Timeless (1974)
Encyclopedia
Timeless is jazz guitarist John Abercrombie
's debut album as leader, recorded in 1974. Critically acclaimed at the time, the album has since come to be regarded as a seminal work of jazz fusion
, although the music itself is original enough to defy such categorisation.
and Czech keyboardist Jan Hammer
on Hammond organ. Both had strongly established fusion credentials, Hammer on the keyboard and synths for the Mahavishnu Orchestra and on Billy Cobham
's classic 1973 Spectrum, and DeJohnette, amongst others, on the Miles Davis
album, Bitches Brew
. Musically, Timeless takes its cues from all of these sources and is especially interesting for the input of creative players of the class of Hammer and DeJohnette. However, Abercrombie's touch is present throughout, resulting in a mood closer to In A Silent Way
than Bitches Brew and a subtler and more restrained sound than much of the virtuoso fusion being played at the time.
Four Abercrombie originals are played with two written by Hammer, "Lungs" and "Red and Orange". "Lungs" begins as a high-octane organ/guitar workout, which subsides and then shifts into a Billy-Cobham-esque R&B groove. "Red and Orange" is similarly aggressive, with Abercrombie's lead underpinned by deep percussive organ from Hammer. "Love Song" and "Remembering" are acoustic guitar ballad
s from Abercrombie, and both are rare showcases for Hammer on the acoustic piano. "Love Song", as its title implies, is slow and soulful, while "Remembering" is a more complex and unsettling piece. "Ralph's Piano Waltz" is a low-key, swinging piece, with perfectly balanced phrase-work from both guitar and organ.
Although the album is far more than a showcase for one track, the title song "Timeless" can clearly be considered the most well-remembered track. The key to the song, which was one of Abercrombie's first, is its simple composition. A low drone
lends the song's beginning an otherworldly, spacey feel, before subsiding and moving into the simple four-chord descending sequence. Through this, background organ, synth effects and drums build the intensity and pace as Abercrombie's phased guitar moves from the core melody into lightning fast solo.
John Abercrombie (guitarist)
John Abercrombie is an American jazz guitarist, whose work often explores jazz fusion and post bop. Abercrombie has played with Billy Cobham, Jack DeJohnette, Michael Brecker and Randy Brecker...
's debut album as leader, recorded in 1974. Critically acclaimed at the time, the album has since come to be regarded as a seminal work of jazz fusion
Jazz fusion
Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...
, although the music itself is original enough to defy such categorisation.
Overview
In Abercrombie's own words: "The original intent was to do something that reflected my origins, playing with organ groups in the late 60's". The album partnered Abercrombie with Jack DeJohnetteJack DeJohnette
Jack DeJohnette is an American jazz drummer, pianist, and composer. He is one of the most influential jazz drummers of the 20th century, due to extensive work as leader and sideman for musicians like Miles Davis, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Keith Jarrett and Sonny...
and Czech keyboardist Jan Hammer
Jan Hammer
Jan Hammer is a composer, pianist and keyboardist. He first gained his most visible audience while playing keyboards with the Mahavishnu Orchestra in the early 1970s, as well as his film scores for television and film including "Miami Vice Theme" and "Crockett's Theme", from the popular 1980s...
on Hammond organ. Both had strongly established fusion credentials, Hammer on the keyboard and synths for the Mahavishnu Orchestra and on Billy Cobham
Billy Cobham
William C. Cobham is a Panamanian American jazz drummer, composer and bandleader, who has called Switzerland home since the late 1970s....
's classic 1973 Spectrum, and DeJohnette, amongst others, on the Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
album, Bitches Brew
Bitches Brew
Bitches Brew is a studio double album by jazz musician Miles Davis, released in April 1970 on Columbia Records. The album continued his experimentation with electric instruments previously featured on his critically acclaimed In a Silent Way album...
. Musically, Timeless takes its cues from all of these sources and is especially interesting for the input of creative players of the class of Hammer and DeJohnette. However, Abercrombie's touch is present throughout, resulting in a mood closer to In A Silent Way
In a Silent Way
In a Silent Way is a studio album by American jazz musician Miles Davis, released July 30, 1969 on Columbia Records. Produced by Teo Macero, the album was recorded in one session date on February 18, 1969 at CBS 30th Street Studio B in New York City. Incorporating elements of classical sonata form,...
than Bitches Brew and a subtler and more restrained sound than much of the virtuoso fusion being played at the time.
Four Abercrombie originals are played with two written by Hammer, "Lungs" and "Red and Orange". "Lungs" begins as a high-octane organ/guitar workout, which subsides and then shifts into a Billy-Cobham-esque R&B groove. "Red and Orange" is similarly aggressive, with Abercrombie's lead underpinned by deep percussive organ from Hammer. "Love Song" and "Remembering" are acoustic guitar ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
s from Abercrombie, and both are rare showcases for Hammer on the acoustic piano. "Love Song", as its title implies, is slow and soulful, while "Remembering" is a more complex and unsettling piece. "Ralph's Piano Waltz" is a low-key, swinging piece, with perfectly balanced phrase-work from both guitar and organ.
Although the album is far more than a showcase for one track, the title song "Timeless" can clearly be considered the most well-remembered track. The key to the song, which was one of Abercrombie's first, is its simple composition. A low drone
Drone (music)
In music, a drone is a harmonic or monophonic effect or accompaniment where a note or chord is continuously sounded throughout most or all of a piece. The word drone is also used to refer to any part of a musical instrument that is just used to produce such an effect.-A musical effect:A drone...
lends the song's beginning an otherworldly, spacey feel, before subsiding and moving into the simple four-chord descending sequence. Through this, background organ, synth effects and drums build the intensity and pace as Abercrombie's phased guitar moves from the core melody into lightning fast solo.
Track listing
- "Lungs" – 12.11 (Hammer)
- "Love Song" – 4.35 (Abercrombie)
- "Ralph's Piano Waltz" – 4.55 (Abercrombie)
- "Red and Orange" – 5.24 (Hammer)
- "Remembering" – 4.33 (Abercrombie)
- "Timeless" – 11.58 (Abercrombie)
Personnel
- John AbercrombieJohn Abercrombie (guitarist)John Abercrombie is an American jazz guitarist, whose work often explores jazz fusion and post bop. Abercrombie has played with Billy Cobham, Jack DeJohnette, Michael Brecker and Randy Brecker...
- GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Jack DeJohnetteJack DeJohnetteJack DeJohnette is an American jazz drummer, pianist, and composer. He is one of the most influential jazz drummers of the 20th century, due to extensive work as leader and sideman for musicians like Miles Davis, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Keith Jarrett and Sonny...
- DrumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Jan HammerJan HammerJan Hammer is a composer, pianist and keyboardist. He first gained his most visible audience while playing keyboards with the Mahavishnu Orchestra in the early 1970s, as well as his film scores for television and film including "Miami Vice Theme" and "Crockett's Theme", from the popular 1980s...
- OrganHammond organThe Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
External links
- cduniverse.com Timeless CD
- Sleeve notes for John Abercrombie: Rarum, ECM, by John Abercrombie