John Abercrombie Tickets
Tickets for John Abercrombie are currently unavailable.
Click on "Get Tickets Alert" to get notified via email before tickets go on sale.
Discover Events Near You!
Write down your email and never miss an update.
John Abercrombie is an American jazz guitarist and music composer known primarily for his progressive jazz music. Hailing from Port Chester, New York, he has been playing the guitar and churning out sensational songs and albums since the late sixties. Today, he is one of the most acclaimed jazz guitarists in the US. He has played and collaborated with some of the biggest names in music, particularly jazz, including the Brecker Brothers, George Mraz, Marc Johnson, Marc Copland, John Patitucci and many more. You can see him live in concert, with John Abercrombie tickets in hand.
John Abercrombie is also a bandleader and his music often explores the various arenas of jazz; from jazz fusion, free jazz ad post bop to avant-garde jazz. During the sixties, he studied at the Berklee College of Music and then recorded his debut album, released by ECM Records under the name Timeless. He has since then recorded numerous songs and albums with ECM. He often plays with the likes of Billy Cobham, Michael Brecker, Jack DeJohnette and Randy Brecker. He is renowned for his signature style of playing jazz; spare, eclectic and understated, often incorporating organ trios.
Though born in Port Chester, New York, Abercrombie's family moved to Greenwich, Connecticut, where he began playing the guitar at the age of fourteen. Initially playing to Chuck Berry's music, he discovered Barny Kessel's music and was introduced to the world of jazz. In 1962, he joined the Berklee College of Music, studying for four years under Jack Petersen, a famous guitar teacher. While enrolled at the college, he performed live at Boston's Paul's Mall, a jazz club, that was part of the Jazz Workshop. It was through these gigs that he would meet long-time collaborators the Brecker Brothers and organist Johnny Hammond Smith.
Abercrombie was invited by Smith to perform with him, at the Big M club in Boston. He would then go on to tour with Smith as well. In 1967, Abercrombie graduated from Berklee and spent nearly two years at the North Texas State University. He then moved to New York City in 1969 and soon became one of the most in-demand session musicians in the city. In 1971, he played for Gato Barbieri, followed by Barry Miles a year later. In 1974, he recorded music with Gil Evans. By then, he had joined one of the first jazz rock bands in the nation, Dreams, which rose to fame during the late sixties and early seventies. Its members included drummer Billy Cobham and the Brecker Brothers.
Abercrombie also recorded music for a number of Billy Cobham's albums. Due to Dreams popularity, he also rose to fame, with the band often playing with the likes of the Doobie Brothers. He was also invited by ECM's founder and jazz producer Manfred Eicher to record music for ECM. This led to the release of his first solo album in 1974, titled Timeless. It received a lot of critical acclaim, and started what would be a lifelong relationship with ECM. A year later, he released his second album, Gateway, which featured bassist Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette.
A third album, with the same two artists, was released in 1978. By then, the three were often referred to as the Gateway Trio.
He would go on to record music with Arcade, M, and his own Abercrombie Quartet. He also contributed to a number of ensembles led by DeJohnette. During the nineties, he recorded music with many more artists and founded a trio with organist Dan Wall and Nussbaum. The trio released three albums and was joined later on by saxophonist Joe Lovana, trumpeter Kenny Wheeler and violinist Mark Feldman. The Gateway Trio also reunited for another release. Today, he continues to record music, forever pushing the boundaries of jazz while firmly grounded in jazz's traditions. To catch this legendary musician live, order John Abercrombie tickets now.