He may not win the headlines of a McLaughlin or the plaudits of a Frisell but Abercrombie in his gentle way has contributed hugely to the sound of modern jazz guitar. Originally released as Arcade, Abercrombie Quartet and M, the albums have never been generally available on CD. But they are important for revealing Abercrombie’s voice as he repositions himself away from the pervasive influence of jazz rock. Echoes of McLaughlin remain in elements of tone, phrasing and dynamics on Arcade. But for the first time Abercrombie is a leader in the best sense, stimulating the band’s creative juices while ensuring the vision remains his. This is evident on Abercrombie Quartet, with the material all road tested and Beirach now fully on board as composer as well as intimate improviser. There’s a zest that matched their live sound. Curiously much of that energy had evaporated with M, not only their last ECM recording but their last as a unit. Abercrombie though was ready to stride off in his now fully formed unique style. But without the freedom first afforded him by this quartet, it’s hard to imagine where his music might now be.