John Abercrombie was an American jazz guitarist, born on December 16, 1944, in Port Chester, New York. He began playing guitar at age ten and studied at Berklee College of Music before moving to New York City in 1969. Abercrombie's early career included collaborations with Monty Stark’s band Stark Reality and the jazz-rock fusion group Dreams. In 1975, he released his debut solo album Timeless on ECM Records, marking a significant breakthrough. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Abercrombie recorded several albums with his quartet, including Arcade, Abercrombie Quartet, and M. He also collaborated with artists like Ralph Towner, Jack DeJohnette, and Dave Holland in various ensembles. John Abercrombie died of heart failure on August 22, 2017, in Cortlandt Manor, New York, at the age of 72.
