GATEWAY - Homecoming (1994) APE (image+.cue), lossless

The Gateway Trio is a cooperative in the greatest sense of the word, as guitarist John Abercrombie, bassist Dave Holland, and drummer Jack DeJohnette are all respected players, composers, and bandleaders on the jazz scene. Even though this only the third Gateway recording and the group's first in 17 years, each group member collaborates frequently with the others. As a result there is always a great sense of interplay between Abercrombie's sometimes-mellow-sometimes-distorted guitar, Holland's huge toned bass, and DeJohnette's dancing drums. All of the compositions are by the band members and are wide-ranging in scope. Highlights include the title track, which begins as a medium swinger but drifts into collective improvisation before coming back to medium swing, Modern Times, with its melody reminiscent of "Yesterdays" over a samba feel, the rockish "How's Never" and "7th D," what one might call a "free blues." This is a fine return to recording for a great group. by Greg Turner
Tracklist :
1     Homecoming 12:41
Dave Holland
2     Waltz New  8:32
John Abercrombie
3     Modern Times 7:30
Dave Holland
4     Calypso Falto 7:47
John Abercrombie
5     Short Cut 6:13
John Abercrombie
6     How's Never 7:34
Dave Holland
7     In Your Arms 5:48
Dave Holland
8     7th D 9:29
Jack DeJohnette
9     Oneness 7:53
Jack DeJohnette (piano)
Credits :
Cover, Design [Cover Design] – Barbara Wojirsch
Double Bass – Dave Holland
Drums – Jack DeJohnette
Guitar – John Abercrombie
Producer – Manfred Eicher

GATEWAY - In the Moment (1997) APE (image+.cue), lossless

The group Gateway (a trio comprised of guitarist John Abercrombie, bassist Dave Holland and drummer Jack DeJohnette, who also plays the Korg wave-drum, a Turkish frame drum and piano) certainly covers a lot of ground. The interplay between the musicians is the main reason to acquire this set. The five group originals sound freely improvised, and they include the Indian-flavored "In the Moment," a full-scale Abercrombie guitar freakout on "Shrubberies" and some quieter moments. Intriguing and atmospheric music. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    In The Moment    8:36
2    The Enhanced Forest    9:20
3    Cinuçen    6:42
4    Shrubberies    14:01
5    Soft    7:13
Credits :
Design [Cover Design] – Barbara Wojirsch
Double Bass – Dave Holland
Drums, Electronic Drums [Korg Wave-Drum], Frame Drum [Turkish Frame Drum], Piano – Jack DeJohnette
Guitar – John Abercrombie
Producer – Manfred Eicher

JOHN ABERCROMBIE / DAN WALL / ADAM NUSSBAUM - Tactics (1996) APE (image+.cue), lossless

This set is a little different than most ECM releases, because the trio (guitarist John Abercrombie, organist Dan Wall and drummer Adam Nussbaum) performs a couple of fairly straight-ahead standards -- "You and the Night and the Music" and "Long Ago and Far Away" -- in addition to six originals, including Wall's rhythmic "Bo Diddy." Not sounding at all like a typical soul-jazz organ group, these musicians take more advanced improvisations, with Wall (whose accompaniment of Abercrombie is quite atmospheric) emerging as the top soloist. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Sweet Sixteen 11:21
John Abercrombie
2     Last Waltz 11:14
John Abercrombie
3     Bo Diddy 11:43
Dan Wall
4     You and the Night and the Music 10:15
Howard Dietz / Arthur Schwartz
5     Chumbida 5:46
Adam Nussbaum
6     Dear Rain 7:38
John Abercrombie
7     Mr. Magoo 8:44
Dan Wall
8     Long Ago (And Far Away) 9:42
Ira Gershwin / Jerome Kern
Credits :
Drums – Adam Nussbaum
Guitar [Guitars] – John Abercrombie
Organ [Hammond B3 Organ] – Dan Wall

LARRY CORYELL / BADI ASSAD / JOHN ABERCROMBIE - Three Guitars (2005) 24bits-96hz / FLAC

