Three Guitars

Larry Coryell (Artist), Badi Assad (Artist), John Abercrombie (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 22, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Chesky Records
• ASIN: B0000A4GDZ
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #249,505 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic Recording, Intimate and Exploratory, August 7, 2003

By 

Stephen Silberman "writer, Wired Magazine" (SF, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Three Guitars (Audio CD)

John Abercrombie is the consummate guitarist's guitarist. His recordings -- stretching over a prolific 30-year career -- have explored every fruitful vein of modern jazz guitar playing, from swinging straightahead post-Jim Hall standards work, to swinging organ soul-funk trios, to hushed multilayered ECM acoustic, to free jazz and beyond, all stamped with Abercrombie's inimitable melodic sensibility. In the liner notes for this amazing album, fellow guitarist Larry Coryell describes Abercrombie as "cliche-free." It's an apt comment. On this record, Abercrombie teams up with a young Brazilian guitarist/flautist/vocalist named Badi Assad and Coryell himself, who made his name playing on archetypal early fusion albums in the '70s, and went on to play more straightahead fare in later years, with an unmistakable stinging attack and verve for gutsy lines.

On this record, the three musicians play all acoustic music in a profoundly intimate setting, recorded in a church in NYC's Chelsea district. For Abercrombie, this is a particularly welcome return. In the liner notes for the CD, Abercrombie confesses that he hasn't touched his acoustic guitar in three years, which is a damn shame. "Characters," his first solo album on ECM, contained exquisite acoustic playing of nearly Bach-like subtlety and stateliness; his two recordings with master guitarist Ralph Towner (the second, "Five Years Later," is sadly out of print) were intimate duets that equalled the telepathic majesty of Jim Hall and Bill Evans' masterpiece, "Undercurrent." In recent years, alas, Abercrombie has increasingly relied on effects-laden electric playing that sounds pinched and gimmicky compared to his earlier work. Hearing his distinctive acoustic playing here is like greeting a much-loved old friend after years' absence.

Assad's presence gives this session an overall Brazilian flavor. On a couple of tracks, she adds Flora Purim-style vocalizations that do not detract from the quiet loveliness of the tracks. Abercrombie brings a few of his best compositions to the session, from the recent "Descending Grace" to two from his debut album as a leader, "Timeless" and "Ralph's Piano Waltz." "Timeless" is simply one of the most beautiful jazz melodies ever written, as primordial as an Indian raga and full of wise sadness and meditative calm. Abercrombie has only recorded the tune a handful of times, so its reappearance here is a major event. (Towner's group Oregon's cover of it on their album "Friends" was one of the high points of their own 30-year career.) Abercrombie adds a folksy quality to its introduction on this album, and when Assad comes in on kalimba, the music approaches the glistening loveliness of Coryell's own early album with the Oregon crew, "The Restful Mind." Fans of that record, and of Abercrombie's work with Towner, should pick up this album right away. For those new to Abercrombie's work, this album provides a fine introduction to his more introspective side, while Coryell is in fine, vital and tasteful form throughout.

Altogether, this is one of the most beautiful acoustic guitar albums in years. A classic recording.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful Interplay, April 26, 2004

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Mark W. Mckenzie (Cary, IL United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Three Guitars (Audio CD)

Didn't know what to expect when I picked up this CD. I was quite familiar with Larry Coryell and John Abercrombie, but knew nothing about Badi Assad. Larry and John deliver as expected, but its Badi who gives this session unique sounds and seasonings. Her vocalizing and "percussion" comes out of nowhere, and fits right in. Reminds me a bit of the sound Chick Corea had with Flora Purim and Airto. And her nylon-string guitar adds a color you don't find in your typical two-guitar jazz album.

While not all the tunes are masterpieces, there's a plenty of variety and fresh musical ideas. If you're looking for an album that's about blazing guitar pyrotechnics, then this probably isn't for you. Instead, this one is full of tasteful, expressive musicianship and an easy, sensistive interplay, yet with a generous dose of chops. This ain't "smooth jazz" by any means, but rather the creative effort of true artists.

The recording is clean and clear, with a real "you are there" feeling. I've been listening to this one over and over...

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Interesting Premise, January 25, 2004

By 

grady nubbins (Middle of the United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Three Guitars (Audio CD)

Not everything works perfectly on this outing. There is a little culture-clash here and there. The ones that do work are quite good, however. It is especially nice to hear the mostly electric John Abercrombie again dust off his acoustic and a couple of his better compositions. Ralph's Piano Waltz and Timeless are two of his best, and both sound quite good here.
I agree that Badi's guitar doesn't sound as good as the others, but her playing is very good. Larry always plays well and certainly does on this recording. The overall feel to the record is much more low-key than I anticipated. A good effort overall. Looking forward to the next...