Characters (John Abercrombie album)

Characters
Studio album by John Abercrombie
Released	1978
Recorded	November 1977 Talent Studios, Oslo
Genre	Jazz
Length	44:54
Label	ECM ECM 1117
Producer	Manfred Eicher
John Abercrombie chronology
Sargasso Sea (1976) Characters (1977) Arcade (1978)

Characters is a solo album by guitarist John Abercrombie recorded in 1977 and released on the ECM label.^[1]

Reception

The Allmusic review by Robert Taylor awarded the album 4 stars stating "Abercrombie makes excellent use of space within both his compositions and solos. Upon the first listen there may not appear to be very much here; however, this music needs to be absorbed over several listens to appreciate Abercrombie's brilliance".^[2] The Penguin Guide to Jazz awarded the album 3½ stars stating "Characters was Abercrombie's most overt manifesto and calling-card, a demonstration of styles and moods and, even at this point in his career, influences too".^[3] The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide said "a tremendous solo display of Abercrombie's acoustic/electric guitar and mandolin playing".^[4]

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]
Penguin Guide to Jazz	[3]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide	[4]

Track listing

All compositions by John Abercrombie

1. "Parable" - 10:40
2. "Memoir" - 3:13
3. "Telegram" - 4:35
4. "Backward Glance" - 4:37
5. "Ghost Dance" - 7:01
6. "Paramour" - 3:51
7. "After Thoughts" - 3:22
8. "Evensong" - 7:35

Personnel

• John Abercrombie — electric guitar, acoustic guitar, electric mandolin

References

1. ECM discography accessed September 12, 2011
2. Taylor, R. Allmusic Review accessed September 12, 2011
3. Cook, Richard; Brian Morton (2006) [1992]. The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings. The Penguin Guide to Jazz (8th ed.). London: Penguin. p. 2. ISBN 978-0-141-02327-4.
4. Swenson, J. (Editor) (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 3. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.