This 3-CD set with recordings from 1978 to 1980, issued in ECM’s acclaimed Old & New Masters series, returns some historically-important material to the catalogue, namely the albums Arcade, Abercrombie Quartet and M. The quartet with Richie Beirach, George Mraz and Peter Donald – John Abercrombie’s first touring band as a leader – was the group in which the guitarist defined some priorities, moving away from a jazz-rock period into a more spacious, impressionistic and original music. Abercrombie and pianist Beirach had a strong musical rapport as improvisers and wrote almost all of the band’s book between them. George Mraz and Peter Donald provided imaginative support. For this edition the recordings - made in Oslo and Ludwigsburg and produced by Manfred Eicher – were remastered from original analogue sources.

Tracklist:

CD 1
1. Arcade (John Abercrombie)
2. Nightlake (Beirach)
3. Paramour (Abercrombie)
4. Neptune (Beirach)
5. Alchemy (Beirach)

CD 2
1. Blue Wolf (Abercrombie)
2. Dear Rain (Abercrombie)
3. Stray (Beirach)
4. Madagascar (Beirach)
5. Riddles (Beirach)
6. Foolish Dog (Abercrombie)

CD 3
1. Boat Song (Abercrombie)
2. M (Abercrombie)
3. What are the Rules (Beirach)
4. Flashback (Beirach)
5. To Be (Abercrombie)
6. Veils (Beirach)
7. Pebbles (George Mraz)