Athos Enrile: The role of Mick Abrahams in Jethro Tull

giovedì 24 ottobre 2024

The role of Mick Abrahams in Jethro Tull

Jethro Tull is part of the soundtrack of my life, but when I came to them, as a teenager, Mick Abrahams had already left the group and in fact only participated in the first album, "This Was".

Thanks to this, it has remained in history!

Let's summarize his musical career, that of one of the best - and underrated - blues guitarists of his generation, with a powerful style influenced by greats of the genre.

His guitar style has in turn influenced many subsequent musicians and his contribution to Jethro Tull was fundamental in defining the initial sound of the band, that image that, however, was tight to Ian Anderson, who had a perspective vision in progression towards new sonic shores.

After leaving Jethro Tull in 1968, Mick founded the band Blodwyn Pig, which produced a progressive blues-rock sound that the guitarist felt comfortable in.

With Blodwyn Pig, for a few years, he gained visibility, releasing two albums, "Ahead Rings Out" and "Getting To This" but, following a mediocre reception, Abrahams decided to leave the music world to devote himself fully to his work as a car salesman, only to retrace his steps in 1987, when he began recording again both as a solo artist and with the old members of Blodwyn Pig.

In the late nineties Abrahams formed a new band called This Was, just like Jethro Tull's debut album, which featured some of the old members of the group - excluding Ian Anderson of course - and with whom he performed the songs from that album.

But let's go back to the departure from Jethro Tull in 1968 and think about the significant impact on the sound and musical direction of the band after the entry of Martin Barre, trying to compare the two styles.

With Abrahams on guitar, Jethro Tull had a sound strongly rooted in blues rock, characterized by powerful riffs and a more raw atmosphere. Abrahams' guitar was the center of attention, defining the band's sound, perhaps more than Anderson's flute.

After his departure came Barre, a guitarist with a more melodic and versatile style, and this allowed an evolution towards what would later be called progressive rock.

With Barre, Jethro Tull began experimenting with more complex sounds, integrating elements of folk, jazz and classical music. Ian Anderson's flute took on the lead role, creating a unique and distinctive sound, and the music became more varied and articulated, with songs ranging from acoustic ballads to more complex rock pieces.

Abrahams was a thoroughbred blues guitarist, and his sound was warm and scratchy, with pronounced vibrato and frequent use of bending. His riffs were often simple but effective, with a good emotional impact. His music was certainly full of feeling and passion, exuding an authentic passion for the blues, with often long and improvised solos.

Martin Barre was a much more versatile guitarist than Abrahams, able to adapt to different styles of music. In addition to the blues, he was able to incorporate elements of rock, folk and classical music into his sound, a master in interweaving his melodic lines with those of the other instruments, creating complex and fascinating harmonies, and his guitar had a more integrated role in the music of Jethro Tull, often dialoguing with Ian Anderson's flute and with the other instruments.

It is not important to establish records and winners, both have marked the sound of JT and both will remain in the history of rock!

Let's listen to something about Abrahams post Jethro Tull...