As part of ECM's Old & New Masters series of box sets, John Abercrombie's The First Quartet collects three albums recorded for the label between 1978 and 1980. Two titles, 1979's Abercrombie Quartet and 1981's M, have been unavailable for decades. By the guitarist's own admission, this band represents the guitarist's first time as a "proper" bandleader. His earlier dates on ECM had been co-led sessions (Timeless, Gateway, Sargasso Sea), a solo album (Characters), and sideman gigs (Jack DeJohnette's New Directions, David Liebman's Lookout Farm, etc.). These three dates also represent an important foundation for Abercrombie as a composer. Arcade's title track is an energetic post-bop number that borders on jazz-rock, with keen interactions between the front-line players and the rhythm section. Another aspect of the band's conversational ability can be heard on Richie Beirach's gentle "Nightlake." Their lyrical interplay on the ballad "Paramour" is almost luxurious. The long journey on the pianist's "Alchemy" spends its first half as a ballad, but eventually moves into higher gear with almost euphoric group improvisation. Abercrombie Quartet's most inspiring moments include the syncopated cooking on "Blue Wolf," the moody yet focused "Dear Rain," and the more rockist groove that drives "Riddles." It gets more ponderous on "Stray" (where the piano solo jumps from the tune's nearly washed-out body as a genuine surprise) and on the closing "Foolish Dog" -- despite a fine mandolin-g