Results for "Ralph Towner"

Musician

Ralph Towner

Born: March 1, 1940

Musical innovation is no easy feat. It not only requires an innate talent, but also a devotion to the art that is not blinded by the commercial glare of the popular culture. Ralph Towner is such an innovator on the modern musical landscape, his ideas ever fresh, though they span a career of more than forty years.

Best known as the lead composer, guitarist, and keyboardist for the acoustic jazz ensemble "Oregon", Towner has also had a rich and varied solo career that has seen fruitful and memorable musical collaboration with such great modern musicians as Gary Burton, John Abercrombie, Egberto Gismonti, Larry Coryell, Keith Jarrett, Jan Garbarek, and Gary Peacock.

Article: Album Review

Norma Winstone: A Timeless Place

by Neil Duggan
July 3, 2026

This 1990 recording unites the outstanding vocal talents of Norma Winstone MBE with the NDR Radio Orchestra. Now known as NDR RADIOPHILHARMONIE, the distinguished German radio symphony orchestra, invited Winstone to participate in a broadcast session. In turn, she enlisted pianist and arranger Steve Gray, with whom she had previously collaborated on BBC projects.

Article: Interview

Tigran Hamasyan’s Manifeste Destiny

by John Chacona
May 11, 2026

Tigran Hamasyan does not shy away from the big gesture. His fearsome keyboard technique, compositional ambition and improvisational daring have defined his international career, which ignited at age 18 with the release of his first album, World Passion (Plus Loin Music, 2006). Two decades later, these qualities have been refined and expanded with the results on ...

Video

Icarus - Oregon

Featuring the music of Ralph Towner
Duration: 06:28
March 22, 2026

Ralph Towner was the quintessential synthesizer of jazz and classical guitar, a late-blooming but intense explorer. Though he began his musical journey on trumpet and piano, he pivoted to the classical guitar in his senior year of college. Following five years of rigorous study under a master, practicing 10 hours a day, he initially found more lucrative work in New York City’s jazz scene as a pianist. From this multi-faceted background, Towner forged a singular artistic path. He masterfully blended the linear melodies and counterpoint of classical music with the punctuated block chords of jazz piano and the fluid arpeggiation of fingerstyle guitar. His instrumental choices were purposeful: he favored the nylon-string acoustic for the intimacy of solo work, while the 12-string steel-string acoustic provided a captivating, resonant "twang" for comping within larger ensembles. A foundational artist for the ECM label for over 50 years, Towner passed away on January 18, 2026. Towner’s legacy is anchored by his composition "Icarus," performed by the jazz-folk-world groups Paul Winter Consort and Oregon. For a well-known example of his nylon-string mastery, one need look no further than the track “If (Live in Korea)” on YouTube.

Article: Radio & Podcasts

New Releases And A Tribute To Ralph Towner

by Bob Osborne
February 19, 2026

A show in two parts. The first part examines some of the exciting new releases that have just been released or are due soon. The second part is a tribute to the legendary guitarist Ralph Towner. Playlist Nicholas Mycio “Siny" from Please Plant Flowers (Self Released) 00:00 Shai Maestro “The Time Bender" from The ...

Article: Interview

Vadim Neselovskyi: The Beauty Of Music And The Scourge Of War

by Frank Housh
February 18, 2026

Ukrainian-born, Brooklyn-based pianist and composer Vadim Neselovskyi's art emerged from a fairly traditional path. He was classically trained at conservatories in his native Odessa and Germany, then received a scholarship to Berklee School of Music where he developed a distinct, sophisticated style that bridges jazz and classical music. His compositions have been performed by Randy Brecker, Antonio ...

Article: Radio & Podcasts

Ralph Towner (RIP), Brandon Sanders, and Anat Fort

by Jerome Wilson
February 11, 2026

This episode features the music of the recently deceased Ralph Towner. It also includes the work of Anat Fort, Sarah Jane Morris, Brandon Sanders, and Amancio D'Silva.Playlist Henry Threadgill Sextett “I Can't Wait Till I Get Home" from The Complete Novus & Columbia Recordings of Henry Threadgill & Air (Mosiac) 00:00 Dizzy Gillespie “You ...

Article: Radio & Podcasts

Pat Metheny, George Coleman! Vocals from Jose James and Gregory Porter. Deep UK music and jazz-funk

by Andy Crowther
February 6, 2026

New music from around the world, including an 89 years young George Coleman. Lots of guitar this month, from elder statesman and upcoming stars. Free music from vocalist Jose James paying tribute to John Coltrane. A selection of recent vinyl digs, Brazilian vibes from Denmark, and UK jazz-funk legends, Shakatak. Playlist Attilio Zanchi Septet ...

Article: Interview

Ralph Towner: Unconcerned With What Genre His Music Is Labeled

by Jim Trageser
January 29, 2026

This interview was originally published in San Diego Troubadour magazine in the March, 2017 edition. You'll excuse Ralph Towner if he's not particularly interested in debates over genres and how to define them. The guitarist grew up playing swing jazz on trumpet, then studied classical piano in college, discovered guitar at age ...

Article: Radio & Podcasts

New Archie Shepp with Naïssam Jalal, Kronos Quartet, remembering Ralph Towner, and introducing the Alfie Jackson Sextet

by Hobart Taylor
January 28, 2026

New Archie Shepp, Kronos Quartet inspired by Mahalia Jackson, Nicole McCabe, and remembering Ralph Towner. Playlist Host Speaks 00:00 Kerry Politzer “The Sunrise Wants to Break Through" from Alternate Routes (Whirlwind) 00:12 Ralph Towner “Fat Foot" from At First Light (ECM) 5:24 Nicole McCabe “Air Sign" from Color Theory (Birdwatcher) 9:13 John Surman/Ben Surman ...