For Yous Bathroom Abercrombie - 1975 Timeless

Guitarist John Abercrombie's kickoff inwards a long job of recordings for ECM was every bit good his debut every bit a leader. Teamed upwardly alongside Jan Hammer (who hither plays organ, synthesizer, in addition to piano) in addition to drummer Jack DeJohnette, Abercrombie plays iv of his originals, addition ii past times Hammer. These performances differ from many of the guitarist's afterward ECM dates inwards that Hammer injects a potent dose of fusion into the music, in addition to at that spot is enough of spirited interplay betwixt those ii alongside fine back upwardly past times DeJohnette. Thought-provoking in addition to occasionally exciting music that by in addition to large defies categorization.

The Allmusic review past times Scott Yanow awarded the album 4½ stars calling it "Thought-provoking in addition to occasionally exciting music that by in addition to large defies categorization". The Penguin Guide to Jazz awarded the album 4 stars noting "There's to a greater extent than filigree than flash on the early on Timeless in addition to it's left to DeJohnette in addition to the underrated Hammer to gain the laid upwardly the propulsion it calls for... this is a session that has grown inwards stature alongside familiarity, an altogether tougher in addition to to a greater extent than resilient label debut than anyone remembers". The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide said "Hammer specially plays alongside astounding burn in addition to grace on this session, only about of the finest organ playing he's recorded"

On Timeless, guitarist John Abercrombie spearheads a session alongside keyboardist January Hammer in addition to drummer Jack DeJohnette for a melding of minds inwards the kickoff degree.

Guitarist John Abercrombie has oft been associated alongside organists, from his formative years inwards the 1960s alongside the deep funk of Johnny "Hammond" Smith to the subtle orchestral underpinnings that Dan Wall provides for Abercrombie's 1990s-era bands. This 1974 recording was Abercrombie's kickoff every bit a leader, in addition to he's joined past times January Hammer on organ, piano, in addition to synthesizer in addition to Jack DeJohnette on drums. The high-speed exchanges on Hammer's extended "Lungs" at i time invoke John McLaughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra, piece his "Red in addition to Orange" recalls Tony Williams's Lifetime band. But Abercrombie makes his ain vocalization apparent fifty-fifty inwards the fusion idiom, alongside angular solos that observe their ain paths through the electrical storms. His compositions stimulate got varied approaches, invoking the to a greater extent than traditional organ trio on "Ralph's Piano Waltz" in addition to emphasizing tune in addition to infinite on the championship tune. The guitarist every bit good engages Hammer's pianoforte on ii reflective duets, "Love Song" in addition to "Remembering," that emphasize his roots inwards the lyrical manner of Jim Hall.

The trio kicks things off inwards high gear alongside “Lungs,” a heaping pile of kindling laid upwardly ablaze past times Hammer’s high-octane staccato, DeJohnette’s explosive hi-hat, in addition to Abercrombie’s unusually frenetic fretwork. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 sublime unloosen energy is maintained throughout in addition to the reward is supremely satisfying—all the to a greater extent than in addition to therefore for its brevity, every bit the music all of a precipitous changes avenues only a few minutes in. Hammer relays betwixt organ in addition to synth, keeping the measuring (and the funk) through trailing guitar solos that post notes similar cosmic fingers flicking galaxies into outer space. The organ smolders quietly inwards the background earlier clinching a novel groove, which Abercrombie laces alongside lines flanged only correct for the mix. It all ends inwards a game of musical boundary rope, alongside Abercrombie skipping over the alternation of drums in addition to organ. “Love Song” is truthful to its elevate in addition to is the kickoff of ii exquisite conversations betwixt pianoforte in addition to acoustic guitar. Just every bit the organ trailed long rows inwards the soil of our attention, the pianoforte comes every bit a welcome pelting for our crop in addition to the guitar similar the Sun that infuses it. This brings us to “Ralph’s Piano Waltz,” a highlight of these 6 fine offerings. Like the album every bit a whole, this rail is a superlative balancing act. It’s a build in addition to therefore seamless that if you lot don’t observe your human foot tapping during this one, you lot mightiness desire to brand certain it’s withal attached. The electrical leads beak inwards their respective languages, but every bit good mimic each other along the way. “Red And Orange” is what mightiness lawsuit if Bach had survived into the 1970s every bit a closeted jazz musician, in addition to is only about other standout inwards a laid upwardly of many. “Remembering” is an alluring chain of tableux in addition to the 2nd of the ii duets. Abercrombie sustains details the pianoforte seems content to ignore, loosening those threads from their weave. We halt alongside the championship track, which builds slow from a synth drone peppered alongside guitar musings to a full-on comprehend of space.

This evergreen stands tall inwards the ECM forest. There is no feel of competition, alone usual reveling inwards a distinctly nuclear sound. One could easily telephone yell upwardly it fusion, but if anything it is fused alongside itself, for it has created every chemical gene it seeks to combine. Timeless indeed.

Track listing

1. "Lungs" – 12:10 (Hammer)
2. "Love Song" – 4:35 (Abercrombie)
3. "Ralph's Piano Waltz" – 4:55 (Abercrombie)
4. "Red in addition to Orange" – 5:24 (Hammer)
5. "Remembering" – 4:33 (Abercrombie)
6. "Timeless" – 11:57 (Abercrombie)

Personnel

• John Abercrombie - Guitar
• Jack DeJohnette - Drums
• Jan Hammer - Organ, piano, synthesizer