Ralph Towner - Trios / Solos '1973

Tracks list

Towner was, in the 1970s and early '80s, the consummate ECM artist. His
classical six-string and 12-string guitar playing lent itself well to Manfred
Eicher's aesthetic. This abum is an odd collection of solos and trios, all
played with the members of his band, Oregon (which included the late Colin
Walcott of Codona). The album features Towner with Glen Moore and Walcott on the
opener "Brujo," a driving piece for 12-string and tabla with Moore's bass
forging the bridge between rhythm and melody. Towner is still full of verve and
ambition here, still trying to prove to himself that it is possible to touch the
infinite with music. A number of these tracks are taken from Oregon's Vanguard
albums, and some of them are new originals. Also included is a stunningly
beautiful cover of Bill Evans' "Re: Person I Knew," with Towner doubling on
guitar and piano, and Moore playing a pizzicato bassline worthy of Scott LaFaro.
If anything, Towner overly sweetens the piece with his piano playing — it
seems he lacks Evan's gift for understatement — but he more than
compensates in the harmonic changes in the middle section of 16 measures with
his 12-string. Moore is solid throughout, swinging like hell. Another notable
track is the free improvisation of "Noctuary," where Towner and oboist Paul
McCandless go head to subtle head, moving through timbres, pitches, and octaves
like they were spokes on a wheel. While Trios/Solos has its moments of pure
unadulterated noodling yawn, there are more than enough dimensions where the
four elements meet and spark to compensate. ~ Thom Jurek

Tracklist:
1.01 - Ralph Towner, Glen Moore - Brujo (5:47)
1.02 - Ralph Towner, Glen Moore - Winter Light (3:39)
1.03 - Ralph Towner, Glen Moore - Noctuary (2:27)
1.04 - Ralph Towner, Glen Moore - 1x12 (2:51)
1.05 - Ralph Towner, Glen Moore - A Belt Of Asteroids (6:40)
1.06 - Ralph Towner, Glen Moore - Re: Person I Knew (6:22)
1.07 - Ralph Towner, Glen Moore - Suite: 3x12 - I (2:08)
1.08 - Ralph Towner, Glen Moore - Suite: 3x12 - II (2:19)
1.09 - Ralph Towner, Glen Moore - Suite: 3x12 - III (2:55)
1.10 - Ralph Towner, Glen Moore - Raven's Wood (5:23)
1.11 - Ralph Towner, Glen Moore - Reach Me, Friend (3:29)

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