NOTE PRODUCTIONS is delighted to announce the only Irish show with two legends of the jazz world, Marc Copland and John Abercrombie.

This special duo will perform at the National Concert Hall on Tuesday, April 23rd. The show is at 8pm (doors 730pm) and tickets (€25) are available from www.nch.ie or at the NCH box office on 01 417000.

MARC COPLAND & JOHN ABERCROMBIE
The Guitar/Piano combination holds a special place in the history of jazz. Only a few have attempted this challenging and rewarding pairing, most notably Bill Evans and Jim Hall in the 1960's. Marc Copland and John Abercrombie both exhibit the master musicianship, unique styles, and special sensitivity that have enabled their partnership to flourish since the early 1990's.

Copland and Abercrombie met in the "loft scene" in New York City in the 1970's, and instantly formed a bond of music and friendship, working and writing music together along with many other NYC musicians of the period, including the Brecker brothers, Ralph Towner, etc. Since the 1990s, in addition to their own recordings as leaders, they have co-operated in several acclaimed recording projects, including "Second Look" (Savoy), "And" (Hatology), "That's For Sure" (Challenge), and "Brand New" (Challenge).

Video: Live at Porgy and Bess, Vienna 2012: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9iumjulsMs

John Abercrombie began his career touring with organist Johnny Hammond. During that same period, Abercrombie met the Brecker Brothers, who invited him to join and record with their breakthrough group, Dreams. In 1971 he moved to New York, joining Copland in drummer Chico Hamilton's band. quartet, and soon became one of the most in-demand session musicians. He recorded with Gil Evans, Gato Barbieri, and Billy Cobham, with whom began attracting widespread attention among the general public.

A short time later, Manfred Eicher who invited him to record an album for ECM, The result was Timeless, on which he was joined by Jan Hammer and Jack DeJohnette. It received virtually unanimous critical acclaim, and was followed by three decades of successful recordings for the label, including Gateway (DeJohnette and Dave Holland), Abercrombie's quartets, trios, and organ trios, and duets with guitarist Ralph Towner.

Marc Copland, an innovator with a unique grasp of harmony and colour, is perhaps the foremost proponent of the lyrical school of jazz pianism today. As a sideman in New York he played with Bob Belden, Jane Ira Bloom, Joe Lovano, Tim Hagans, James Moody, Wallace Roney and many others.
But his career as a sideman in the Apple was relatively short-lived; he began recording in the nineties in trio with Gary Peacock, Billy Hart, and Bill Stewart. In the nineties, his reputation spread owing to three legendary recordings with the Savoy label, featuring the likes of Randy Brecker, Bob Berg, and Dennis Chambers, Abercrombie, Drew Gress, and drummer Hart.

Since the year 2000 Copland has been extremely prolific, releasing some seventeen critically acclaimed CDs, in solo, duos, trios, and quartets.

"…His harmonic sophistication, his touch, and control of dynamics with the foot pedal have all become--well--the stuff of legend"--AllAboutJazz.com