| Sargasso Sea | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1976 | |||
| Recorded | May 1976 | |||
| Studio | Talent Studios Oslo, Norway | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 41:08 | |||
| Label | ECM 1080 ST | |||
| Producer | Manfred Eicher | |||
| John Abercrombie chronology | ||||
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| Ralph Towner chronology | ||||
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Sargasso Sea is an album by American jazz guitarists John Abercrombie and Ralph Towner, recorded in May 1976 and released on ECM later that year. [1]
The AllMusic review by Michael G. Nastos gave the album 3 stars, stating, "An uneven recording for many listeners and critics, Sargasso Sea deserves a second chance, not as an absolutely flawed, imperfect, or unbalanced effort. Like a tale of two cities, it stands as a unique project, perhaps deserving a more refined approach." [2]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz gave the album 3 stars, calling it, "a winsome, diffident affair on which only the timbral variation of Towner's 12-string and piano figures sustains interest... it's less than representative of Abercrombie's real strengths." [3]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide said, "The alternately pensive and vibrant electric/acoustic interplay between these two master guitarists makes this a classic album of guitar duets." [4]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| Penguin Guide to Jazz | [3] |
| The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide | [4] |
All tracks are written by John Abercrombie except where noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Fable" | 8:41 | |
| 2. | "Avenue" | 5:19 | |
| 3. | "Sargasso Sea" |
| 4:01 |
| 4. | "Over and Gone" | 2:51 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Elbow Room" |
| 5:11 |
| 2. | "Staircase" | Towner | 6:24 |
| 3. | "Romantic Descension" | 3:17 | |
| 4. | "Parasol" | Towner | 5:24 |
Speak of the Devil is an album by jazz guitarist John Abercrombie with organist Dan Wall and drummer Adam Nussbaum that was recorded in 1993 and released by ECM in 1994.
Ralph Towner is an American multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger and bandleader. He plays the twelve-string guitar, classical guitar, piano, synthesizer, percussion, trumpet and French horn.
Watercolors is the second album by American jazz guitarist Pat Metheny, recorded in February 1977 and released on ECM June that same year. Metheny's quartet features rhythm section Lyle Mays, Eberhard Weber and Danny Gottlieb.
Timeless is the debut album by American jazz guitarist John Abercrombie, recorded over two days in June 1974 and released on ECM the following year. The trio features organist Jan Hammer and drummer Jack DeJohnette.
Solstice is an album by American jazz guitarist Ralph Towner recorded in December 1974 and released on ECM the following year. The Solstice quartet features saxophonist Jan Garbarek and rhythm section Eberhard Weber and Jon Christensen.
Sound and Shadows is an album by American jazz guitarist Ralph Towner, recorded in February 1977 and released on ECM later that year, Towner's second album with his Solstice quartet, featuring saxophonist Jan Garbarek and rhythm section Eberhard Weber and Jon Christensen.
Diary is the debut solo album by American jazz guitarist and composer Ralph Towner, recorded over two days in April 1973 and released on ECM later that year.
Trios / Solos is an album by American jazz guitarist Ralph Towner with Glen Moore recorded over two days in November 1972 and released on ECM June the following year. The session features guest appearances from tabla player Colin Walcott and oboist Paul McCandless.
Lookout Farm is an album by American jazz saxophonist Dave Liebman recorded over two days in October 1973 and released on ECM—his debut for the label. The eponymous quartet "Lookout Farm" features rhythm section Richard Beirach, Frank Tusa, and Jeff Williams, with guest appearances from guitarist John Abercrombie, singer Eleana Sternberg and percussionists Armen Halburian, Don Alias, Badal Roy, and Steve Sattan.
Drum Ode is an album by American jazz saxophonist Dave Liebman recorded in May 1974 and released on ECM the following year. The ensemble, thirteen strong, consists guitarist John Abercrombie, pianist Richard Beirach, bassist Gene Perla, eight percussionists—Bob Moses, Jeff Williams, Patato Valdez, Barry Altschul, Steve Sattan, Badal Roy, Collin Walcott, and Ray Armandox—and singer Eleana Sternberg.
Matchbook is an album by guitarist Ralph Towner and vibraphonist Gary Burton recorded over two days in July 1974 and released on ECM the following year.
Dreams So Real: Music of Carla Bley is an album by the Gary Burton Quintet, featuring compositions by Carla Bley, recorded in December 1975 and released on ECM the following year. The quintet features guitarists Mick Goodrick and Pat Metheny and rhythm section Steve Swallow and Bob Moses.
The Plot is an album by Italian jazz trumpeter and composer Enrico Rava recorded in August 1976 and released on ECM the following year. The quartet features rhythm section John Abercrombie, Palle Danielsson and Jon Christensen.
Pictures is an album by American jazz drummer composer Jack DeJohnette recorded in February 1976 and released on ECM the following year, featuring DeJohnette playing drums, piano and organ, with guest appearances by guitarist John Abercrombie on "Pictures 3–5".
Characters is a solo album by guitarist John Abercrombie, recorded in May 1977 and released on ECM Records in May of the following year.
Old Friends, New Friends is an album by guitarist Ralph Towner, recorded in July 1979 and released on ECM Records in November of the same year. The quintet features trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, cellist David Darling, and rhythm section Eddie Gómez and Michael Di Pasqua.
Solo Concert is a live solo album by American guitarist Ralph Towner recorded at the Amerika Haus in München, Germany and Limmathaus in Zürich, Switzerland in October 1979 and released on ECM the following year.
Five Years Later is a collaborative album by American jazz guitarists Ralph Towner and John Abercrombie, recorded in March 1981 and released on ECM February the following year.
Animato is an album by American jazz guitarist John Abercrombie recorded in October 1989 and released on ECM the following year. The trio features keyboardist Vince Mendoza—who wrote most of the album—and drummer Jon Christensen.
While We're Young is an album by the jazz guitarist John Abercrombie recorded in June 1992 and released by ECM the following year. The trio features organist Dan Wall and drummer Adam Nussbaum.
