Description
Ralph Towner – Open Letter – Cassette
Ralph Towner is an influential jazz guitarist and composer known for his contributions to the jazz and contemporary music scenes. He is recognized for his unique approach to solo guitar playing and his work with the band Oregon. Some of his notable albums include \”Solstice\” (1975), \”Diary\” (1974), and \”Batik\” (1985).
The snoozy noodlings of his former band Oregon can be downright stupefying, but his solo work is often, though not always, quite a bit more interesting. Open Letter walks both sides of the line, but succeeds more often than it fails.
Towner teams up with jazz drummer eter Erskine on this set, and while guitar and drums may sound like kind of a dry instrumentation, Towner fleshes things out with some synthesizer and Erskine puts electronic percussion to tasteful use. But it\’s the more traditional fare that is most successful here, while \”Magic Pouch,\” awith its imitation flute, is almost a new age parody, the similarly gentle \”Nightfall\” hits the spot perfectly.
Towner\’s solo turn on the Bill Evans classic \”Waltz for Debby\” is exquisite. In general, Towner seems to do best with standards rather than originals; he acquits himself beautifully on \”I Fall in Love Too Easily,\” but the faux-Spanish modality and synthesized seagull cries of \”Alar\” sound like muzak for tourists. Other Towner compositions, notably \”The Sigh\” and \”Short \’n Stout,\” are far more successful
ECM Records
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic small promo hole in barcode
Track Listing
1. Sigh, The
2. Wistful Thinking
3. Adrift
4. Infection
5. Alar
6. Short \’N Stout
7. Waltz For Debby
8. I Fall In Love Too Easily
9. Magic Pouch
10. Magnolia Island
11. Nightfall

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