From the 1980s, Abercrombie led or co-led many groups with different focuses. Experimenting with different guitar synthesizer possibilities and the use of electric mandolin, Abercrombie explored many innovative uses of the guitar. Abercrombie recorded in duo format in separate sessions with John Scofield, Andy LaVerne, and pianist Marc Copland, and in trio settings with Peter Erskine and Marc Johnson, and with organists Dan Wall and Jeff Palmer. Abercrombie experimented with free jazz in a quartet he formed with Marc Johnson, Joey Baron, and violinist Mark Feldman. Abercrombie had a brief reunion with his Gateway trio and recorded an album with the group in 1994 titled Gateway: Homecoming (1994, ECM). He frequently performed in acoustic duo and trio settings and stuck primarily to leading his own bands. In 2012, he began working with a more traditionally structured quartet featuring pianist Marc Copland. That group recorded two albums for ECM, 39 Steps (2013) and Up and Coming (2017).
ABRAMS, MUHAL RICHARD (1930–2017)
A native of Chicago, Abrams was a multifaceted musician playing the piano, clarinet, and cello, in addition to being a prominent composer, arranger, and educator. Abrams first worked on the Chicago hard bop scene with musicians such as saxophonists Dexter Gordon and Eddie Harris starting in the mid-1950s. From his rehearsal-based Experimental Band, formed in 1962, Abrams would soon form his creative and forward-thinking free jazz cooperative, the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) in 1965. In 1975, Abrams relocated to New York City, where he continued to compose along with playing and pursuing Avant-Garde Jazz. In addition to appearing as a sideman with the likes of Anthony Braxton, Eddie Harris, Kenny Dorham, and Woody Shaw, Abrams recorded and toured extensively throughout the United States and abroad as a bandleader. He was the first recipient of the international JazzPar Prize, awarded to him in 1990 by the Danish Jazz Center in Copenhagen, Denmark. In 2009, the National Endowment for the Arts recognized Abrams with a Jazz Masters Award, and in 2010 he was inducted into the DownBeat magazine Jazz Hall of Fame.
ACCORDION
A portable mechanical keyboard-like instrument that generates sound through air pushed by both arms through the center bellows of the instrument. Each side of the instrument has either a small keyboard or bass buttons. The bass buttons are usually located on the left side. There are several different styles of accordion, including the melodeon and concertina, which have different cultural importance. While not directly involved in much of jazz’s history, many world music styles heavily use instruments from the accordion family, such as the use of the bandoneón in Argentinian music.
ACE OF HEARTS
A record label, associated with partner label Ace of Clubs, primarily dedicated to reissuing albums made prior to 1932 that were initially released on Decca, Brunswick, and Vocalion. The majority of these released albums were cheaper recordings of early swing and popular music.
ACID JAZZ
A term first used to describe the fusion of jazz-influenced improvisation, harmony, and rhythm with elements of funk and soul styles and other groove-based music. Created in the late 1980s and early 1990s, acid jazz began to incorporate electronics as it developed and also incorporated the use of digital sequencing and sampling. The acid jazz style was created in Great Britain, primarily influenced by Eddie Piller and Gilles Peterson and their record label with the same name. Groups that play in the acid jazz style include Freak Power, Goldbug, and Galliano.
ACID JAZZ
An independent record label founded in England that was partially responsible for the development of the acid jazz style. Created by two disc jockeys, Acid Jazz sought out obscure, electronic-influenced funk performers from previous decades. Groups signed to the Acid Jazz label include Jamiroquai and the Brand New Heavies.
ACTUELLE
An American-based record label that produced the first lateral cut records. Founded in 1920, Actuelle expanded to produce international records shortly after its initial U.S.-only based recordings.
ACUÑA, ALEX (1944–)
Acuña was born in Pativilca, Peru, and was already playing in local bands at the age of 10. A self-taught drummer and percussionist, Acuña made a name for himself in Puerto Rico as a performer and studio musician. In 1975, Acuña moved to Las Vegas to pursue new musical opportunities and was invited to perform with the group Weather Report as percussionist (October 1975 to April 1976) and drummer (April 1976 to October 1977). During that time, he recorded 2 albums with the group, Heavy Weather (1994, Master Sound/Legacy) and Black Market (1976, Columbia). Heavy Weather would go on to become the first jazz fusion album to sell a million copies. After leaving Weather Report, Acuña became an in-demand performer who recorded with Clare Fischer, Ella Fitzgerald, Tania Maria, Chick Corea, and Joni Mitchell during the early 1980s. Since then, Acuña has performed primarily as a studio musician while branching out into education. He has taught on the faculties of the University of California, Los Angeles, and the Berklee College of Music and has released several instructional videos.
ADAMS, PARK FREDERICK “PEPPER” (1930–1986)
Adams was a baritone saxophone player and composer. Born in Highland Park, Michigan, he began playing tenor saxophone at the age of 16 while living in Detroit. In 1947, Adams bought a used baritone saxophone using his employee discount while working at a local music store and adopted it as his main instrument, soon thereafter joining the band of Lucky Thompson. He attended Wayne State University for two years and moved to New York City in 1956. The following year, Adams began playing with the band of Stan Kenton. Later in his career he would go on to play with the big bands of Benny Goodman, Maynard Ferguson, and the Thad Jones–Mel Lewis Orchestra. Adams was a three-time Grammy Award nominee, was named Baritone Sax Soloist of the Year in 1982 in the DownBeat magazine Critics Poll, and won the award for best baritone saxophonist in DownBeat’s International Critics Poll on four consecutive occasions. During his career he composed 43 pieces and was the leader on 18 albums. He recorded as a sideman with trumpet player Blue Mitchell, Charles Mingus, drummer Elvin Jones, pianist Red Garland, and trumpeter Chet Baker, among others. Adams played his final performance on July 2, 1986, as part of the Montreal Jazz Festival and passed away from lung cancer nine weeks later.
ADDERLEY, JULIAN “CANNONBALL” (1928–1975)
A major band- leader and sideman of the hard bop era, Cannonball Adderley was a highly influential alto saxophonist with a style of playing accessible to many. Originally from Tampa, Florida, he moved to New York City in 1955, gaining acclaim and launching his career from that point. Shortly after moving to the city, he tried to create a quintet with brother and cornetist Nat Adderley but did not find much success early on. However, with his exuberant tone and blues-rooted improvisations, he was soon noticed by trumpet player Miles Davis and joined the Miles Davis Sextet in October 1957.
His work with the Miles Davis group included participation in the two definitive albums Kind of Blue and Milestones. Adderley worked as a band- leader with his quintet/sextet during 1959–1966, which featured his brother, Nat Adderley, along with a handful of renowned musicians,