Ralph Towner Quartet - Oslo, Norway - 28 Feb 1975

Ralph Towner Quartet
Munch Museum - Oslo, Norway
February 28, 1975
Ralph Towner - guitar
Jan Garbarek - saxophone
Eberhard Weber - bass
Jon Christensen - drums
00:19 "Winter Solstice" (Towner)
09:10 "Free Piece" (Ralph Towner Quartet)
24:02 "Quiet Song" (Towner)
31:41 "Floater" (Towner)

[@neebinmakwah349]

Early 70s I was a roadie on the ECM tour. Metheny played with Burton, as well as solo ELE 12 string.Towner played with John Abercrombie. Coolest musician on the tour was sax player Charlie Mariano. Enrico Rava and Jon Christensen were also very nice, great experience and memories.👍

[@daf827]

While in college in the mid ‘70s, I had the distinct pleasure of seeing Towner and Weber join the Gary Burton Quintet, which included a young Pat Metheny, Mick Goodrick, Steve Swallow and Bob Moses, at a small club in Bryn Mawr, PA. What brilliant music!

[@wilsgetchell6420]

Main Point ?

[@daf827]

@@wilsgetchell6420 Yes!

[@MistBlues]

I saw Ralph Towner for the first time at the Main Point playing solo. It blew my mind! We got to stay for both sets and meet him after.

[@FenceThis]

how did Towner and Metheny blend - did Pat play the 12 string electric ?

[@wasabi1drful]

ECM Label was so adventurous and refreshing!

[@thewordofgord]

Priceless! A rehearsal ! And a distinct lack of haircuts ! Must have been the seventies. Oh Joy!

[@peterweise3836]

It's interesting how Ralph interuptes the music and organized the meter change going from 3/4 into 6/8 starting at 3:27 and later on in this rehearsel. Jon Christensen is, now was, the best Jazz drummer in Europe with great musicality and a very beautiful and smooth touch on his instrument while commenting and playing the music of his partners.

[@georgetowers5609]

Great to see how they rehearse...

[@jameskennedy721]

ECM released high quality music . Love these subtle composers .

[@mikelord9860]

Absolutely - their recordings were immaculate!

[@QuotenoireIV]

They still do!

[@charlescole-p9v]

Another epic album, from that period, is Sargasso Sea with John Abercrombie. Just a classic!

[@Mrc172]

One of my favourites ECM releases, even to this day.

[@haizeagerian6654]

Zenbait aldiz gozatu izan dugun zuen musika. Agur beroa Jon eta Eberhard : ohorea zuen artea. Jarraitu, arren, Ralph eta Jan. Ahal den eran. Edertasunak denborak-garaiak gainditzen ditu!

[@andretorquato4163]

wow.... amazing. they played tunes from "soltice" album. Iused to listen it every single day on early 80's. and I still love it. thank you so much for this post.

[@germanbarros7115]

Jamás imaginé esa época poder verlos ejecutar esa música que nos envolvió de placer musical, al menos ahora en nuestra recta final!, genial!!

[@robtullius7540]

My brother Kevin and I would listen to this group and as much ECM that we could find on L.P in the 70s. just incredible Jazz music..

[@ericschultz6539]

Any relation to the illustrious Kevin Tullius?

[@TonchoBluegrass]

Hey rob do you have any recommendations from that period? Cheers!

[@TonyJones-drummer]

I knew Kevin

[@Erschophone]

In fact, Kevin Tullius R.I.P. was the first person to turn me onto Eberhard Weber's "Fluid Rustle" recording. Whenever I see the album, I think about him.

[@robtullius7540]

@@ericschultz6539 Kevin was my brother...🥰🥰🥰 great to hear from you...

[@lotusalivelight24]

lol, you guys, Mrs. ‘Towner,’ was my 4th grade teacher, in Long Beach, Los Altos, CA, & she was So Nice, just like Ralph’s Big, Nice, Smile, to me, when my mouth was agape, awestruck, at UC Northridge, once, in 1981-82... THIS, is a really, Nice & Fun video !!! Thank You❣️❣️❣️☺️

[@docsketchy]

So, I've watched this video now about 6 times. I just can't get enough of it. I've been a big Ralph Towner fan since college in the early 80s. I discovered Eberhard Weber a bit later in life, but I still remember buying The Colours of Chloe used at a little CD store in Ashland, Oregon on my way down I-5 from Canada to California. I must have listened to that thing about 17 times on that trip. Jon Christensen is one of my all-time favorite drummers, and Jan Garbarek is possibly the best reed player Europe has to offer, plus he looks like a young Mr. Spock. Anyway, I had no idea there was such great footage of the Solstice band rehearsing that classic album. It's just amazing, and Ralph Towner is so chill!

