John Laird Abercrombie (December 16, 1944 – August 22, 2017) was an America… Read Full Bio ↴John Laird Abercrombie (December 16, 1944 – August 22, 2017) was an American jazz guitarist, composer and bandleader. His work explored jazz fusion, post bop, free jazz and avant-garde jazz. Abercrombie studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. He recorded his debut album, Timeless with Manfred Eicher's ECM label, and has recorded principally with this label since. Abercrombie has played with Billy Cobham, Ralph Towner, Jack DeJohnette, Charles Lloyd, Michael Brecker and Randy Brecker. He is known for his spare, understated and eclectic style and his work with organ trios.

John Abercrombie was born on December 16, 1944, in Port Chester, New York. He picked up the guitar at the age of 14. He began by playing along to Chuck Berry, but discovered jazz by listening to Barney Kessel. He attended Berklee College of Music from 1962 to 1966 and studied under famed guitar educator Jack Petersen. He often played with other students at Paul's Mall, a jazz club in Boston connected to the larger club Jazz Workshop. The gigs at Paul's Mall facilitated meetings with organist Johnny Hammond Smith and the Brecker Brothers (saxophone player Michael Brecker and his brother, trumpet player Randy Brecker). Smith asked Abercrombie to play with him, and they performed at Boston's Big M club as well as on tour.

Abercrombie graduated from Berklee in 1967 and briefly attended North Texas State University before moving to New York in 1969. He quickly became one of the "most in-demand session players," recording with Gil Evans in 1974, Gato Barbieri in 1971, and Barry Miles in 1972 among others. In 1969, he joined Dreams, one of the first jazz-rock bands, which rose to prominence in the late 60s and early 70s and featured the Brecker Brothers and drummer Billy Cobham. He also recorded on several of Cobham's albums, Crosswinds, Total Eclipse and Shabazz. Abercrombie's following began to grow at this point, largely due to Dreams's growing success. They shared billing with such rock acts as the Doobie Brothers, and Abercrombie found his career taking a direction he had not expected. "One night we appeared at the Spectrum in Philadelphia and I thought, 'what am I doing here?'. It just didn't compute."

In 1973 Manfred Eicher, the German producer and founder of ECM Records, invited Abercrombie to record for ECM. Abercrombie recorded his first solo album, Timeless, in 1974 with drummer Jack DeJohnette and Hammond organist Jan Hammer. The album was well received and critically acclaimed and marked the beginning of his fruitful relationship with ECM. The label's understated, subdued music was representative of the music Abercrombie continued to make throughout his career. In 1975 he formed the band Gateway with DeJohnette and bassist Dave Holland, recording the albums Gateway (1976) and Gateway II (1978).

After the Gateway albums, Abercrombie changed his playing style and instrumentation, moving toward a more traditional format. He recorded Arcade, The Abercrombie Quartet, and M with pianist Richie Beirach, bassist George Mraz, and drummer Peter Donald. Abercrombie said of this quartet, "it was extremely important to have that group...it was my first opportunity to really be a leader and write consistently for the same group of musicians."[4] During the mid-1970s and into the 1980s, he also contributed to ensembles led by DeJohnette and took part in a number of other sessions for ECM, occasionally doubling on electric mandolin. He also toured and recorded two albums (Sargasso Sea, 1976 and Five Years Later, 1981) with guitarist Ralph Towner. During the mid-1980s, he continued to play standards with Mraz, and he played in a bop duo with guitarist John Scofield.

Abercrombie began experimenting with a guitar synthesizer in 1984 while recording in a trio with Marc Johnson on bass and Peter Erskine on drums and while working with Paul Bley in a free jazz group. He played the guitar-synth until around 1990. The synthesizer allowed him to play, as he described it "louder, more open music." Abercrombie's trio released three albums during this time showcasing the guitar-synth: Current Events (1986), Getting There (1987) with Michael Brecker, and John Abercrombie, Marc Johnson, & Peter Erskine (1989).

The 1990s and 2000s marked a time of constantly changing associations. In 1992, Abercrombie, drummer Adam Nussbaum and Hammond organist Jeff Palmer made a free-jazz recording. He then started a trio with Nussbaum and organist Dan Wall and released While We Were Young (1992), Speak of the Devil (1994), and Tactics (1997). He added trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, violinist Mark Feldman and saxophonist Joe Lovano to the trio to record Open Land (1999). The Gateway band reunited for the album Homecoming (1995).

