Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » John Abercrombie: Wait Till You See Her

473

John Abercrombie: Wait Till You See Her

By

Sign in to view read count
John Abercrombie: Wait Till You See Her
John Abercrombie = 3242, whose history with ECM stretches back to the early '70s, now releases his fourth CD with the same quartet of violinist Mark Feldman and drummer Joey Baron, newcomer Thomas Morgan replacing previous bassist Marc Johnson. Though there are rambunctious moments, Abercrombie chooses to open with "Sad Song," a somewhat misleading title. The playing is tender, thoughtful and melodically floating, speaking to an artist's confidence that one doesn't have to start a journey by proving how fast and loud they can play. The line between soloists is blurred; the melody moves between violin and guitar, producing a richer texture than the common soloist-with-rhythm-section arrangement. "Line-Up" starts with Baron implying a fast swing time, while Feldman and Abercrombie fragment the head. This leads to a brief unison statement, more fragmentation and then a deliberate guitar solo. As Abercrombie hands the reins to Feldman, Baron returns to the softer splintering of the beat while violin moves through the dynamic range from very soft to loud in a fraction of a second. Morgan's solo, accompanied by violin and guitar referencing the opening fragmented texture, leads back perfectly and seamlessly to the head.

"Out of Towner"—a sly reference to Abercrombie's collaboration with fellow guitarist Ralph Towner—is concise, a head over a 12/8 beat that leads to a magnificent solo by Feldman propelled by Afro/Cuban-tinged drumming. Feldman pulls in all his experience playing classical, country, klezmer and music-beyond-category to produce a statement rich in feeling and technical prowess. Abercrombie's solo is flowing, using a more sustained sound rather than the rhythmic attack of his jazzier leads.

Abercrombie composed all the music except the title track, written by Rodgers and Hart in the '40s. The lyrics from this love song provide a summation for the approach and results of Abercrombie's latest effort: "pensive and sweet and wise."

Track Listing

Sad Song; Line-Up; Wait Till You See Her; Trio; I've Overlooked Before; Anniversary Waltz; Out Of Towner; Chic of Araby.

Personnel

John Abercrombie: guitars; Mark Feldman: violin; Thomas Morgan: double-bass; Joey Baron: drums.

Album information

Title: Wait Till You See Her | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: ECM Records

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.
View events near New York City
Jazz Near New York City
Events Guide | Venue Guide | Local Businesses | More...

More

Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio
Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.