Upon a Time

1989 studio album by John Abercrombie

Upon a Time

Studio album by

John Abercrombie

Released| 1989
Recorded| 1982
Studio| Arch Studios, Berkeley, California
Genre| Jazz
Length| 1:09:11
Label| New Albion
Producer| John Abercrombie
John Abercrombie chronology
| Getting There
(1988)  | Upon a Time
(1989)  | John Abercrombie / Marc Johnson / Peter Erskine
(1989)

|
|

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
Allmusic| [1]

Upon a Time is a studio album by American jazz guitarist John Abercrombie with drummer George Marsh and bassist Mel Graves. The album was recorded in California in 1982 and released by New Albion Records in 1989.

## Reception[edit]

A reviewer of Allmusic awarded the album two stars out of five, stating "John Abercrombie's 1989 release Upon a Time is, as the subtitle points out, an album of duets, mostly with bassist Mel Graves and drummer George Marsh. While bass and drum solos are often the punchlines of musical jokes, Graves and Marsh are skilled players with enough good taste to keep the flashiness to an interesting minimum. As for guitarist Abercrombie, his playing is typically brilliant, whether picking out the traditional melody of 'My Scottish Heart' or moving into a more impressionistic sonic arena in tracks like 'In the Woods' or 'Chuck Man Rivers.' Earthier and more expressly jazz-based than many releases on the ECM-affiliated New Albion label, Upon a Time is a satisfying, richly rewarding album."[2]

## Track listing[edit]

All tracks are written by John Abercrombie and George Marsh except where noted

No.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

|
|
|

1.| "My Scottish Heart"|  | 5:30
2.| "Muchacha Dorada"|  | 5:37
3.| "Upon a Time"| Abercrombie| 3:10
4.| "In the Woods"| Marsh| 6:10
5.| "Demi-Saison"| Abercrombie| 3:38
6.| "Baby Lucille"|  | 5:56
7.| "Vincent"|  | 8:23
8.| "Count"|  | 2:53
9.| "Chuck Man Rivers"|  | 2:39
10.| "Camel Walk"| Abercrombie| 4:21
11.| "Play It Again"| Marsh| 2:50
12.| "Moonfire"| Graves| 2:30
13.| "Gypsy Wand Song"| Graves| 5:56
14.| "McNabb the Crabb"| Graves| 2:19
15.| "Chelsea Bridge"| Billy Strayhorn| 5:48
16.| "Lullaby of the Leaves"| Bernice Petkere, Joe Young| 2:34
Total length:| 01:09:11

## Personnel[edit]

* John Abercrombie – electric guitar, mandolin, mando-guitar, piano
* Mel Graves – double bass, bass guitar
* George Marsh – drums, percussion, thumb piano

## References[edit]

1. ^ "John Abercrombie: Upon a Time". Allmusic. allmusic.com. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
2. ^ "John Abercrombie: Upon a Time". Allmusic. allmusic.com. Retrieved 14 March 2018.

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

*[No.]: Number