Sargasso Sea

It was only a matter of time before two of ECM’s star guitarists, John Abercrombie and Ralph Towner, came together in the studio. The result of their inevitable first meeting was Sargasso Sea. The pairing of Towner’s 12-string acoustic and Abercrombie’s electric is delicious, lending depth to tracks like “Fable” and “Elbow Room.” Yet it is in the smattering of all-acoustic tracks, of which “Romantic Descension” is the most heartfelt, where we find deeper caves of interpretation to explore. The final track, “Parasol,” overdubs Towner’s piano for a lasting effect.