NIGHT

Despite falling in love with the phenomenal guitar work of the late, great John Abercrombie, I let a whole lot of material of his slip out from under me. Some standards I once had! haha. Thanks is due in great part to Mr. Dereck Higgins for directing me specifically here. And although this is clearly a significantly later era for Abercrombie, I am likewise drawn by this lineup. On tenor sax, the wonderful, emotive Michael Brecker, the drumming of the inspired Jack DeJohnette, and the fiery, most excellent Jan Hammer on keys. Masters all.

Funny hearing a very-80s Reggae jam with these still-exemplary, worldclass jazz musicians, but that's what our opener has to offer, "Ethereggae". A bit of corny, but it works well enough and is a decent showcase of our performers. Strongest of them all here, in my mind, is John. His guitar effects feel a tad unlike him; more like he's trying to be Pat Metheny... a bit too hard to sound like Pat Metheny...

Our title track, "Night", is low and slow, yet super moving, starting with a solo from Brecker. Hammer comes in with piano, and all the while Jack is showin' his cymbal game. Off to a much better, more interesting start is the chill, sleuth-reminiscent "3 East". The blaze is constant yet low. John then has a pretty wicked extended solo regardless. Low and slow still is "Look Around", though with way more interest than one might expect. Around minute 4 things pick up... and really intensify, but only for a minute. Definitely the highlight thus far.

"Believe You Me", which comes as no surprise to me, being Abercrombie with Hammer, sounds like an early Mahavishnu number. This then was the best you'll hear on the album, to this point. Certainly an arena in which they all excel, in its lowness and slowness, it's still tense as hell, Michael coming in hot with a blaze of a solo. What I also love about this track is Jan's embrace of organ. It sounds perfect here. Once again, so tense. We are being pulled to and fro on this one, all while pretty consistently holding onto the main theme.

Finally, we have the ever descriptive "Four On One", starting off with wild, but light drumming and wild, but front-and-center organ. Another fiery solo from John here, then matched once more by Michael. They break out into an even wilder blaze. Perhaps the most straightforward Jazz track, and yet one of the most appealing, exciting tracks of the lot.

True Rate: 3.5/5.0