The Vortex Jazz Club, 11 Gillett Square, London N16 8AZ | Bookings 020 7254 4097 | Email Info at Vortex

CD reviews

New cd releases

 

Browse CD reviews

A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z 

Join the Vortex
email list

To receive monthly gig details, news and ticket offers.



RSS feeds

For news, gig and CD reviews and information about the club.

Click on the link below to get the subscribe address
Vortex news

For more informaton about RSS see the
RSS help pages

John Abercrombie Quartet

Wait Till You See Her

ECM 179 8630

'… like 20th century classical music, or something you can't even put your finger on' is how guitarist John Abercrombie describes the music produced by this quartet, completed by violinist Mark Feldman, bassist Thomas Morgan and drummer Joey Baron.

With only the Rodgers and Hart title-track not by Abercrombie, the album is satisfyingly homogeneous, its eight tracks delicate, subtle, elegant yet full of tastefully controlled power and constantly surprising with its delightful variations of texture and dynamics.

The compatibility of Abercrombie and Feldman will surprise no one who's heard Open Land or Cat 'n' Mouse, and is perfectly described by Abercrombie himself: 'Having Feldman is like having a string section behind you sometimes. He'll jump in and start playing behind me on tunes, playing double-stops or making little quotes, and it's like having a little orchestra.'

With Baron impeccable throughout (his brushwork and use of cymbals in particular simply exemplary) and Morgan providing solid bass work, this is another polished, sophisticated yet warm and approachable album from a man about whom John Scofield recently commented: 'Anybody who's got ears can hear the beautiful integrity of his improvisations'.