It's rare for three guitarists of this caliber to be assembled for a recording date. John Abercrombie claimed that he hadn't touched his acoustic guitar for three years prior to receiving an invitation to make this recording, though he was obviously ready when the tape rolled. Larry Coryell has made a number of acoustic recordings prior to this disc. Badi Assad's three previous CDs for Chesky have all merited high praise.
Assad contributed five compositions to the session, though the stunning opener, "Seu Jorge e Dona Ica," is hard to beat. She initially accompanies her fellow guitarists on a percussive instrument called a kalimba, which sounds like it originates from Africa. This six-minute work has several distinctive sections, including a bit of her mouth percussion. Her "After the Rain" showcases the intricate interplay between the three guitarists. The moody, march-like "Metamorphosis" also proves compelling, while her switch to copper flute with an interspersing vocal transforms the piece into borderline avant-garde.
Assad's body percussion introduces Abercrombie's challenging "Descending Grace," a piece full of surprising twists. His "Ralph's Piano Waltz" is every bit as difficult, but the players seem to tackle it effortlessly.
Coryell also brought several of his pieces to the sessions. "New Lute Prelude" was inspired by the late Brazilian guitarist Laurindo Almeida, it serves as a brief introduction to the much more laid-back "New Lute Interlude." He also composed two duets to play with Assad. The wild "No Flight Tonight" features her vocals and incredible mouth and body percussion as the sole accompaniment for Coryell. They also walk a musical tightrope together in his "Exercise in Fourths" without any slips. Highly recommended. by Ken Dryden  
Tracklist :
1     Seu Jorge E Dona Ica 6:00
Badi Assad / Sergio Assad
2     New Lute (Prelude) 1:34
Larry Coryell
3     New Lute (Interlude) 3:14
Larry Coryell
4     Soundtrack 4:17
John Abercrombie
5     After the Rain 4:56
Badi Assad
6     Descending Grace 5:28
John Abercrombie
7     Metamorphosis 4:03
Badi Assad
8     No Flight Tonight 4:24
Larry Coryell
9     Ralph's Piano Waltz 5:09
John Abercrombie
10     Suspended Circles 5:25
Badi Assad
11     Exercise in Fourths 2:33
Larry Coryell
12     Autumn Breeze 3:30
Badi Assad
13     Timeless 7:04
John Abercrombie
Credits :
Acoustic Guitar [Fisher Nylon String Classical], Flute [Copper], Percussion [Mouth And Body], Kalimba, Vocals – Badi Assad
Acoustic Guitar [Grimes] – Larry Coryell
Acoustic Guitar [Gruen] – John Abercrombie

JOHN ABERCROMBIE - Cat 'n' Mouse (2000) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Aided by an all-star band, John Abercombie makes it clear on CAT 'N' MOUSE exactly why he continues to be regarded as one of jazz's most creative and progressive guitarists. He's possessed not only of fearsome chops, but a finely honed textural sensibility that enables him to move from the slinky lines and feathery tones of the opening cut "A Nice Idea" to the forward-looking experimentalism of "Convolution" and post-bop firestorm of "Stop and Go" without missing a beat. Yoemanlike work is done as well by violinist Mark Feldman, whose purity of tone is matched only by his ceaseless originality and succinct phrasing. On the album's numerous contemplative tunes, it's a pleasure to hear Abercombie and Feldman's lines cris-crossing, creating spontaneous tone poems that bear beauty and invention in equal measure. AllMusic
Tracklist :
1     A Nice Idea 10:55
John Abercrombie
2     Convolution 5:31
John Abercrombie
3     String Thing 3:59
John Abercrombie
4     Soundtrack 8:04
John Abercrombie
5     Third Stream Samba 8:41
John Abercrombie / Joey Baron / Mark Feldman / Marc Johnson
6     On the Loose 5:59
John Abercrombie
7     Stop and Go 6:59
John Abercrombie
8     Show of Hands 9:18
John Abercrombie / Joey Baron / Mark Feldman / Marc Johnson
Credits :
Double Bass – Marc Johnson
Drums – Joey Baron
Guitar – John Abercrombie
Producer – Manfred Eicher
Violin – Mark Feldman