Mafia Timeless Genres:International Music, Jazz, Latin Music Guitarist John Abercrombie has often been associated with organists, from his formative years in the 1960s with the deep funk of Johnny "Hammond" Smith to the subtle orchestral underpinnings that Dan Wall provides for Aber... more »crombie's 1990s-era bands. This 1974 recording was Abercrombie's first as a leader, and he's joined by Jan Hammer on organ, piano, and synthesizer and Jack DeJohnette on drums. The high-speed exchanges on Hammer's extended "Lungs" immediately invoke John McLaughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra, while his "Red and Orange" recalls Tony Williams's Lifetime band. But Abercrombie makes his own voice apparent even in the fusion idiom, with angular solos that find their own paths through the electric storms. His compositions take varied approaches, invoking the more traditional organ trio on "Ralph's Piano Waltz" and emphasizing melody and space on the title tune. The guitarist also engages Hammer's piano on two reflective duets, "Love Song" and "Remembering," that emphasize his roots in the lyrical style of Jim Hall. --Stuart Broomer« less
Guitarist John Abercrombie has often been associated with organists, from his formative years in the 1960s with the deep funk of Johnny "Hammond" Smith to the subtle orchestral underpinnings that Dan Wall provides for Abercrombie's 1990s-era bands. This 1974 recording was Abercrombie's first as a leader, and he's joined by Jan Hammer on organ, piano, and synthesizer and Jack DeJohnette on drums. The high-speed exchanges on Hammer's extended "Lungs" immediately invoke John McLaughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra, while his "Red and Orange" recalls Tony Williams's Lifetime band. But Abercrombie makes his own voice apparent even in the fusion idiom, with angular solos that find their own paths through the electric storms. His compositions take varied approaches, invoking the more traditional organ trio on "Ralph's Piano Waltz" and emphasizing melody and space on the title tune. The guitarist also engages Hammer's piano on two reflective duets, "Love Song" and "Remembering," that emphasize his roots in the lyrical style of Jim Hall. --Stuart Broomer
CD Reviews
The BEST jazz-rock fusion
greg DOBROV | chicago, IL USA | 05/29/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"John Abercrombie emerged in the shadows of McLaughlin and Di Meola. He is subtler and, in some ways, more restrained and accomplished. The result here on his ECM debut is a session that really stands the test of time: TIMELESS indeed! I am particularly fond of the title track and the acoustic pieces (there are two here and they are sophisticated entries in the same vein as Mahavishnu's "Thousand Island Park" and Return to Forever's acoustic material: if only fusion had done MUCH MORE of this it would not have mutated into a parody of itself).
The sound of the record is tight, energetic, yet somehow mellow. Jack DeJohnette is superb throughout, Jan Hamer makes a rare appearance on Hammond B3 and just sizzles! On the up-tempo side is "Lungs" an opening burner that settles into an exploratory groove. On the mystical, searching side is the title track that takes a simple motiff and weaves a long gorgeous story that has much more to do with what we think of as the "ECM sound" than "fusion". This should be your first stop on the way to discovering the rich discography of John Abercrombie. Five Stars (meaning: EVERY track is superb, no clunkers, no filler)"
Lives Up To Its Title
Dave_42 | Australia | 06/23/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
""Timeless" is a very good album featuring the U.S. Jazz Guitarist. On it, he teams up with Jan Hammer (organ, synthesizer, piano) and Jack De Johnette (drums). There are only six pieces on this album, all instrumental. The best track is undoubtedly the haunting title track which closes the album, which forms a nice set of book-ends for the album with the opening piece "Lungs". Each of them is about 12 minutes long, and together are over half the album. In addition, I think "Red And Orange" is a very good track. The other three pieces are not as strong, but each of them has its moments, and none of them are bad."
Unique Twist On The Organ Trio
P. McKenna | Atlanta GA | 12/03/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"John Abercrombie's first outing as a leader was not something you just put on quietly in the background and forgot about, it alternately grabbed you by the throat or hypnotised you. Joined here by the ever versatile Jack DeJohnette on drums and keyboard whiz Jan Hammer (taking a VERY rare turn on Hammond organ as well as piano and Mini Moog. Such a shame he didn't play organ more, he sounded GREAT on it!), JA blasts off with his own unique take on fusion, emphasizing the jazz end of the equation more than some of his contemporaries at the time.
1. Lungs - Gets off to a fiery start with call-and-response phrases at times reminiscent of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, it then starts to wind down to a mysterious and spooky mid-section (conjuring up images of a fog shrouded night in the woods) before ending on an unexpected funk jam to a fade out.
2. Love Song - Hammer and Abercrombie go for forlorn musical hues in this guitar/piano duet.
3. Ralph's Piano Waltz - Not forgettig his more traditional jazz roots, JA cooks up a piece that seems to evoke Miles Davis in it's memorable melody line, and featuring a SMOKING Hammond solo by Hammer.
4. Red And Orange - Baring the fangs this time with a Jan Hammer tune that rocks out yet retains the looseness of jazz. Great intense melody line too.
5. Remembering - A dissonant, angular piano/guitar duet that builds tension and pulls you along in its spell
6. Timeless - As another reviewer pointed out, it was amazing how JA could take a very simple phrase with chordal drones and turn it into something very mysterious and open, I couldn't agree more, definitely the most hypnotic track on the disc and a great closer.
"
Good Debut For Jazz Guitar Master John Abercrombie
J. Rich | 12/20/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
""Timeless" released in 1975 is considered to be John Abercrombie's masterpiece, while there are some great songs on this album, I don't think I agree with these reviewer's high praise of this album. I think the important thing is to look at this album as jazz fusion album something which Abercrombie has gotten away from since this album was released. It's definitive for the time and that's all it is a representation of jazz in the mid-70s. This album also suffers from Mahavishnu Orchestra type fusion tunes like the opening song "Lungs" and "Red And Orange." I was never really a big fan of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, so this really doesn't help the album in my opinion.
I guess you're wondering by now, why am I giving an album that I've talked bad about 4-stars? Here's the reason: the improvisations, the interplay, the musicians, and three songs "Ralph's Piano Waltz," "Love song," "Timeless" and "Remembering." This is what saves this album for me from the dark fusion abyss. Jan Hammer and Jack DeJohnette provide excellent support to Abercrombie, who's still searching for his style.
Now, as dated as this album is, it's still a fine introduction to John Abercrombie's music and it serves as a piece of jazz guitar history. Abercrombie has come along way since 1974 and if you want to hear him play fusion music, then you should check this album out."
