Solar (John Abercrombie & John Scofield album)

Last updated
Solar
Solar - album cover.jpg
Studio album by
Released1984
RecordedMay 1982, December 1983
Studio
  • Music Annex Recording Studios (Menlo Park, California)
  • Classic Sound Studios (New York City, New York)
Genre Jazz
Length42:35
Label Palo Alto
Producer Orrin Keepnews John Abercrombie John Scofield
John Abercrombie chronology
Five Years Later
(1982)
Solar
(1984)
Night
(1984)
John Scofield chronology
Electric Outlet
(1984)
Solar
(1984)
Still Warm
(1986)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Solar is a studio album by jazz guitarists John Abercrombie and John Scofield. It was initially released in 1984 by Palo Alto Records and reissued in 2001 by West Wind Records. [2] [3]

Contents

Reception

Ken Dryden of Allmusic stated "Guitarists John Abercrombie and John Scofield join forces for these early-'80s sessions, mostly duets while occasionally adding bassist George Mraz and drummer Peter Donald. They delve into the jazz canon with an intricate duet of 'Solar', a driving, Latin-fused take of 'Four on Six' (in which Abercrombie overdubs an electric mandolin), and a dreamy duo interpretation of 'If You Could See Me Now.' The sole standard, 'I Should Care', fares just as well in their hands, which settles into a relaxed exchange between the two players as if they are playing for themselves alone. Scofield's 'Small Wonder' is scored for the quartet, a bristling post-bop vehicle with a feature for Mraz as well. Abercrombie's introspective 'Sing Song' best contrasts the styles of the two leaders, with the composer a bit more melodic and Scofield with a more brittle attack. This is an enjoyable CD that has stood the test of time very well."

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Solar" Miles Davis 4:10
2."Even Steven"Abercrombie6:51
3."Four on Six" Wes Montgomery 6:25
4."Sing Song"Abercrombie6:22
5."Small Wonder"John Scofield6:21
6."I Should Care" Sammy Cahn, Axel Stordahl, Paul Weston 6:39
7."If You Could See Me Now" Tadd Dameron, Carl Sigman 6:02
Total length:42:35

Personnel

Production

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Abercrombie (guitarist)</span> American jazz guitarist (1944–2017)

John Laird Abercrombie was an American jazz guitarist. His work explored jazz fusion, free jazz, and avant-garde jazz. Abercrombie studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. He was known for his understated style and his work with organ trios.

<i>Star People</i> 1983 studio album by Miles Davis

Star People is a 1983 album recorded by Miles Davis and issued by Columbia Records. It is the second studio recording released after the trumpeter's six-year hiatus, the first to feature electric guitarist John Scofield, who was recommended by saxophonist Bill Evans, and the last to be produced by long-standing collaborator Teo Macero.

<i>Metheny/Mehldau</i> 2006 studio album by Pat Metheny, Brad Mehldau

Metheny Mehldau is a jazz album released in 2006 by Nonesuch Records. Most of the album is a duet between guitarist Pat Metheny and pianist Brad Mehldau. On two songs, they are accompanied by drummer Jeff Ballard and bassist Larry Grenadier.

<i>Bump</i> (album) 2000 studio album by John Scofield Band

Bump is a studio album by jazz guitarist John Scofield that was released by Verve on March 14, 2000.

<i>I Can See Your House from Here</i> (John Scofield and Pat Metheny album) 1994 studio album by John Scofield & Pat Metheny

I Can See Your House from Here is a 1994 jazz album by guitarists John Scofield and Pat Metheny. Scofield is heard on the left channel and Metheny on the right in this stereo recording. The band is rounded out by bass guitarist Steve Swallow and drummer Bill Stewart.

<i>Songs for Ellen</i> 1994 studio album by Joe Pass

Songs for Ellen is an album by jazz guitarist Joe Pass that was recorded in 1992 and released posthumously in 1994.

<i>Play: The Guitar Album</i> 2008 studio album by Brad Paisley

Play: The Guitar Album is the seventh studio album by American musician Brad Paisley. It was released on November 4, 2008. Like all of his previous albums, Play was released on Arista Nashville and produced by Frank Rogers.

