Ralph Towner - At First Light (Album EPK) | ECM Records

[@Dave_Hepler]

Icarus is such a world in of it’s self!! Sweeps me off my feet hearing or playing it- thank you Ralph Towner and beautiful sounds you get out of guitar❤ your music!!

[@RickBeato]

This is fantastic! Love you Ralph🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@alejandrosolano7421]

Rick! So cool to find out Ralph didn't pick up the guitar until 22. 'Solstice' is very dear to my heart, as well as 'Sargasso Sea' alongside John.

[@neilloughran4437]

Was just going to say... would love to hear you interview Ralph! He's a unique voice... loved his output since 70s..

[@barryberko]

Glad to see you’re a fellow Ralph fan, Rick. I second the request above for an interview with the Maestro!!

[@MichaelTanenbaum]

Bravo Rick for your Ralph cheers! I third the request for a Rick -> Ralph interview. It would be among the recent greats you've had on the show with Keith Jarrett, Thomas Newman, Pat Metheny, Dominic Miller/Sting, Steve Gadd, Tommy Emmanuel, Eric Johnson and countless others.

[@andorrasrevenge1683]

Have you made a video on Ralph yet?

[@michaelvogt-gitarre9096]

Don't forget the wonderfull duo with John Abercrombie. And............ Out of the woods.... one of the best jazz/ethno records ever.....

[@sergioassad]

I've been listening to Ralph for 40 years or so. Ralph has developed his own voice since its inception and makes the guitar sound like himself. His harmonic language has always been very special and Ralph has managed to "find" special sounding chords that are connected to a high level of understanding of the possibilities of the guitar. This record is a pure celebration of Ralph's talent and a gift to the guitar world. Thanks Ralph! You have been and continue to be a light showing us the way!

[@ozdogan6532]

One of the great Composers and musicians of our time, Ralph Towner!

[@gregorykingsley6179]

Truly an American Master, a true Genius.

[@nested_King]

Solos, Oregon, Solstice, the 12 string with Weather Report, even the Prophet 5 in primarily acoustic settings… a wonderful world of music for more than 50 years. Marvelous!

[@-solidsnake-]

“Music of another present era” is an all time classic.

[@williamlenihan7536]

Ralph is a Godsend of music. For so many us, his music lives in our consciousnesses and is a daily poetic ray of light in our lives.

[@andretorquato4163]

brillant musician. thank you ECM for such a precious catalog

[@joyceglasgow2356]

Ralph is one of my all time favorite composers and musicians!❤️🙏🎶

[@davidteissier5704]

❤❤❤❤Ralph Towner Forever ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@sebastianmueller8378]

I Have listened to Ralph Towner since my teens and his music is still deeply moving to me….I cant say this about too many artists

[@jaysteeleMB7]

No s*^$#@

[@jaysteeleMB7]

Absolute icon.

[@jaysteeleMB7]

Innocenti chords are iconic jam 100%

[@thomasmrf.brunner]

When my Stuttgart music professor told me during my studies that he had been studying with Ralph Towner in Vienna with Prof. Samuel Scheidt, it really threw me off my feet, because Ralph's music had already fascinated me before I started studying - pieces like "Oceanus" ,"Nimbus" and "Sand" (Solstice 1975) , "The Silence of a Candle" (Oregon 1973) , "Drifting Petals" (Matchbook 1974 - together with Gary Burton) , "Distant Hills" (Oregon 1977), "Sargasso Sea" 1976 - together with John Abercrombie, or as a guest in "Cafe" (Egberto Gismonti - Sol Do Meio Dia 1977) , as well as in "The longest day" (Azimuth - Depart 1977) opened a magical world that still exists today... Thank you !😇

[@ps-bi2sr]

Been a fan for over 40 years, having first seen him at UC Santa Barbara in "78.....pure master.

[@davidbeckertribune607]

Ralph is the best!

[@halbertking2683]

Ralph , I saw you and John Ambercrombie together at the Stanley Theater in Pittsburgh, Pa. You played a Guild 12 string acoustic and I think John had a Fender electric mandolin . It was a great nite of music . Thanks . Way back in the 70s .

[@triadicpath]

Ralph Towner is just amazing!

[@charleslyall5857]

Master musician.

[@kelesays]

Proud to live in the same century as Ralph. Been listening to his music for 28 years and still going further. Long live great master!

[@DominiqueDelmasguitare]

Ralph is the best musician and a daily inspiration for playing guitar, composing and living music.

[@honomusic]

What a great guitar composer.

[@markharry172]

I was in University driving home when the local NPR radio station played Ralph Towner's "Diary" album. It had such a profound impact on me as a guitarist. Almost 50 years later and I can't wait to hear "At First Light". Thank You , Ralph Towner for being such a musical inspiration to me and Thank You, ECM Records for bringing Ralph's music to the world.