[@thearchive6605]

So fun! I actually used to live in Ashland, Oregon. There are a few very fine jazz players there as well!

[@docsketchy]

@@thearchive6605 I love Ashland. We used to go there once or twice a year, rent a big old house in town, and spend a few days seeing plays, eating and shopping. I was very sorry to hear about the horrible fires they've had there this year. Did you know that Oregon made some music for an Oregon Shakespeare Festival production one time? It was for the Tempest, I believe, and they did it as a trio (Towner, McCandless and Moore). One thing about driving to Ashland from Vancouver BC is that one passes through Chehalis, WA, which is the birthplace of Ralph Towner. Today, Chehalis is most notable for its disgusting right-wing billboard that is on prominent display on I-5. We always speed through there as fast as possible. I suspect that Ralph Towner couldn't get out of that place fast enough.

[@mikelord9860]

This is the first footage I've seen of Ralph's piano playing, pretty cool. I liked his piano break on the piece called Parasol, on Sargasso Sea, a duet album with John Abercrombie.

[@docsketchy]

@@mikelord9860 Yes, "Parasol" is wonderful. You should check out the Oregon album "Out of the Woods" as there is all kinds of beautiful Ralph Towner piano on that one. Also, I really like the Paul McCandless composition "Queen of Sydney" from Oregon's "Crossings" album, which has some stellar piano work by Mr. Towner.

[@mikelord9860]

Not to mention Jan's Vulcan Death Pinch!

[@agamhamzah2924]

Just Wonderful moment to see Great Musicians discuss about their work, thanks so much for Share.

[@robscheps7722]

Great band. RIP Jon Christensen

[@carlosmorera6427]

!!!!!!!!pure gold

[@DavideSchachterJazz]

Wow! What a surprise it's a rehearsal!!! I thought it was "just" a concert...what a privilege to watch these true giants rehearsing together. Thanks!

[@udomatthiasdrums5322]

still love this music!

[@ebaylistentomusic]

I've seen all these guys , I love all their playing. Ralph just conjures up whirlwinds of sound on that 12 string.

[@ExpressionVessels]

Thanx for sharing,my favorite things in this life

[@jerryjenningsmusic]

Man. I was in Germany in 75, and this is SO much like those little jazz rooms they had in every town. And I honestly think I saw this band in bamberg. That bass player especially. Either way, this is really bringing right back to that place.

[@goatcheeta]

Classic line up for the period with world class musicians. Towner is probably playing piano (not credited). So very multi talented. Thanks for uploading this.

[@paulwhetstone0473]

I didn’t know Mr. Spock could play such a mean soprano sax. What a treat it is to hear Ralph and the others rehearse! Thanks a million for posting an amazing assemblage of musicians creating new music!

[@ForcesInMotion]

Fascinating.

[@paulwhetstone0473]

@@ForcesInMotion Indeed

[@markofsaltburn]

Highly illogical

[@calgarywino]

This is a rare opportunity to see a rehearsal and observe the growth of the music before performance.

[@op.1112]

Wow! Thank you for posting this video. This is extremely interesting footage!

[@gabomovil5422]

Bravo!!

[@unclechristo]

Fascinating - a filmed rehearsal. Funny to hear Oceanus on classical guitar rather than the 12 string as recorded. And Weber alternating between electric & double bass. Monitoring must’ve been hard with the guitar being so quiet and Garbarek’s sax and the drums being such loud instruments. The guitar mics must’ve been turned up high so feedback must’ve been hard to stop. And how great is Townes’s piano playing - heard him play piano often but not at such speed!

[@michaelproft7466]

Nothing wrong with Ralph's piano playing or the instrument . All is art in this.

[@wm.kipmiller4021]

Towner's piano playing is underrated, he made it as a piano sideman in NYC while perfecting his 12 string and classical playing BTW! Piano (improvising at age 3!) and Trumpet were his first two instruments long before he took up classical guitar after attending college at University of Oregon from 1958-1963, where he also studied composition with Homer Keller. He studied classical guitar at the Vienna Academy of Music with Karl Scheit from 1963-64 and 1967-68. 1968! Started playing classical guitar & 12 string for the Winter Consort in the late 60s. Towner first played jazz in New York City in the late 1960s as a pianist and was strongly influenced by the renowned jazz pianist Bill Evans. He began improvising on classical and 12-string guitars in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

[@FritsKist]

As emotions start, words stop.

