John Abercrombie - The First Quartet (ECM)

[HutchFan]

ECM is FINALLY reissuing the first three albums from John Abercrombie's late-70s/early-80s quartet with Richie Beirach, George Mraz, and Peter Donald. Rumors of this set's release have been floating around for years. According to Amazon, the release date is slated for December 4, 2015.

If you've never heard this music before, I cannot recommend it strongly enough. The set consists of three LPs:

- Arcade (1978)
- Abercrombie Quartet (1979)
- M (1980)

For me, M is desert-island music, BEYOND five stars. Arcade is nearly as good, a strong 4.5 stars. Abercrombie Quartet has never knocked me on my backside like the other two -- but it's still a fine recording in its own right. I'd give it a solid 3.5 stars.

I enjoy vinyl, but it will be nice to have digital versions of this music for on-the-go & at-work listening. I'm sure the remastered sound will trounce my own crudely-made needle drops.

Anyone else looking forward to this set?

[Onxidlib]

The box set was already released last Friday (November 6) but maybe you are talking about the American release date.

[HutchFan]

Ah. Didn't realize that it had already been released on the other side of the pond.

Lucky you.  

[felser]

I'm in eventually, ,but not at $25.  It's early enough music that the synthsized effects shouldn't be there, a saving grace for me.  I did like 70's Abercrombie.