[@edbrickell140]

What a lovely interview with an artist whose music has been part of my life for decades. Thank you!

[@JoshuaPolak]

All of my favorite players are first and foremost composers. Towner is in his own league. He is my personal favorite player/composer/improvisor on the planet; a great blessing to all who hear him!

[@charleslyall5857]

Totally agree.

[@snakeobias]

Lovely sentiment! I was crushed when I found out he had played in my town and I didn't even know about it. Would love to have seen him play live once

[@joelwiemken3046]

Love Ralph since the late seventies, especially the duos with Gary Peacock... Thanks for all the great memories ......saw him in a small club in Springfield, Missouri......How could i have gotten so lucky??!!!

[@chrisstaples7450]

First dicovered Ralph while driving in a VW van heading for a skiing weekend back in the mid to late '70s. Oregon's Winter Light on the cassette player. That gave me an entirely new perspective on what could be done with a classical acoustic nylon string guitar and how an unlikely combination of instuments could produce mesmerizing music. Since then I've acquired almost every Oregon album and several of Ralph's solo albums. The man is a true guitar virtuoso, an inovative composer and from all indications, a very fine human being. I'm waiting impatiently for his latest, At First Light, to arrive.

[@bobsabin]

This is the best news. Looking forward!

Thank you Ralph for so much wonderful music (and meeting you at concerts), thank you too Manfred, for your music beating heart bringing together so many great musicians... ❤

[@hughhockemeier8355]

How fortunate we are! My after concert moment he was with Abercrombie who new my teacher. Years later, on the opposite cost, Ralph remembered, not for me but my mentor, the "other" Philly Jazz guitar great...

[@hobarttaylor18]

Seeing Townes and Abercrombie changed my life…opened my mind to myriad possibilities

[@Xbangsplot]

In the mid eighties I saw Ralph and Gary Burton play their album Slideshow in a church in a small town in the province of Quebec in Canada. I was 24 years old. This was the first time I saw a live jazz concert. It was a very powerful experience that turned me into a hard core jazz fan.

[@mortonwilson795]

Wonderful . . . been listening to Ralph Towner since the first ECM records . . . Maestro!

[@kleberveridianogoncalvesde6293]

Thank you for your music ! 🙏

[@galeormiston337]

Ralph, it is Wonderful to see and hear you doing so well. I think of you and Janet so often - all those 50+ years ago. What a blessed life we have been given. More to you, my friend.

[@kmal16]

Such a rich influence on me, after all these years, I had the fortune of meeting Mr. Towner at the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, and it was such a delight. I wish I had more time to spend asking him questions about his tastes in art, music, harmony and melody, and even food, and so on. Anything to make great conversation with perhaps the composer that has been one of my favorites, along with Germaine Tailleferre.

[@usatran]

Ralph Towner, thank you for just being you!

[@JoseReyes-wi5fg]

Ralph Towner is one of my favorite musicians ever. It was crucial in my musical education. I love his music. It is great that his coming with more recordings. 🙏🙏🙏

[@Tugend8]

Ralph Towner is still one of my favorite guitarists and composers on the planet ... with such an extraordinary charismatic playing. Like he said:" .... with the best qualities of individual musicians ...!" - Love & peace on earth ...!!!

[@k8923]

What first attracted me to ECM was the stunning recordings they were able to achieve. It started with Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, and Gary Burton. Then Ralph came along, and since most of my friends were guitar players, we immediately gravitated to Ralph and later Pat, of course. Such great music for lo these many years.

[@michaelvaladez6570]

Maestro Ralph Towner is the American treasure, composer..his works are a true indication of several genre's. jazz , classical , folk hybrid, and transcends all musical boundaries. His group Oregon was a eclectic mix of all different forms to become a orginal group of accomplished musicians. A true American treasure!

[@miphka66]

I love this guy so much

[@f6strings]

Ralph Towner it's been a fantastic musical guide. I had the privilege of meeting him in a wonderful master class in Córdoba, which is one of the most unforgettable musical moments of my life. Thank you maestro for your sympathy and the wonderful music you are giving us. A hug from Lisbon -Portugal

[@MarkDarnell-cq2wy]

Ralph Towner is the Zeus of Contemporary Music. I can't believe I had the great pleasure, and fortune to receive a private composition lesson from him, back in 1985 in Seattle where he was living at the time! On a record label that has given us some of The Finest Musician EVER, Towner is the embodiment of Manfred Eicher's vision, and ECM's Ethos. If I had to choose one ECM album to take to another World - it would be the 1st "Solstice" recording - with Eberhard Weber, Jan Garbarek, and Jon Christensen.THAT Ensemble has NO Peer in this World! And...it comes as no surprise that Ralph considers this World's most beautiful city (Rome0 to be his Home.

