Chesky Records
2003
Three Guitars
About This Album
It's rare for three guitarists of this caliber to be assembled for a record date. John Abercrombie claimed that he hadn't touched his acoustic guitar for three years prior to receiving an invitation to make this recording, though he was obviously ready when the tape rolled. Larry Coryell has made a number of acoustic recordings prior to this disc. Badi Assad's three previous CDs for Chesky have all merited high praise.

Assad contributed five compositions to the session, though the stunning opener, "Seu Jorge E Dona Ica," is hard to beat. She initially accompanies her fellow guitarists on a percussive instrument called a kalimba, which sounds like it originates from Africa. This six-minute work has several distinctive sections, including a bit of her mouth percussion. Her "After the Rain" showcases the intricate interplay between the three guitarists. The moody, march-like "Metamorphosis" also proves compelling, while her switch to copper flute with an interspersing vocal transforms the piece into borderline avant-garde.

Assad's body percussion introduces Abercrombie's challenging "Descending Grace," a piece full of surprising twists.
Track List (try tracks 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9 and 10)

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