Abercrombie, based out of New York, plays mostly overseas. Norfolk got a rare treat when he immersed himself in ODU activities for its eighth consecutive jazz residency the second week of April. It was even rarer because he was a last-minute fill-in for jazz guitarist Mark Whittfield.

Abercrombie said he has found himself "doing more and more colleges." He has traveled to colleges in Ecuador, Holland and even Slovenia.

Abercrombie, a Berklee College of Music alumnus, described ODU's jazz department as typical in size of the jazz departments at most schools he visits. "There is more interest now in how to play jazz," he said. "Jazz is getting a lot more respect. It's growing, but there are not a lot of places to play it."

Abercrombie, 61, estimates that he has played on over 200 albums and another 30 as bandleader or co-leader. He has recorded often with Jack DeJohnette, Ralph Towner and Billy Cobham. "Jack DeJohnette opened me up and inspired me," Abercrombie said. He also cites Towner as "an influence as a player and a composer."

Abercrombie often performs guitar duets with Towner and just released an instructional DVD called "The art of the duo" with Andy LaVerne for Mel Bay Records. Abercrombie demonstrated his duo technique for the Friday morning clinic when an ODU student performed with him a duet of the jazz standard "How Insensitive" at the conclusion of the clinic. Abercrombie stressed the importance of having a "good feel" as opposed to knowing every possible scale and mode available. He advised the clinic of students and fans to "learn scales and then forget about them so that they become second nature." Known for his jazz improvisation technique, he advised, "Try to hear what you play and really know what it is you're playing."

Abercrombie also stressed the importance of learning from live performance as opposed to in the classroom. "A lot of students want a quick fix. They say 'can you tell me how to play jazz in 10 minutes?' No, I can't really do that, but here's how I think about it. The rest is up to you by studying with other teachers but mostly by playing with other musicians."

Besides teaching more clinics, Abercrombie also went on to perform concerts with the ODU jazz choir and big band as well as in a finale concert with the John Toomey Trio as part of the F. Ludwig Diehn concert series. Toomey handles the musical organization of the five-day annual April jazz seminars while Fred Bayersdorder handles the business end of this massive production. Next year, Toomey says ODU has lined up jazz trumpeter John D'earth. Past clinicians include Rick Margitza, Frank Foster, Randy Brecker and John Fedchock.

When Abercrombie made an unscheduled stop to play a night of jazz with Toomey at Enrico's on Colley Avenue, the jazz musicians of Hampton Roads quickly filled the bar through word-of-mouth. Drummer Russell Scarborough came with a stack of CD inserts to be autographed. "I've been following Abercrombie for 20 years," said Scarborough, who has the CD's to prove it. Abercrombie talked easily with fans that approached him. He had an amazing memory for gigs he had played 20 years ago. He could tell a fan the time and place of any show and all sorts of behind-the-scenes info about it.