First released on 1 October 1975, this vinyl reissue in ECM’s Luminessence series comes complete with extensive and erudite sleeve notes by Wilco’s Nels Cline and previously unseen photographs. Over the course of two decades, the Abercrombie, Holland and DeJohnette trio made a total of four albums together, beginning with this debut and concluding with In The Moment (ECM, 1996). By the third album, Homecoming (ECM, 1995) they were collectively known as Gateway.
Dave Holland’s Backwoods Song has a country and western feel underpinned by a drone-like ostinato bass. John Abercrombie’s guitar playing is fluid and crystalline. Jack DeJohnette provides snap crackling drumming which subtly recedes during Holland’s solo.
Waiting is a short duet between Holland and DeJohnette whose percussive adornments are subtly restrained. Abercombie’s contributions on May Dance are characterised by alternate fleeting staccato and legato runs, frequently exploring the higher reaches of the guitar fretboard.
Whilst almost all the tracks are written by Holland, Unshielded Desire is co-written by Abercrombie and DeJohnette. It’s a feisty duet between guitarist and drummer, evoking some of the fiery interplay previously heard from Billy Cobham and John McLaughlin in the Mahavishnu Orchestra’s The Inner Mounting Flame (CBS, 1971). Jamala, by stark contrast, is ruminative and lyrical. The closer, DeJohnette’s Sorcery I has a slow beginning but within the first two minutes starts to take off, Abercrombie’s coruscating guitar work at odds with Holland’s slow-but-sure footed bass lines. Meanwhile DeJohnette’s playing is positively ablaze. The much-missed Abercrombie died too young at just 72 in 2017.
Discography
Backwoods Song; Waiting; May Dance; Unshielded Desire; Jamala; Sorcery I (41.26)
Abercrombie (elg); Dave Holland (b); Jack DeJohnette (d). Ludwigsburg, March 1975.
ECM 4505334