[@dvanselus5999]

Great interview. Spoken from the heart by an amazing artisan.

[@stuartdryer1352]

Ive listened to so many ECM records in my days but especially in the 70s. Ralph Townser has always been a favorite. I need this new one.

[@ivopeixoto7988]

Extraordinary!

[@tomrott5333]

People keep forgetting, Ralph was in Tim Hardin's band during Woodstock 1969 !!! Met him on number of occasions in London, UK after his performances with Paolo, Oregon and after his solo shows. What a pleasure. His last solo album is simply out of this World. It is as good as his 'Solo Concert' from 1980. Go and get it !!! :)

[@WallyOtt]

I first encountered the otherworldly vibe of Ralph Towner's guitar while listening to Weather Report's "I Sing the Body Electric". It has fascinated me ever since.

[@danielsili]

THANK YOU

[@SonicArchives]

Thank you Ralph, your one of my favorites, your books changed my musical direction. Play mostly nylon string guitars now! Ralph Towner Improvisation and Performance Techniques for Classical and Acoustic Guitar was one of the greatest books written for guitar.

[@steveprickett2160]

Ralph We Love You !!🙏

[@zbroyc11]

Lovely, Ralph. Great to hear new music from you again. Thank you.

[@yurikostyk745]

🎉Thanks for all the joy your music has given me.

[@reverendbarker650]

I had a long chat with Ralph after a concert in Adelaide around 2004, hes a lovely guy and of course one of the best musicians ... and composers,....of the last (and this) century.

[@jazzalamander]

Wonderful. Exceptional work and creativity through all these years. And I really love the new album. Thank you so much, Ralph!

[@tomjensen618]

To us Europeans ECM became the no-nonsense go-to record producer, reliably putting out quality stuff.

[@philippeduperrin8624]

Great to hear news from Ralph. I'm not surprised Ralph talk's about Evans/LaFaro/Motian trio's interplay. The main point of Oregon's music (RIP Colin Walcott) is interaction (on beautiful Ralph's compositions). Ralph often performs 'Waltz for Debby' (Evans's niece). And 'Gloria's step' (dedicated to Scotty's girlfriend). Oregon played a Scott LaFaro's composition 'Jade visions' in their first recordings. And on ECM's 'Trio solo', they play 'Re : person I knew' which is an anagram of Orrin Keepnews (Bill Evans' trio's producer). And listen to Ralph's previous recording 'My foolish heart' , specially the ending of that tune, dedicated to this trio and especially to the 1961.06.25 recording at Village Vanguard (I heard Manfred Eicher was in the audience ?). Vanguard is also the name of Oregon first label but it's just a coincidence. I've always thought Ralph is in a way Scott Lafaro's little brother (Ralph is 4 years younger) : Scotty always wanted to play high notes with his double bass and Ralph often plays low notes with his guitare. Both of them meet somewhere in the middle. I started listening to Ralph's music when I was 16. 42 years later, I love it more and more. Thanks Ralph, you helped me to grow up !

[@arsenalius6855]

Great MUSICIAN! 👍👍👍 I ❤️ "Oregon" and Ralph. Unforgettable impressions since the first listening... 🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼

[@desmotunes]

Beautiful!

[@Marnigato]

My favorites of Ralph Towner are stil the first LP "Trios,Solos" and the second one "Diary", because this was music, no other guitarist ever played before. The latter albums were also good, but the freshness was gone. One of the best albums with Ralph Towner for me is "Icarus" from the Paul Winter Consort.

[@fabiosky4368]

thanks to Ralph Towner for fantastic music he gave us! the Ecm vynils were astounding for the sound quality too, thanks to Eicher.Towner ,Jarrett and Metheny made ECM the most important jazz and indie label in the world.ciao from Italy.

[@javiermk1055]

Wonderful musician and person

[@LuisMartinez-em9le]

Love Ralph's music. Love him playing piano too !! Read this !! LOL

[@annalisa14]

The man is brilliant. And humble. I’d like to meet more people with that combination. I will love ✨💜✨Ralph’s music forever… for the rest of my life 🦋

[@mainsblanches8793]

A HUGE fan since the very first notes I heard from him back in the days of Solstice!!...stuck in my brain and heart (and down to my fingers a bit of course) ever since!!...

[@panthalassa100]

It’s been a real honour and great pleasure to host old time friend and legend Ralph Towner at Casa del Jazz in Rome to shoot this little jewel video.Thank you Ralph,Marie and ECM staff.

[@anitapricecheck9554]

Nice work!

[@williamlenihan7536]

Beautiful vignette of Ralph’s new work. Very nice production. Grazie per aver prodotto questo video.

