MusicRatty: ABERCROMBIE, JOHN - Gateway: In The Moment (1994)

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ABERCROMBIE, JOHN - Gateway: In The Moment (1994)

2008-08-09 02:46:56 by Editor in Progarchives.com (Progressive rock and related latest reviews)

When judging altogether John Abercrombies classic period of music, whether or not albums such as Timeless or Arcade are to be seen as the brightest from this jazz artist and his ensembles, the Gateway two-pack session is, from every angle, regardless of any kind of nuancing, a central work and a crucial reference upon any scan of Abercrombies legacy. A close detail, which usually is to be noticed from the start, is also the collaboration between Abercrombie, Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette, nameable overall as the Gateway trio and regardable as likely the best group of excellent minds and musicians - except if youre more of a Jan Hammer fan, in which case its back to Timeless topping everything - from a long, reaching present times history of ensembling, in which Abercrombie was rarely truly solo. By my personal belief, the Gateway classic session arent just major, central, as mentioned earlier, but Gateway 2 is also my pick of a close-to-ideal creation, in by all means Abercrombies intense period of high jazz art, the support from his fellow two collaborators being pretty much the same.

At this high level of standard, richening the Gateway collection (and legacy itself, the one reffered to above) with two more album-size creations, at the anniversary hint of almost 20 years since the first release, coming back to life with the dream trio whilst promising new music, is welcoming to say the least (in a pragmatic, initial way). Even more, the size of the Gateway reunion, as quality and force, isnt dramatically below the original 70s mementos though classic-modern subjective comparing could, in all fairness, rate the two new Gateway in different ways, both up and lower the scale. Richened and also revitalized therefore, rather than simply celebrated, is the entire Gateway brand, this 1994 entire burn being also refreshing, if not a surprise fit, inside Abercrombies 90s music, which is otherwise mostly resumed to stuff made together with a new trio, formed with Nussbaum, Dan Wall, till the late years, when things shift to a new dimension yet again. And to say it once more, the join jazz rolled up by the guitar master together with Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette is a singular moment by its strict relation to the Gateway aura, stunning back in the classic past, surprisingly of the same refinement during this 1994 big event. Jack DeJohnette also starred in Timeless and 1982s Night, while Dave Holland never played on any other main album except the 1975 and 1977 ones; anyway though, if you want a reference for the devoted line-up Abercrombie-Holland-DeJohnette, Gateway is the essential place where to look. And the 2x2 complete experience is recommended as much as possible.

The second of the 1994 reunion releases, next to Gateway:Homecoming, it is on one hand sure that between the two one album will be designated as better (doesnt matter which actually, listeners could pick both, given their taste), while, on the other hand, there are no great reasons for which both of them cant be described as of a beautiful, strongly-shaped quality and value. Concerning Abercrombies visions of music from that time, rather than simple mystic melodies and tastes of soft nu-jazz, Gateway is a moment of profusion, together with some recalls of what was done, under the same brand, back 20 years ago; meanwhile, Holland and DeJohnette exploit with regular mastering their instruments, the often impression being however a mix of leisure, play-by-heartbeat and subtlety. While Gateway:Homecoming offers a broad recital, Gateway: In The Moment is a strict but full 5-piece suite, probably closing on to the spirit of the old LPs, in which the combination is set on the pleasure of jazz with the atmosphere of new music thats calmly improvised and, yet also, the peculiar if spontaneous highly-refined moments when the sound that vibrates from the trios work has its greatness and makes me think I cant associate this, for the fourth time, with anything else from the guitar artists repertoire. Sounding at times unnatural, it could be realized though, after heavy and repeated listens, that it holds nothing truly special, still has its bright value.

The first part can be considered the one holding the albums best moments, with The Enchanted Moment as a top spin, rich in the force of the trios interpretations. Cinucen, shortest of all five relatively succulent pieces, has a dark start, with Hollands bass almost achieving a cello-like weep, while, further into the slow & silent kind of improvisation, the piece turns to its more oozing, naturally light colors. The same kind of transition towards simple ambiances happens also in the epic Shrubberies, this time taking away a bit of the compositions interestingness. The other two unmentioned tracks, the opening In The Moment and the finalizing Soft, are pleasant moments of music, ideal jazz-ing happening though more in the first. Much of the album indulges both a look into relaxing art being made and into relaxations of an opposite kind, that cant be anything but harmonious, stylish and dreamy. The dialogue inside the trio is very good, but perhaps some artifices are missing indeed, compared to the classic albums.

Gateway: In The Moment is, overall, a fine experience, a comprised yet also long born shape of jazz, a nostalgic but not at all sleepy reunion affair, and a Gateway gem you couldnt possibly push away from the other three. Better, and more beautiful in the same time, than average stuff and a 90s cupcake in Abercrombies full slide of releases.

by Ricochet

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