The First Quartet
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Release Date: 20 November 2015
Label: Ecm Records
Packaging Type: Box Set
No of Units: 3
Barcode: 602547324375
Genres: Jazz  Contemporary  
Release Date: 20 November 2015
Label: Ecm Records
Packaging Type: Box Set
No of Units: 3
Barcode: 602547324375
Genres: Jazz  Contemporary  
Description
This 3-CD set with recordings from 1978 to 1980, issued in ECM's acclaimed Old & New Masters series, returns some historically-important material to the catalogue, namely the albums 'Arcade', 'Abercrombie Quartet' and 'M'.
The quartet with Richie Beirach, George Mraz and Peter Donald - John Abercrombie's first touring band as a leader - was the group in which the guitarist defined some priorities, moving away from a jazz-rock period into a more spacious, impressionistic and original music. Abercrombie and pianist Beirach had a strong musical rapport as improvisers and wrote almost all of the band's book between them. George Mraz and Peter Donald provided imaginative support.
For this edition the recordings - made in Oslo and Ludwigsburg and produced by Manfred Eicher - were re-mastered from original analog sources.
It's a first appearance on CD for these discs in most world territories ('Arcade' was briefly available on compact disc in Japan) and re-release of these titles has been much requested by followers of both Abercrombie and Beirach as well as ECM collectors.
From the liner notes, by John Kelman: "With the release of 'Arcade', 'Abercrombie Quartet' and 'M', John Abercrombie's entire ECM discography as a leader is finally available on CD. Looking back at these discs and their position in his oeuvre, they are revealed as seminal documents of Abercrombie's arrival as a distinctive writer, improvising guitarist and bandleader. Abercrombie's subsequent career has, in many ways, been built on the foundational strength of these early quartet recordings."
Personnel: John Abercrombie (guitars, mandolin); Richie Beirach (piano); George Mraz (double bass); Peter Donald (drums)
Tracklisting
John Surman
Marcin Wasilewski Trio & Joe Lovano
Sebastian Rochford
Elina Duni, Rob Luft, Fred Thomas & Matthieu Michel
Keith Jarrett
Mette Henriette
Keith Jarrett
Jakob Bro, Arve Henriksen & Jorge Rossy
John Abercrombie Quartet
John Abercrombie Quartet
The Wire