ECM Touchstones: Gateway

John Abercrombie | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 30, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ecm Records
• ASIN: B001CSQIN2
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #96,590 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Waiting - Dave Holland

2. Unshielded Desire - Dave Holland

3. Sorcery, No. 1 - Dave Holland

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fusiony Free Bop, March 1, 2009

By 

G B (Connecticut) - See all my reviews

This review is from: ECM Touchstones: Gateway (Audio CD)

Gateway really is an ECM touchstone - it comes from a time when the label produced dozens of albums that pushed the jazz envelope. In this case, you get a mix of guitar fusion, post bop, and free jazz.

The most obvious parallel is John Abercrombie's classic album Timeless, recorded the previous year, with Dave Holland replacing Jan Hammer. But Holland was a free jazzer at this time, and his presence pulls the group in different directions. Though the influences of Hendrix and McLaughlin loom large, there's a certain looseness and jazziness that was never present on the Mahavishnu Orchestra albums.

"Backwoods Song" is the obvious highlight here - a great tune and loping groove that seems like it could go on for half an hour at least. "Unshielded Desire" is a scorching duet between Abercrombie and DeJohnette, echoing Elvin and Trane on "Vigil" or "Impressions". And "Sorcery" - I guess you could call this a rock tune, except there is an avant-garde edge here that probably would scare most guitar fusion fans senseless.

The rest of the album has more subtle charms, the kind that I missed when I first picked it up as a McLaughlin/Mahavishnu fan. "May Dance" is a great freebop performance; "Waiting" is a solo feature for Dave Holland, a perfect showcase for his great sound; and "Jamala" is a short but beautiful enigma.

One of my favorites from this period.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliance, June 21, 2009

By 

Haugwitz Reventlow (Hawai'i) - See all my reviews

This review is from: ECM Touchstones: Gateway (Audio CD)

Some very imaginative and highly intuitive ensemble playing displays each player's unique and recognizable sound. Jack DeJohnette's drumming is exciting, melodic and supportive. This record would be worth the price for him alone. His playing is orchestral and as rich as any drummer's playing could be. John Abercrombie has been a favorite of mine for 35 years, and I like his playing here as much or more than any he's done. No electric guitarist should miss this record. Dave Holland is magnificent throughout, both as an improviser and a composer. His tone, facility and beauty/clarity of ideas are all superb. Whether or not this is jazz or fusion or free or any other label seems unimportant. It is just great music, full of surprises, dynamics and fresh ideas.

Now if only ECM would rerelease all of the Directions albums...

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Abercrombie! Timeless!, September 14, 2011

By 

Christine Waller "John & Tina" (Reidsville, NC United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: ECM Touchstones: Gateway (Audio CD)

You know how you purchase one LANDMARK record and pick up further releases by same artist.

Timeless was first and best. This one is very good. It grows. And like good music will continue to grow on you.

Abercrombie. ECM.... can't go wrong. Like groove check out Cal Tjader and Fantasy label.