R.I.P. guitarist John Abercrombie 1944-2017

[Scion7]

Fusionist, modern guitarist who made some outstanding records as leader and sideman died of "heart failure" Wednesday.
Now, technically, we all die of "heart failure" - so I'm assuming it was a heart attack?
Abercrombie was sort of portly post 1978, so . . .

ANYWAY, he was a sideman extraordinaire on such records as Bruce Johnson's Sea Serpent (1980) to the point where he stole the show on the six of the eight tracks he played on.
He was an integral part of Jack DeJohnette's bands - making records like Jack's Cosmic Chicken exciting and overcoming the somewhat silly title.

As a leader, he recorded the aptly titled Timeless album with Jan Hammer - who played a very good and unusual (for him) organ on this trio record.

He was the primary creator of the two original Gateway band albums of the mid-Seventies.

His recordings with Oregon's Ralph Towner - Sargasso Sea and Five Years Later - were very impressive duo albums.

He was the 'successor' guitarist to Tommy Bolin for a few albums with Billy Cobham.

His catalogue is both large and rewarding, check out his music if you are unaware of his contributions to modern Jazz.

[asin]B000008HHW[/asin]

[San Antone]

Very sad news.  Great guitarist.

[Mirror Image]

I'm still kind of in disbelief that Abercrombie is gone. What a tremendous musical force. He didn't live flamboyantly or anything of the sort. A quiet man who lived most of his life in upstate New York. Away from the hustle and bustle of NYC. Every interview I've seen, or read, with him gave off a lot of positive energy and he seemed like such an honest person. I believe I have every album he's played on whether as a session player or as a leader. He always sounded like himself, which is no easy feat, especially for a guitarist.

[7/4]

Fusionist, modern guitarist who made some outstanding records as leader and sideman died of "heart failure" Wednesday.
Now, technically, we all die of "heart failure" - so I'm assuming it was a heart attack?
Abercrombie was sort of portly post 1978, so . . .
[asin]B000008HHW[/asin]

He was cancelling shows in Jan and had a stroke last May...smoker.

FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/171852846079/

and

John Abercrombie: Timeless: A Tribute To His Life And Music
Monday, March 26, 2018 @ 7:30 pm

Roulette
509 Atlantic Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
(917) 267-0368
http://roulette.org/event/john-abercrombie-timeless-a-tribute-to-his-life-and-music/