Artist: John Abercrombie, Ralph Towner
Title Of Album: Sargasso Sea
Year Of Release: 1976
Label: ECM
Genre: Jazz, Contemporary Jazz, Jazz Fusion
Format: Flac/Cue/Log/Artwork
Quality: Lossless
Total Time: 41:09
Total Size: 174 MB(+3%)
Artist: John Abercrombie, Ralph Towner
Title Of Album: Sargasso Sea
Year Of Release: 1976
Label: ECM
Genre: Jazz, Contemporary Jazz, Jazz Fusion
Format: Flac/Cue/Log/Artwork
Quality: Lossless
Total Time: 41:09
Total Size: 174 MB(+3%)
Tracklist
01 — Fable
02 — Avenue
03 — Sargasso Sea
04 — Over and Gone
05 — Elbow Room
06 — Staircase
07 — Romantic Descension
08 — Parasol
personnel :
Ralph Towner — 12-string and classical guitars, piano
John Abercrombie — electric and acoustic guitars
John Abercrombie and Ralph Towner have forever been tied to the ECM
roster as leaders and individualists, and initially it was hard to
imagine their styles being compatible. As an amplified electric
guitarist, Abercrombie’s steely, sometime unearthly sound was an
uneven puzzle piece alongside the graphic, stoic, classically
oriented style of Towner. Yet on Sargasso Sea, there are several
instances where they merge together as one, feeling their way
through pure improvisations, angular and colorful motifs, or
thematic nuances and a certain strata of consciousness that makes a
world of common sense. There are selections where they both play
acoustic guitars, but it is mostly Abercrombie’s hopped up sound
through an amp over Towner’s bold and beautiful unplugged
instrument, tossing in a piano overdubbed on two tracks. Where
selections such as «Fable» are folksy and far from overwrought,
«Avenue» lopes gracefully and the exceptional «Parasol» is
semi-lyrical. Abercrombie’s guitar stands in stark contrast on the
near macabre title track, and more so during «Elbow Room» with
heavier moans, cries, vibrato, echoplex slide incursions, and
Towner as an afterthought. The best track «Staircase,» with twin
acoustic guitars, sports tricky intricate lines and changes only
virtuosi can achieve. In laid-back surrender for «Romantic
Descension,» and in passive voicings on «Over & Gone,» Towner
need not strain to make his brilliant voice heard clearly. An
uneven recording for many listeners and critics, Sargasso Sea
deserves a second chance, not as an absolutely flawed, imperfect,
or unbalanced effort. Like a tale of two cities, it stands as a
unique project, perhaps deserving a more refined approach. Though
there was a follow-up album released, a third-time’s-the-charm
contemporary revisit from these masterful guitar geniuses would be
welcome. ~ Michael G. Nastos