Abercrombie continued to tour and record and remained associated with ECM, with whom had a relationship for more than 40 years. While firmly grounded in the jazz guitar tradition, he also experiment with electronic effects. As he said in an interview, "I'd like people to perceive me as having a direct connection to the history of jazz guitar, while expanding some musical boundaries."

Abercrombie died of heart failure on 22 August 2017.

Chance
John Abercrombie Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Here I go again, I hear those trumpets blow again.
All aglow again, takin' a chance on love.
Here I slide again, about to take that ride again.
Starry-eyed again, takin' a chance on love.

I thought that cards were a frame-up, I never would try.
Now I'm taking that game up and the ace of hearts is high.
Things are mending now, I see a rainbow blending now.

We'll have a happy ending now, takin' a chance on love.

Here I slip again, about to take that trip again.
I got that grip again, takin' a chance on love.
Now I prove again that I can make life move again.
Um - I'm in the groove again, takin' a chance on love.

I walk around with a horse shoe, in clover I lie.
And brother rabbit of course you better kiss your, foot good-bye.

On that ball again I'm ridin' for a fall again.
I'm gonna give my all again takin' a chance on love.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of John Abercrombie’s song “Chance” speak about taking risks in love, despite the fear of getting hurt. The opening lines suggest that the singer has taken a chance before and failed, as they hear the “trumpets blow again” and feel “starry-eyed” once more. However, they are willing to try again and “take that ride” because “things are mending now”. They see a “rainbow blending” and believe that they will have a “happy ending” this time.

The chorus repeats the idea of taking chances in love, as the singer slips, slides, and falls, but always gets back up and tries again. They believe they have what it takes to “make life move again” and “get in the groove”. The lyrics also contain references to luck and gambling, with phrases such as “cards were a frame-up” and “horse shoe in clover”. The singer believes they have a winning hand and are “ridin’ for a fall again”, but are willing to risk everything for love.

Overall, the lyrics of “Chance” by John Abercrombie encourage listeners to take chances in love and believe that they can ultimately be successful. Despite past failures and potential setbacks, the singer is willing to risk it all for the chance of a happy ending.

Line by Line Meaning

Here I go again, I hear those trumpets blow again.
I am starting afresh with a renewed spirit, inspired by the sound of the trumpets.

All aglow again, takin' a chance on love.
I am excited and optimistic about the new opportunity for love that has presented itself.

Here I slide again, about to take that ride again.
I am ready to take a risk again, knowing that it may not be easy.

Starry-eyed again, takin' a chance on love.
I am filled with hope and wonderment, dreaming of the limitless possibilities of a new relationship.

I thought that cards were a frame-up, I never would try.
I used to believe that love was just a game, and I refused to play along.

Now I'm taking that game up and the ace of hearts is high.
But now I am willing to take a chance and put my heart on the line, because the potential reward is so great.

Things are mending now, I see a rainbow blending now.
I can see that things are coming together nicely, and there is hope for a bright future.

We'll have a happy ending now, takin' a chance on love.
I am confident that by taking this chance on love, everything will work out happily in the end.

Here I slip again, about to take that trip again.
I am about to embark on a new journey, unsure of what lies ahead.

I got that grip again, takin' a chance on love.
Despite my trepidation, I am holding on tight to my optimism and hope for love.

Now I prove again that I can make life move again.
I am regaining my confidence and ability to seize life's opportunities and make things happen.

Um - I'm in the groove again, takin' a chance on love.
I am feeling good, in my element, and ready for whatever comes my way in the realm of love.

I walk around with a horse shoe, in clover I lie.
I feel lucky in love, as though fate is smiling upon me and granting me good fortune.

And brother rabbit of course you better kiss your, foot good-bye.
Others who may be skeptical or hesitant about love are missing out on the chance to experience its magic and joy.

On that ball again I'm ridin' for a fall again.
I know that there is risk involved in putting myself out there again, but I am willing to accept the consequences of failure.

I'm gonna give my all again takin' a chance on love.
I am fully committed to this endeavor, putting my heart and soul into the pursuit of love once more.

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: B. G. DE SYLVA, LEW BROWN, RAY HENDERSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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