GATEWAY: GATEWAY

Not really a John Abercrombie solo album but a collaboration between 3 superb contemporary musicians from the mid-1970`s fusion jazz scene and perhaps one of the most accessable. Accessable in the sense that Abercrombie really let`s her rip on a couple of tracks, flowing with electricity which caused guitar freaks of the seventies to drool much like they did over Jan Akkerman and John McLaughlin`s innovative speed of light electric guitar demonstrations.

The interesting part of the whole thing are the powerful acoustic bass and drum accompaniments from Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette throughout.The album eases the pace with tracks like Jamala & grooves with Back-Woods Song and picks up with the heavier crank the amp to the proverbial eleven tracks Unshielded Desire and Sorcery 1. Backwoods is definitely the stand-out, a real groovin' track thanks to Holland`s acoustic bass free swinging feel. It also features some delicate Abercrombie guitar sweeps which add to it`s laid back atmosphere.

A great introduction if you`ve never experienced the unpredictable guitar wizadry of John Abercrombie and also recommended for those into post Hendrix guitar freakouts. All in all an album filled to the brim with musical virtuosity and variety whatever your bag might be. Definitely one of the best guitar, bass and drums efforts of the 1970`s.