-
Description
The debut album from a duo with a most uncommon instrumentation, acoustic guitar and trumpet - but it's a highly attractive combination. Ralph Towner, guitarist extraordinaire, an ECM artist since 1972, is joined by Italian trumpet star Paolo Fresu, making his label debut for ECM.
Bright melodies and subtle colours prevail in a programme of old and new Ralph Towner compositions, plus improvisations, and a favourite from Kind of Blue era Miles Davis. The choice of "Blue in Green" as the sole cover version here says something about the aesthetic priorities of both musicians. These are players who understand the power of silence and melodic clarity. Fresu's trumpet playing, with his clear vibratoless sound, has often been compared with that of Miles Davis.
Towner first encountered Fresu 15 years ago, at a festival in Sardinia where the guitarist had been commissioned to write music for an ensemble. Paolo was the trumpet player. "From the first phrase he played I thought: wow, this guy really understands melodies!" The piece played that day, "Punta Giara", is revisited here. "Sacred Place" and "Doubled Up" are the first recordings to feature Ralph's new baritone guitar, tuned a fifth below standard guitar tuning. The instrument, reaching down for the deep notes, wonderfully balances Fresu's flugelhorn. Elsewhere Ralph's classical guitar sings in its unique way. Perfect moments, like a flaring of fireworks.
Chiaroscuro is Ralph Towner's 22nd album as a leader for ECM, in a discography with well over 30 titles. Alongside the landmark recordings like Diary, Solstice and Batik, this one has all the hallmarks of a classic.
Personnel: Ralph Towner (classical, baritone and 12-string guitars), Paolo Fresu (trumpet, flugelhorn)
-
Tracklisting
- 1. Wistful Thinking
- 2. Punta Giara
- 3. Chiaroscuro
- 4. Sacred Place
- 5. Blue in Green
- 6. Doubled Up
- 7. Zephyr
- 8. The Sacred Place(reprise)
- 9. Two Miniatures
- 10. Postlude
Disc 1
Side 1
-
-
A New Day
Giovanni Guidi, James Brandon Lewis, Thomas Morgan & Joao Lobo
- Regular
- from £13.99
- Sale
- from £13.99
- Regular
-
- Unit Price
- per
Live in Munich
Jordina Milla & Barry Guy
- Regular
- £13.99
- Sale
- £13.99
- Regular
-
- Unit Price
- per
September Night
Tomasz Stanko Quartet
- Regular
- from £13.99
- Sale
- from £13.99
- Regular
-
- Unit Price
- per
Outpost of Dreams
Norma Winstone & Kit Downes
- Regular
- £13.99
- Sale
- £13.99
- Regular
-
- Unit Price
- per
My Prophet
Oded Tzur
- Regular
- from £13.99
- Sale
- from £13.99
- Regular
-
- Unit Price
- per
Angel Song
Kenny Wheeler, Lee Konitz, Dave Holland & Bill Frisell
- Regular
- £45.99
- Sale
- £45.99
- Regular
-
- Unit Price
- per
Silent, Listening
Fred Hersch
- Regular
- from £13.99
- Sale
- from £13.99
- Regular
-
- Unit Price
- per
Azimuth
John Taylor, Norma Winstone & Kenny Wheeler
- Regular
- £30.99
- Sale
- £30.99
- Regular
-
- Unit Price
- per
Levs
Kim Cass
- Regular
- £12.99
- Sale
- £12.99
- Regular
-
- Unit Price
- per
Threads
Johan Birgenius
- Regular
- £19.99
- Sale
- £19.99
- Regular
-
- Unit Price
- per
In Amsterdam 1957
Miles Davis
- Regular
- £15.99
- Sale
- £15.99
- Regular
-
- Unit Price
- per
Echoes and Other
Mike Stern
- Regular
- £11.99
- Sale
- £11.99
- Regular
-
- Unit Price
- per
One Note Samba
Charlie Byrd
- Regular
- £17.99
- Sale
- £17.99
- Regular
-
- Unit Price
- per
A Sound Heart
Jaubi
- Regular
- from £12.99
- Sale
- from £12.99
- Regular
-
- Unit Price
- per
Introducing Wayne Shorter
Wayne Shorter
- Regular
- £16.99
- Sale
- £16.99
- Regular
-
- Unit Price
- per
2-3-4
Shelly Manne
- Regular
- £16.99
- Sale
- £16.99
- Regular
-
- Unit Price
- per