John Abercrombie Quartet

Over the last decade, jazz guitarist John Abercrombie has released three brilliant albums on ECM, a label he's been on since the mid-'70s, with violinist Mark Feldman, bassist Mark Johnson and drummer Joey Baron, all of whom will join him at this Mount Vernon date. While each of these musicians is exceptional in his own right, there's something quite magical that happens when they play together. On 2007's Third Quartet, a stunning collection of mostly ballads, there's a relaxed cohesiveness in which they play more on subtle nuances rather than flexing their chops. The musicians offer a somewhat similar experience on the equally gorgeous albums Cat 'n' Mouse, Class Trip and, most recently, Wait Till You See Her.