Abby is bassist and singer Abigail Aronson; Norm is her husband Norman Zocher. Aided by pianist Bevan Manson and drummer Brooke Sofferman, Abby & Norm make some of the warmest, most approachable, and yet still interesting and complex small-ensemble jazz you'll ever hear. This despite the fact that both Abby and Norm are genuine jazz academics, a position that doesn't always bode well for approachability and warmth. Their debut album consists entirely of beautifully realized Zocher originals (with the exception of John Coltrane's notoriously difficult "Giant Steps," an exercise in whole-tone scales that the group executes with impressive facility). His "Hick Licks" sounds like a Bill Frisell tribute, with its gently cathartic melody and countryish inflections; "Devolution" is a jazz waltz based on a wonderfully sweet tune; even the threadbare raw material of "Old Blues" comes out sounding new (and the composition is more blues-flavored than blues-based anyway). Overall, this is one of the most rewarding jazz albums of the year. Highly recommended. ~ Rick Anderson
Released in 1999, the debut from this Boston-based duo of Berklee guitar professors was warmly embraced by the national media, including accolades in JazzTimes, 20th Century Guitar, Downbeat, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and All Music Guide which wrote: "Ove
Recorded at Q Division, Boston, Massachussetts. Includes liner notes by John Abercrombie.
Personnel: George Garzone (tenor saxophone); Bevan Manson (piano); Brooke Sofferman (drums).
Liner Note Author: John Abercrombie.
Recording information: Q Division, Boston, MA.
Abby & Norm Group: Abigail Aronson (vocals, acoustic guitar, bass); Norman Zocher (guitar); Bevan Manson (piano); Brooke Sofferman (drums).
Additional personnel: George Garzone (tenor saxophone).
Volume I: The Book Of Norm Music
Abby & Norm Group - Volume I: The Book Of Norm Songs
| 1 | Jungle Tune | | | |
| 2 | Giant Steps | | | |
| 3 | Hick Licks | | | |
| 4 | Know It | | | |
| 5 | 'Til Death Do Us Part | | | |
| 6 | Cytyc Thinprep 2000 | | | |
| 7 | Devolution | | | |
| 8 | Buffy | | | |
| 9 | Old Blues | | | |
| 10 | Berklee Tune | | | |
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