Emerald City (John Abercrombie and Richie Beirach album)

Emerald City
Studio album by John Abercrombie and Richie Beirach
Released	May 1987
Recorded	February 23–25, 1987
Studio	Mediasound, New York City
Genre	Jazz
Length	47:21
Label	Pathfinder
Producer	Dave Baker, John Abercrombie, Richie Beirach, Douglas Lichterman
John Abercrombie chronology
Current Events (1986) Emerald City (1987) Getting There (1988)

Emerald City is a duet studio album by guitarist John Abercrombie and pianist Richie Beirach. ^{[1] [2]} The album was released on via Pathfinder Records in 1987 to modest critical success. The album was re-released on CD in 1994 by Evidence label.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings	[4]
The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide	[5]
The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz	[6]

Ron Wynn of AllMusic wrote, "Depending on how you choose to define "jazz," this duet session linking pianist Richie Beirach with John Abercrombie (playing guitar synthesizer) may or may not fit your criteria. There are certainly passages with a rock sensibility, and Abercrombie's use of a guitar synthesizer may distress those who instinctively distrust electronics in any improvising context. But if you rank jazz pedigree on skills, individuality, and the willingness to take chances, then this date qualifies on all counts". ^[3]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Odin"	Beirach	9:25
2.	"Anse Des Flamands"	Beirach	8:20
3.	"Sleight of Hand"	Abercrombie, Beirach	4:45
4.	"Emerald City"	Beirach	6:05
5.	"On Overgrown Paths"	Beirach	15:00
6.	"Carnival Suspone"	Abercrombie, Beirach	5:40
Total length:			47:21

Personnel

• John Abercrombie – guitar, synthesizer, producer
• Richie Beirach – piano, producer

References

1. "Emerald City". Digital Audio's CD Review. 5 (7–12). WGE Pub.: 61 1989. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
2. Summerfield, Maurice J. (1998). The jazz guitar: its evolution, players and personalities since 1900. Ashley Mark. p. 31. ISBN   978-1-872639-26-0 . Retrieved December 13, 2019.
3. Wynn, Ron. "Emerald City - Richie Beirach | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved December 13, 2019.
4. Cook, Richard; Brian Morton (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings. The Penguin Guide to Jazz (9th ed.). London: Penguin. p. 107. ISBN   978-0-14-103401-0.
5. Swenson, John (1999). The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide. Random House. p. 1849. ISBN   9780679768739 . Retrieved December 13, 2019.
6. Larkin, Colin (2004). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz. Virgin. p. 73. ISBN   978-1-85227-183-1 . Retrieved December 13, 2019.