Guitarist John Abercrombie dies aged 72
He played alongside jazz stars including Billy Cobham, Jack DeJohnette, Charles Lloyd, and the Brecker Brothers
American jazz guitar legend John Abercrombie has died at the age of 72, after suffering a long illness. His work explored jazz fusion, free jazz and avant-garde. He had a long relationship with the ECM record label, which attributes over 50 albums to him.
He played alongside jazz stars including Billy Cobham, Jack DeJohnette, Charles Lloyd, and Michael and Randy Brecker. While firmly grounded in the jazz guitar tradition, he experimented with electronic effects once quoted as saying, "I'd like people to perceive me as having a direct connection to the history of jazz guitar, while expanding musical boundaries."