Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Ralph Towner: At First Light
Ralph Towner: At First Light
ByIn the liner notes Towner acknowledges that upon meeting Manfred Eicher, the founder of ECM Records, in 1970, he was taken with the approach, insight and standards of quality for making jazz recordings that Eicher employed. These high standards of sonic quality are still apparent in 2023, and Towner is still recording for ECM at 83 after all those years since his start as a recording artist.
Of the eleven compositions on the album all are by Towner except threethe traditional "Danny Boy," the wonderful "Make Someone Happy" by Jule Styne et al and "Little Old Lady" by Hoagy Carmichael. In the liner notes, Towner recalls hearing tunes from these artists as a young boy growing up; they were his earliest musical influences.
The old are melded with the new on this album in the form of Towner's own compositions. "Fat Foot" is the jewel in that crown. It sounds like a timeless jazz classic from way back, yet it is appearing here for the first time. It has a great rhythm and melody, elevated by Towner's meticulous playing. Other highlights are "At First Light" and "Flow."
Track Listing
Flow; Strait; Make Someone Happy; Ubi Sunt; Guitarra Piccante; At First Light; Danny Boy; Fat Foot; Argentinian Nights; Little Old Lady; Empty Stage.
Personnel
Ralph Towner
guitarAlbum information
Title: At First Light | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: ECM Records
< Previous
Chico Pinheiro, Andy Emler, Franco D'...
Next >
Monika Herzig
Comments
Tags
Ralph Towner
Album Review
Cary Tenenbaum
DL Media
At First Light
ECM Records
Manfred Eicher
Jule Styne
Hoagie Carmichael