[@jeffdawson2786]

This is superb footage. This is the Solstice lineup, for sure.

[@charlescole-p9v]

77 & still have my original ECM LP of Sargasso Sea and the Disc after CDs came out for cars. Still fresh after all these years.

[@vlzmusik]

Interesting how Drifting Petals and Winter Solstice came out so different in the LP. Absolute treasure this. Seeing Ralph Towner live is mesmerising. Saw him in Nottingham once, 1995 it was.

[@robertclarke7012]

Have come across this by chance. Great. Classic Towner (saw him in Edinburgh in 90's. His guitar didn't appear at airport arrivals and he had to borrow one) and classic Garbarek (saw several times in Edinburgh) This would have been soon after Belongings with Keith Jarrett, my favourite album. Magic!

[@ricardovillar4833]

Another Present Era... Pure Gold..!!!! Thanks for Posting 💜

[@planetaescapa6099]

Thank you , a panel of genius 🇺🇸🇫🇷✅😌

[@federicozimerman8167]

Great picture quality very enjoyable.

[@docsketchy]

I just wanted to offer a correction to the poster regarding the song titles. At 24:02, the song heard is Drifting Petals and at 31:41 the song heard is Oceanus. At least, that's what they were called on the album. Drifting Petals has been recorded in several different contexts by Towner, most notably on the Towner and Gary Burton album Matchbook and has been covered by others. I've not heard Oceanus done by any other group.

[@michaelvaladez6570]

Having being a big admirer of Ralph Towner, i love this ensemble.I bet they were a force to be reckoned with seeing them live.Im sure after doing two albums ( a shame ) i would have given my last dollar to see this progressive music on fire in concert.

[@MStelevision]

This is so lovely. To watch them think about the music they're playing. Wow. Thank you!

[@sophos.sophos]

4 genius .... De Luxe Archive !!!

[@SergioVieira]

Top master's!!!

[@FCT100HG]

These are from my most favorite album Solstice. Thanks so much.

[@ErnestDaddey6320acid]

just awesome .

[@pacogarcia6519]

Escuchaba este tema en mi adolescencia...cuando lo grabaron para ECM...me dan ganas de llorar de los recuerdos que me vienen a la memoria....exquisito cuarteto.

[@aeropilot4419]

Love this album … a moment in time for me ❗️

[@jerrypalmer3534]

Great footage !!!!!

[@tommylockett99]

This is absolutely awesome! Really fun to see them work out the songs, thanks so much for sharing

[@johnjesberger5676]

Its so cool watching them be puzzled and working it out.

[@intuneorange]

Love Ralph Towner. I was driving his band Oregon From a gig in Buffalo To The Hudson Valley He said he was the reincarnation of Bach. I have been told he had said this to other people but I did not know he was a Hindu. Dave Holland told me he took guitar lessons from him. He certainly is a talented musician. When I saw him he was able to play the guitar a Yamaha classical electric without a body and two Synths at the same time Who does he think he is Rashaan Roland Kirk?

[@steverickenbacher7110]

It also sounds like he is a bit of a lunatic.

[@markdarnell614]

@@steverickenbacher7110 - I assure you...he is not! I took a composition lesson from him back in the 1980'. He had just purchased one of the 1st Mac computers, and the beginning of "The Lesson" consisted of Ralph showing me the Flying Elephant he had animated on it! - a Total Polymath! Towner also has a Wicked Sense of Humor!...hence the Bach Incarnate, and Hindi statements! Also, just one of the nicest musicians - Period!

[@steverickenbacher7110]

@@markdarnell614 Ok, let's call him eccentric, then. But, as you know by now (hopefully), genius does border on insanity.

[@jerryvivanco4898]

And MAYBE.........people who insist that "genius borders on insanity" are so "normal......they're the real morons.............just maybe

[@GerardoMcCabe]

Never mind the music, let's talk rubbish

[@mike8015]

Wow! This is a great find, very intimate. Thanks a lot for sharing!

[@eduardopons6149]

Excelent document! Thanks for sharing. I don't know why the last two tunes have different names in the description. In the 1974 record "quiet song" is called "Drifting Petals" and "floater" is called "Oceanus".

