Timeless

Guitarist John Abercrombie recorded many seminal albums for the ECM label, but nothing quite like Timeless, which throws him into the deep end with keyboardist Jan Hammer and drummer Jack DeJohnette. This 1975 masterpiece finds each musician in peak form. The introductory “Lungs” establishes a sound for the ages indeed, fueled by a collective insistence that lights matches with the best of them. What ensues is a game of sonic mancala that swings, plays copycat, and flings itself into outer space. Highlights include “Ralph’s Piano Waltz” and “Red And Orange,” both of which divide as much as they fuse.