[3] Growing up in the 1950s in Greenwich, Connecticut he was attracted to the rock and roll of Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Fats Domino, and Bill Haley and the Comets.

[3][5] Abercrombie graduated from Berklee in 1967 and attended North Texas State University before moving to New York City in 1969.

[6] He continued to play fusion in Billy Cobham's band, but found that he disliked its focus on rock over jazz.

The band shared billing with such acts as the Doobie Brothers, but Abercrombie found his career taking an unwanted direction.

"[5] An invitation from drummer Jack DeJohnette led to the fulfillment of Abercrombie's desire to play in a jazz-oriented ensemble.

He first used the instrument, though not exclusively, in 1984 in a trio with Marc Johnson on bass and Peter Erskine on drums, as well as with pianist Paul Bley in a free jazz group.

In 1992, Abercrombie, drummer Adam Nussbaum, and Hammond organist Jeff Palmer made a free-jazz album.

He added trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, violinist Mark Feldman and saxophonist Joe Lovano to the trio to record Open Land (1999).

As he said in an interview, "I'd like people to perceive me as having a direct connection to the history of jazz guitar, while expanding some musical boundaries.

[7][8] With Gateway With Andy LaVerne With Franco Ambrosetti With Gato Barbieri With Billy Cobham With Marc Copland With Jack DeJohnette With Peter Erskine With Danny Gottlieb With Dave Liebman With Rudy Linka With Charles Lloyd With Barry Miles With Terry Plumeri With Enrico Rava With Johnny "Hammond" Smith With Lonnie Smith With Collin Walcott With Kenny Wheeler With others