[@luciosantoro831]

Great music. Quartet favoloso

[@brianderekbass]

Great! And Eberhard ahead of his time with a 5 string solid body upright!

[@andyzxc]

This is just wonderful! And although I know it’s unfashionable, I can’t help wishing EW had stuck to acoustic bass - so much more warmth and depth to the tone, for me. Belated thanks for posting it!

[@wm.kipmiller4021]

There wasn't anything then nor now unfashionable about an upright acoustic bass but EW's sound was unique as a hybrid electro-acoustic bass due to it's build and pickup/mic system made him able to get incredible sounds. No other bass or bassist sounded like he did. Such amazing ethereal sounds he could get while bowing and playing pizzicato (plucking the strings). His acoustic bass was great though.

[@haimlute]

Wonderful

[@richardthurston2171]

This is fantastic. Thank you.

[@mariad2501]

The Best!

[@dalewilliams8001]

Thanks !

[@quintaesenciarumi3834]

Solstice es la obra maestra de towner

[@aphillips1987]

Live long and prosper. 🖖

[@willeebobb2214]

Ah yes! Ralph was one of inventors of tapping!...here at 6:35....He tapped on the Weather Report album "I sing the body electric'...I forget when Steve Hackett says he was the first. Certainly Ralph the first on classical guitar. Cool.....

[@andersagetorp6067]

As far as I know Steve Hackett doesn't claim he was first with tapping, but among the first ones. He was tapping much earlier than Eddie Van Halen, who made the technique famous.

[@andersagetorp6067]

Steve Hackett used tapping on Nursery Cryme, released 1971 (I sing the body electric 1972). But there's a black and white film on youtube of a spanish guy, mid sixties or earlier, thap uses tapping.

[@hypno59]

WOW!

[@adriaanstam4953]

Nonexpectely nice.

[@jayblummer146]

Yeah

[@phillywop1]

the music sounds so sullen. Jan Garbarek sounds like hes emerging from the North Sea. These were the treasures from the ECM label

[@ferguscurrie5937]

Yeah Dominic!

[@quintaesenciarumi3834]

Ralph es el que la lleva

[@guilhermecosta5810]

Nice to know elite musicians also go: "diddily-diddily-doo-doo".

[@alansmith6465]

A band that should have lasted longer. Solstice was killer but the second album is more of a slow burner and Towners favourite... " I never made an album with the same intellectual strength as that one" he said. It had his best writing for sure but he's being a little hard on himself I think.

[@wm.kipmiller4021]

I have always referred to Towner's Quartet as a jazz super-group somewhat facetiously since there were no such things in jazz. But, on the other hand I do believe all of these musicians except with the possibility of Christensen needed to go forth as leaders in their own right as well as work on solo and other musician's recordings. Just too much individual talent to spread around! And, aren't we lucky they did and continued to spread that talent all over the world with other great musicians! So many incredible albums, performances and compositions from each and every one of these unbelievably gifted, talented and hard working musicians!

[@3243_]

Artists usually tend to be very self-critical.

[@ThaddeusThreadkill]

wizardry starts at 14:20

[@marinusvisser]

👍👍👍👍

[@MahaMtman]

Check out John Schilling...a Great Unknown

[@ThaddeusThreadkill]

Anyone else think Jan Garbarek looks like a Romulan?

[@jiyujizai]

🍀🌸🌻😮

[@thorstentopp3824]

Supergroup

[@carlosavila1680]

Falto keith jarrett

[@alonsotoro7904]

Una maravilla de video, pero la música que hacían era calle ciega, no dejó descendencia, mermó poco a poco y finalmente se extinguió, lamentablemente. Todos eran brillantes pero esta no era la dirección correcta. Sin embargo y lógicamente, todos por separado florecieron como les correspondía.

[@hoanzlmann]

didn't know that Mr Spock could play sax...

[@pearlsbeforeswine6456]

John Christiansen looks very bored , nothing is challenging him in this performance, kinda sticks out from the band although performing very very well as always

[@adriaanstam4953]

Hallo Hallo sorry it'un

[@luke125]

It’s all a bit cold for me.

[@ericschultz6539]

Well what do you expect Mr. Pickford > half of the musicians are from Norway - it's NOT a tropical country !

[@andersagetorp6067]

Are you lukewarm?

[@chrislinhares7311]

Fantastic, except the piano sound is crappy.