Within a Song

Reception

The Guardian's review by John Fordham awarded the album 4 stars stating "this all-star group constantly demonstrate how joyous that can sound without winding up the volume". JazzTimes observed "in typical crystalline ECM fashion, Within a Song plays tricks with its role models, pushing envelopes that were elastic to begin with". The Australian's John McBeath wrote "This is a valuable collection by two old masters in a nostalgic, relaxed setting of expert craftsmanship". Stereophile correspondent Fred Kaplan noted "Within a Song is something of a high-wire act: delicate music of an uninsistent intensity, a quiet swing, that hangs together or collapses on the ensemble's sustenance of balance".

Track listing

All compositions by John Abercrombie except as indicated

1. "Where Are You" (Harold Adamson, Jimmy McHugh) - 5:54
2. "Easy Reader" - 6:37
3. "Within a Song/Without a Song" (John Abercrombie/Billy Rose, Edward Eliscu, Vincent Youmans) - 7:55
4. "Flamenco Sketches" (Miles Davis) - 6:34
5. "Nick of Time" - 5:57
6. "Blues Connotation" (Ornette Coleman) - 6:11
7. "Wise One" (John Coltrane) - 9:12
8. "Interplay" (Bill Evans) - 6:26
9. "Sometime Ago" (Sergio Mihanovich) - 6:25

Personnel