Where to start with Ralph Towner...

riverrat · June-29th-2007, 10:53 AM

I have Timeline, which I like. Looking to pick up some of Towner's earlier work.

Looks like I should get his Solo Concert, for starters.

What else?

Squaredancecalling Steve · June-29th-2007, 11:36 AM

I have about a dozen by Towner, and none are duds. I especially enjoy these:

(with Jan Garbarek)

(solo, recent)

and of course his work with Oregon

VIBEr · June-29th-2007, 07:52 PM

I agree with Steve, but if I had to choose two to start with they would be Solstice and Blue Sun. No special reason for the preference - just personal taste. All are excellent.

Dennis Gonzalez · June-29th-2007, 09:34 PM

Make it 3 votes for Solstice. It is an amazing groundbreaking album. And beautiful. The get the second Solstice next, Sound and Shadows...and, getting away from ECM, buy Oregon's masterpieces Winter Light and Out of the Woods.

riverrat · June-30th-2007, 02:11 AM

Thanks for the replies folks.

Solstice is high on my ECM "to buy" list. I'll keep an eye out for the others as well.

Ron Thorne · June-30th-2007, 05:06 AM

I'll echo the sentiments above and add a couple of additional favorites of mine:

Matchbook with Gary Burton
Old Friends, New Friends with Kenny Wheeler, et al (Towner also plays French Horn on one track)
Sargasso Sea with John Abercrombie

Oh, and also add my vote for the phenomenal Solstice.

Nim Chimpsky · June-30th-2007, 05:19 AM

I don't own much of his stuff but I too am a fan of the 2 albums Towner did with Garbarek/Weber/Christensen, especially Solstice.

There's also some very nice interplay on the first album he did with Gary Peacock, Oracle.

If you want to hear more of his piano playing you might check out If Summer Had It's Ghosts by Bill Bruford.

Clay Fink · July-1st-2007, 10:53 AM

Baktik, with Eddie Gomez and Jack DeJohnette, is one of my favorites.

picsou · July-1st-2007, 01:47 PM

I agree: "Solstice" is a MUST. Jon Christensen on Weber's piece "Sand" is

I also like "Trios/Solos". And all Oregon's records.

rene · July-2nd-2007, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by picsou

I agree: "Solstice" is a MUST. Jon Christensen on Weber's piece "Sand" is

I also like "Trios/Solos". And all Oregon's records.

"Trios/Solos" is a winner! it was my first Towner album...

BargeOn · July-3rd-2007, 11:29 AM

Well, since Ralph Towner does not yet have a CD in the Rarum: series

(which, when/if it comes should be a double)

.. then I'd chime in with your own suggestion of the Solo Concert (one of the all time finest ECMs, IMHO).

I've been listening to RT for a lot of years and it's hard to go wrong with any one, though I may be alone in dissenting from Solstice.

City of Eyes (previously recommended) gives a fair example of the range and variability of his work, it includes solo cuts and group work, as well as his compositional style, which can go from abstract to earthy, serious to humorous. And great side men as well.

In any case you're in for several years of exploration. Enjoy.

Noj · July-3rd-2007, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squaredancecalling Steve

(with Jan Garbarek)

Seconded

riverrat · July-3rd-2007, 12:33 PM

Thanks for all the feedback! Finding some of these for a reasonable price will be a challenge, but that is part of the fun. It is interesting that even some of the c. 2000-2001 reissues already seem to be OOP and hard to find.

Forgot to mention that I do also have Oracle. It was at the bottom of a disorganized pile of CDs and I hadn't seen it in awhile. Good stuff.

jaka · July-3rd-2007, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nim Chimpsky

There's also some very nice interplay on the first album he did with Gary Peacock, Oracle.

Highly seconded, if only (but not only) for the beautiful closer Tramonto.

Hot Ptah · July-3rd-2007, 12:46 PM

His electric blues album, "Gettin' Greasy", in which he battles with Buddy Guy and Johnny Winter in highly distorted solos, is a must have.

Just joking.

I second the recommendation for "Matchbook". "Some Other Time" from that album is a real favorite of mine.

Ron Thorne · July-3rd-2007, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by riverrat

Thanks for all the feedback! Finding some of these for a reasonable price will be a challenge, but that is part of the fun.

Don't forget the benefits of Amazon.com used & new for many of these recordings. With a few exceptions, they're available from $7.50-15.00.

A few, such as City of Eyes will be expensive and/or hard-to-find at a reasonable price.

Curiously, some are available at Wal-Mart online at a reasonable price. Go figure. Anthem is available for even less at Amazon used & new ($12.24), though.

Yet another Towner favorite, from the same period (1974) as his early work with Oregon (Winter Light & Distant Hills) is Diary, a real gem.

Have fun!