[@gregmock6808]

I have 5 of Ralph's albums and got to see him right up close perform with his trio...he's on my Mr Rushmore of guitarists and composers...very delicate and playful and percussive. His "Lost and Found" album is my favorite and I can listen to it without ever tiring of it which is so rare in music. I discovered him through his work with the band "Oregon" and the Paul Winter consort.

[@giogio7351]

Amazing Ralph

[@mattdowie92]

A true legend

[@alainvalodze]

Ralph...big love ...his music has been a life companion since first listen (1975 for me )...glorious album. Always beautiful. Thank you for this.

[@timbruer7318]

What a lovely little promo

[@j6449663]

American serious music .A legacy for future generations .

[@lqr824]

First time I set foot in a bar was 1985 in Kansas to hear Towner's solo. He had piano, Prophet-5 and sequencer, and I think three guitars, one prepared with matchbooks in the strings. I loved both the 70s Oregon, and later a lot of the Towner projects as well as the Gurtu Oregon.

[@constantinghe3801]

Long live and good helth , MAESTRO !....

[@jerrypalmer3534]

I'm really happy ECM does these short films....Thank you! I ordered this Album through Barnes and Noble in Fort Collins, Colorado ! Hardly wait to get it this month !! Beautiful music Ralph...!!!

[@daniellustgarten5857]

My favorite Towner record to the date , beautiful music, beautifully played and beautifully recorded , I do not get tired listen it, Thank you again Ralph, following you since Icarus with Paul Winter ...

[@paulsoriansky]

so proud to see there in the video the photo portraits taken for the "Time Line" Ralph's release!😁 And so happy to listen his new music always so moving to me

[@andorrasrevenge1683]

Thanks Ralph and ECM!

[@manmars1581]

Wow, so fine to see this wonderful man and musician! 🙂

[@billwilkie6211]

Nothing less than an icon

[@nicomodesto4368]

Always goosebump Ralph ❤

[@belverticale]

Oh fantastic! Lovely to see Ralph back.

[@robm3569]

Ralph Towner is one of my favorite musicians. His guitar work and piano work are so inspiring, whether with Oregon or his solo work. I've seen him perform multiple times, east and west coast and it's always a treat.

[@christianmatthews5141]

Nice surprise…been a fan since the 70’s …gotta go grab my headphones for a listen.

[@RJ986S]

I'm another Ralph Towner fan since the mid-1970s. Love his solo and group recordings. Looking forward to purchasing 'At First Light' very soon. The music in this video sounds awesome, and it's so nice to hear his thoughts!

[@SimoNaapuri]

Greetings from nearby the Arctic Circle/Finland! Thank you sir! I saw your Oregon-concerts in TampereJazz/Finland and in Stockholm FashionJazz-Club years ago :) I especially love the way you play 12-string-guitar ⛄⛄👍👍

[@eugeniopol9568]

Uno dei più grandi musicisti della storia recente!!!❤ Lo senti suonare l’introduzione del brano The Moors sul disco I sing the body electric e rimasi folgorato!!!! Da allora tutto ciò che incideva lo acquistavo!!! Un grande amore per lui!!!❤️❤️🙏🙏 Grazie di esistere Ralph!!

[@rdolan123]

Thank you, Ralph, for bringing me a lifetime full of deep and joyous sounds

[@barryberko]

I was lucky to have seen Ralph perform in a small club in Tel Aviv a few years ago, very intimate setting, one of the most beautiful and touching musical experiences of my life. What a hero. ❤

[@pallhe]

Still making really great music!

[@adrianbrand2927]

Thanks Ralph, for this explanation / bio, wonderful description of what goes on in that amazing musical brain of yours.... Your music just takes me away into a secret world, every time.... I was introduced to your music through Solstice, back in the 70s..... fantastic! Never looked back! (Just listened back!) Oceanus is one of my most enduringly favourite pieces of all time. Up there with Debussy Images, Reflets sur l'eau..... Thanks Ralph!

[@georgerafael]

gorgeous.

[@dmitriy2853]

Thank you for your skill, feelings and thoughts!

[@johnshaw4597]

1,200 views in 12 hours. This wonderful man is, finally, beginning to receive the recognition he so well deserves. His comment toward the end of the video about 'telling a story' through a piece of music reveals his approach to both composition and executional articulation. By decoupling the elements of narrative - the musical grammar of syntax, punctuation, intonation, phrasing, dialogue, etc. - from narrative's otherwise distracting linguistic substance, Ralph taps into primitive, pre-linguistic sinews of human emotion like no other.

[@robertoz61]

fantastic man, fantastic artist...

[@CAJMusic]

Magnificent album!

[@swordoftruth8031]

I have loved his playing since way back when... Absolutely unique and always stretching my ears/listening consciousness.

[@haydenwayne3710]

Well done! Congrats

[@Mikkokosmos]

very inspiring I hope I can play like that when I'm that age 🙂