John Abercrombie

The American musician John Abercrombie is one of the most influential jazz guitarists of modern times and his avant-garde and free-form style has been an inspiration to many players during a career which spanned five decades. As a young boy he grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut listening to the music of Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley and Fats Domino but also developed an interest in jazz after hearing albums by Dave Brubeck and Miles Davis. After completing high school he studied at Berklee College of Music before attending University in Texas. At the age of 25 he moved to New York where he immersed himself in the jazz scene and became a sought-after session player as well as a member of the jazz fusion band Dreams and Billy Cobham's jazz rock ensemble. Having established his reputation as an outstanding musician, Abercrombie's career was defined by his constantly evolving style and willingness to experiment. Throughout his professional life he maintained a strong association with the ECM label and recorded some 25 albums with them both as a leader and as a sideman. He continued playing right up until his death from heart failure in 2017 at the age of 72.

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