After a brief stay at Stanford University in the late 1960s, Abel was active on the New York rock scene during the 1970s and early 1980s, leading his own groups, producing the bands The Feelies and The Bongos, and playing on albums of Tom Verlaine and former Left Banke mastermind Michael Brown.

But The Dream Gallery,[3] a 69-minute song cycle for seven soloists and chamber orchestra depicting the lives of imaginary archetypal Californians, caught the interest of pianist Carol Rosenberger, director of the Delos Productions label, leading to its recording by USC Thornton conductor Sharon Lavery[4] and the La Brea Sinfonietta.

The record garnered considerable acclaim, with notices ranging from “profound and compelling”[5] and “not much like anything else out there, … most highly recommended”[6] to “anyone who is interested in modern vocal music will want to own this disc.”[7] In the fall of 2013, Abel's “The Benediction” appeared on Stopping By,[8] the debut CD of New York tenor Kyle Bielfield.

In March 2016, Delos Productions released the double-CD package Home Is A Harbor[17] — consisting of Abel's first opera (of the same name) and the song cycle "The Palm Trees are Restless", a setting of verses by Los Angeles poet Kate Gale.

The brilliant soprano Hila Plitmann manages every leap and switch of emotional gears (in “Palm Trees”) with fearless commitment, and pianist Tali Tadmor matches her in power and subtlety.”[19] Richard Sininger of American Record Guide[20] wrote that the recording showed Abel to be “at the forefront of (California's) musical life.” Plitmann and Tadmor gave the world premiere[21] of “The Palm Trees Are Restless” on Oct. 1, 2016, at the Boston Court Performing Arts Center in Pasadena, Ca.

[23] Plitmann recorded that piece and two other Abel works – “In the Rear View Mirror, Now” and “The Benediction” – for the composer's fourth Delos release, Time and Distance, which appeared in March 2018.

Three American masters of the idiom – David Shifrin, Fred Sherry, and Carol Rosenberger – introduce Abel’s Clarinet Trio and “Intuition’s Dance,” while German violinist Sabrina-Vivian Höpcker and young American pianist Dominic Cheli perform “The Elastic Hours.” Hila Plitmann makes her fifth traversal of an Abel work in the song cycle “Four Poems of Marina Tsvetaeva,” accompanied by Rosenberger and English hornist Sarah Beck.

He brings up to date the strain of literary delving found in Schumann and Debussy.”[37] In fall 2021, Abel's duo composition Approaching Autumn appeared on a Delos album of the same name[38] by San Francisco-based cellist Jonah Kim.