norm as a player; hits you in the same deep place as a
long held favorite song, and yet he is at the same time, as John Abercrombie
said, "harmonically sophisticated, rhythmically burning...a truly great
guitar player". Norm's playing speaks for itself at venues from The Blue Note
(N.Y.), to the Blue Room (Banff, Alberta) to The House of Blues (Cambridge,
Mass.) as well as in performances and/or recordings with George Garzone, Paul
Bley, Jerry Bergonzi, John Medeski, Jackie Byard, Bob Moses, Marty Ehrlich
and Maria Schneider and Dave Holland to name a few.
Abby - whose multi-faceted career in jazz singing, bass, classical and
jazz guitar, and her amazing ear create her signature melodic sound woven
into an intense swing feel - also shows her unique production style (heard in
the perfect dynamic moment or the tempo choice that means melodic rather than
relentless) that was honed by years of chamber music at N. E. Conservatory.
where she studied with David Leisner and won the Chadwick Medal for top
performer and musician while receiving her degree in classical guitar
performance. While pursuing their Undergradute and Master's Degrees Norm
and/or Abby had the honor of studying with Mick Goodrick, John Abercrombie,
George Garzone, Jimmy Giuffre, Dave Holland, Cecil McBee,Bob Moses, Paul
Bley, and other great musicians. Abby and Norm were thrilled to become Mr.
and Mrs. Norm and Abby in June of '97, and the two were honored to have best
man and jazz legend in his own time George Garzone perform with"The Fringe"
at their reception.
What a great way to start.