<i>Tropical Campfires</i> 1992 studio album by Michael Nesmith

Tropical Campfires, originally known as Tropical Campfire's, is an album by Michael Nesmith released in 1992 after Nesmith's 13-year hiatus from making studio albums. It is the 9th and final Nesmith album to feature guitarist Red Rhodes, who died in 1995.

<i>Norman Blake/Tut Taylor/Sam Bush/Butch Robins/Vassar Clements/David Holland/Jethro Burns</i> 1975 studio album by Norman Blake

Norman Blake/Tut Taylor/Sam Bush/Butch Robins/Vassar Clements/David Holland/Jethro Burns is a studio album recorded by American musicians Norman Blake, Tut Taylor, Sam Bush, Butch Robins, Vassar Clements, and Jethro Burns and British bassist Dave Holland. It was released in 1975.

<i>Piety Street</i> 2009 studio album by John Scofield

Piety Street is a 2009 studio album by jazz guitarist John Scofield. It was recorded in New Orleans with Meters bassist George Porter Jr. and keyboardist/vocalist Jon Cleary. The album features gospel music with Cleary singing most of the songs. John Boutte is the guest vocalist on three tracks.

<i>Minors Aloud</i> 1978 studio album by Buddy Emmons, Lenny Breau

Minors Aloud is an album by American pedal steel guitarist Buddy Emmons and Canadian guitarist Lenny Breau that was released in 1978.

<i>Abercrombie Quartet</i> 1980 studio album by the Abercrombie Quartet

Abercrombie Quartet is an album by the Abercrombie Quartet recorded in November 1979 and released on ECM the following year. The quartet features guitarist John Abercrombie with rhythm section Richie Beirach, George Mraz and Peter Donald.

<i>Five Years Later</i> 1982 studio album by Ralph Towner & John Abercrombie

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.

<i>Überjam Deux</i> 2013 studio album by John Scofield

Überjam Deux is a studio album by American jazz guitarist John Scofield. The record features guitarist and co-producer Avi Bortnick, bass guitarist Andy Hess, drummers Adam Deitch and Louis Cato, and John Medeski on organ, electric piano & mellotron. The album is a follow-up to the “John Scofield Band” albums Überjam (2002) and Up All Night (2003).

<i>1975: The Duets</i> 1975 studio album by Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond

1975: The Duets is a 1975 studio album by Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond. It was the only album the pair made that solely featured them as a duo.

<i>Past Present</i> (John Scofield album) 2015 studio album by John Scofield

Past Present is an album by jazz guitarist John Scofield that was recorded in March and released in September of 2015. Scofield is joined by saxophonist Joe Lovano, bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Bill Stewart. This album reunited Scofield with Lovano and Stewart, who had been members of his quartet on Meant to Be (1991) and What We Do (1993). Lovano had also appeared on Time on My Hands (1990) and Oh!.

<i>Country for Old Men</i> 2016 studio album by John Scofield

Country for Old Men is an album by American jazz guitarist John Scofield. It earned Scofield a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album. It features longtime Scofield collaborators Larry Goldings on piano & organ, bass guitarist Steve Swallow and drummer Bill Stewart. Impulse! released the album on September 23, 2016.

<i>Straight Flight</i> 1979 studio album by John Abercrombie

Straight Flight is a studio album by American jazz guitarist John Abercrombie that was released by Jam in 1979.

<i>Studio Trieste</i> 1982 studio album by Chet Baker, Jim Hall, Hubert Laws

Studio Trieste is an album by trumpeter Chet Baker, guitarist Jim Hall and flautist Hubert Laws which was recorded in 1982 and released on the CTI label.

<i>Upon a Time</i> 1989 studio album by John Abercrombie

Upon a Time is a studio album by American jazz guitarist John Abercrombie with drummer George Marsh and bassist Mel Graves. The album was recorded in California in 1982 and released by New Albion Records in 1989.

References

  1. Dryden, Ken. "John Abercrombie Solar: The Bebop Album". Allmusic . allmusic.com. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  2. "Vital Reissues". Billboard. 14 April 2001. p. 29. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  3. Swenson, John (1999). The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide. Random House. p. 1798. ISBN   9780679768739 . Retrieved 10 March 2019.