John Abercrombie interviewed by Monk Rowe, Clinton, New York, April 19, 2001 [transcript]

Table of Contents: Biography -- Eight years with current trio/Playing time in various genres -- Experience at Berklee with Herb Pomeroy -- Choice of guitar influenced by The Ventures, Chuck Berry -- Parents and teachers frowned on choice of jazz/First band: "VFW halls and polka gigs" -- Learning chords by note, ear and hand positions/Story about Wes Montgomery's good ears -- Early gigs/Affording the music lifestyle -- About the band dreams and jazz/Rock -- Varied tastes/ECM records -- Wide definitions of jazz/Music technology -- Attraction to Asian music -- Challenge of substitution chords/"Playing what you hear is still the greatest challenge" -- Record companies: Focus on young talent/"They sell (jazz) like they sell shoes" -- Advice for guitar students: "Do it for the love of it" -- Thoughts on Eddie Lang, Django Reinhardt and Jimi Hendrix -- Damagingly loud gigs/Thoughts on weather report -- Balancing self-criticism and overconfidence/About his guitars -- Conclusion: Recordings, good and bad.