Characters (John Abercrombie album)

Characters
Studio album by John Abercrombie
Released 1978
Recorded November 1977
Talent Studios, Oslo
Genre Jazz
Length 44:54
Label ECM
ECM 1117
Producer Manfred Eicher
John Abercrombie chronology

Sargasso Sea
(1976)		 Characters
(1977)		 Arcade
(1978)

Characters is a solo album by guitarist John Abercrombie recorded in 1977 and released on the ECM label.[1]

Reception

The Allmusic review by Robert Taylor awarded the album 4 stars stating "Abercrombie makes excellent use of space within both his compositions and solos. Upon the first listen there may not appear to be very much here; however, this music needs to be absorbed over several listens to appreciate Abercrombie's brilliance".[2] The Penguin Guide to Jazz awarded the album 3½ stars stating "Characters was Abercrombie's most overt manifesto and calling-card, a demonstration of styles and moods and, even at this point in his career, influences too".[3] The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide said "a tremendous solo display of Abercrombie's acoustic/electric guitar and mandolin playing".[4]

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [2]
Penguin Guide to Jazz [3]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide [4]

Track listing

All compositions by John Abercrombie

  1. "Parable" - 10:40
  2. "Memoir" - 3:13
  3. "Telegram" - 4:35
  4. "Backward Glance" - 4:37
  5. "Ghost Dance" - 7:01
  6. "Paramour" - 3:51
  7. "After Thoughts" - 3:22
  8. "Evensong" - 7:35

Personnel

References

  1. ↑ ECM discography accessed September 12, 2011
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Taylor, R. Allmusic Review accessed September 12, 2011
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Cook, Richard; Brian Morton (2006) [1992]. The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings. The Penguin Guide to Jazz (8th ed.). London: Penguin. p. 2. ISBN 978-0-141-02327-4.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Swenson, J. (Editor) (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 3. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.