Third Quartet [CD]

John Abercrombie has recorded prolifically for the ECM label since the early '70s. His output has been very thoroughly documented, while at ECM, he also performed as a session player on countless albums. Most notably with Kenny Wheeler, Ralph Towner, Colin Wolcott, Jack DeJohnette, Charles Lloyd, among others. His own compositions and guitar playing are very melodic and lyrical. His improvisational playing is some of the best out there. He can pretty much do anything on the guitar. He's a virtuoso in the truest sense. While he's technical master on the guitar, he is also a very textural player. He often shifts moods to match what the piece of music is doing. Abercrombie, quite simply, is one of the greatest jazz guitarist of the last 30 years. His popularity, however, is somewhat baffling to me and at the same time it's really a shame that more people don't know about him. I can honestly say he's influenced my own guitar playing. Abercrombie is a VERY underrated jazz guitarist. "The Third Quartet" is Abercrombie's first album for ECM in 3 years.

"The Third Quartet" picks up where 2004's "Class Trip" left off. However, the music here is more refined and this is simply because this particular quartet has been playing together for 9 years. This music is very hard to describe. I wouldn't classify it as free jazz, because there is structure to the music, but I wouldn't necessarily call this music bebop either. What I would call it is chamber jazz. It's a deicate balance of classical and jazz. The jazz aspect of this music is obviously within the improvisations, but the music follows more in the lines of classical. This type of jazz is something Abercrombie has been working on for many, many years. The instrumentation on this album as with the groups other two albums is quite unique: guitar, violin, bass, and drums. Mark Feldman plays violin and is one of the better violinist I've heard that can improvise in a jazz context. His ideas are always interesting and melodic and they add color to a piece. He definitely is one of the best jazz violinist I've heard. Someone like Regina Carter needs to look at what Feldman is doing and take notes. He's the new jazz violinist that people need to be aware of. Marc Johnson, on bass, has been around for a very long time. He has played with so many musicians, but I think his best early work is with pianist Bill Evans. Marc has also released some very fine albums under the ECM and Polydor labels, most notably the album "Right Brain Patrol" remains one of my personal favorites of Johnson's. Marc always provides great support to his bandmantes. Joey Baron, on drums, is one of the wildest and most original drummers of the last 15 years. He's been an active member in Bill Frisell's band and has been apart of John Zorn's group Naked City and has also played on countless John Zorn albums. Baron's work with Masada, John Zorn's group that blends traditional Jewish music with jazz, has been a very rewarding listening experience. Baron's style is one that is in constant motion. He doesn't stay in one spot to long and yet he provides this group with what it needs: a driving force to propel it.

"Third Quartet" is a good place to start exploring John Abercrombie's later work. It has all of the naunces and textures of an Abcercrombie album but with more of a chamber jazz leaning. Very highly recommended.

I have listened to this man's guitar playing since he played with Billy

Cobham. I am not a guitarist. I can only say he has an incredible sense

of touch & dynamics. I recently had the pleasure of seeing him play with

this quartet in Birdland, NYC.They were fantastic. I thought 'Gateway II'

was one of my favorites of his. This is way up there (all this groups

recordings come highly recomended).from 'Cosmic Chicken (somebody please

release that)to Arcade,the organ trios, directions,etc..listen to this

man & the people he surrounds himself with. You wont EVER be disappointed.

J. Rich's review echoes my sentiments exactly on this album and he's provided both a wonderful assessment of The Third Quartet and a bit of a history lesson as to the background and skills of this quartet. Bravo, Mr. Rich! Abercrombie is a masterful guitar player and leader of this group. Feldman's violin is at times fiery as on the powerful opener Banshee. But Marc Feldman can also be an exquisite violinist on the slower tempo tunes. Joey Baron's drumming is wickedly great. He is one of the best time-keepers in the business, which is why he is in such demand as a session player. Marc Johnson has a lovely and expressive touch on the double bass. Anyway, there is just so much empathy to the playing of these guys when they get together. It's almost telepathic. Of the ten compositions on the Third Quartet, eight are by Abercrombie. Round Trip by Ornette Colemen and Epilogue by Bill Evans round out the set. You can always count on great sound from an ECM jazz album that is produced by Manfred Eicher. This recording gets top marks for sound, performance and the compositions. Highly recommended!!