JOHN ABERCROMBIE QUARTET: ARCADE

3.5 stars. I really like John Abercrombie and highly recommend his "Timeless" and first "Gateway" albums. An ECM staple this would be Abercrombie's first studio album of seven under the name JOHN ABERCROMBIE QUARTET. We get besides John's guitar and mandolin, bass, drums and piano. And in the ECM tradition this is a classy and mellow release with the bass and piano being acoustic. I'm just not big on this style but I have to mention that title track because it bumps up my rating and appreciation of this one. It's fairly similar to the other songs early on with the relaxed piano and guitar but it's the drumming that is so loose that has my attention. So good! Then we get some intensity which will come and go that is so enjoyable and really only appears on this song. Classy music from one of the greats.