John Abercrombie: Back-Woods Song
Musicians:
John Abercrombie (guitar), Dave Holland (bass), Jack DeJohnette (drums).
Composed by Dave Holland
.Recorded: Ludwigsburg, Germany, March 1975
Rating: 88/100 (learn more)
Abercrombie, Holland and DeJohnette have enjoyed deserved long and influential careers. All have been, and continue to be, strong and important voices connecting the worlds of straight-ahead jazz, jazz fusion and even occasionally experimental jazz. As a trio they create impressive and provocative music.
"Back-Woods Song" is part folk song, part blues and part jazz-rock. Holland, who penned the piece, supplies a circular bassline that is so precise it almost sounds like an Indian drone box. Abercrombie plays wavy blues lines over it as DeJohnette chugs along. Abercrombie takes the first solo, employing harmonics and strangely bent chords. He leaves the reservation during a few measures. Holland is then given time to establish a head-nodding motif. This is all very engaging. "Back-Woods Song" is a fusion number that focuses on mood rather than power. In that sense, and aside from the trio taking things out a bit from time to time, the music is typical ECM fare. All good fusion didn't have to be right up in your face. Good stuff.
Reviewer: Walter Kolosky
Tags: 1970s jazz · ecm · fusion
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