Customer Reviews

1000 Kilometers

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Over his long, illustrious career Ralph Towner has rarely had a mis-step. Acknowledged as one of the world's leading 6 & 12 string acoustic guitarists his critical involvement in Oregon since its inception 35 (yes, that's right 35!!) years ago is often overlooked. It's not just his adroitness at the keyboard on show here but also his ensemble compositions that beget the wonderfully sensitive & seamless interplay amongst this most esteemed ensemble. Gone are the overly-conscious nods to world music of past albums (not including Prime here as I haven't yet listened to it) & instead we have a group that is clearly relaxed in terms of its own sound & individual abilities. Paul McCandless' tone on his varous reeds is at once delightful, understated & integral to each & every piece. Indeed it's fair to say that it is McCandless who provides Oregon with its unique voice & place in the "Jazz" pantheon. Album highlights are undoubtedly the long, evocative title track, the almost balero-like Bactrian & the delightful Simone, featuring gorgeous interplay between McCandless & Towner on acoustic guitar. But what's perhaps best about the album is there's no showing off here, nor any need to.

I bought this album on the glowing reviews and it is stunning work. I actually like the fact the percussionist takes the band away from the world music track this time and more towards the jazz world. Every track made my ipod and that is a rare thing. Fabulous to hear them making the same high level of music as they did when they started over thirty years ago.

What is there to say? If you know the Oregon band you know they always create good if not always great music. This CD is no exception. While the title track "1000 Kilometers" is superb, all the others also stand out. For example, "Catching Up" captures that unique Chamber Jazz like feeling, its Jazz but its not, just cuts across boundaries. I can imagine J.S. Bach grooving on the bass accompaniment and Mozart enjoying the sweeping melody hook, yet others may hear strains of a Latin bounce. Recommended.

As another reviewer mentioned, the Prime CD was so good its hard to keep that quality up. Prime was just such a peak. Yet, this is also worthy. The only bad thing about Oregon is that it takes so long for a new work to come. It's almost 2010 and I'm still playing a 2007 CD on my daily drive.

Well, I'm giving this 4 stars only because their previous release, Prime, was so very good and left shoes too big to fill. Part of this release, the title cut and its reprise, along with "From a Dream", are up to the job. But it falls off somewhat from there. Still, this is Oregon, and half a record of shocking beauty makes it more than worth buying or hearing. If you liked Prime, then you will like this additional "half a Prime".

Oregan are like old wine - they just keep on getting better with age. If you're a fan then this is a "must have" album -not a duff track - just 62 mins of pure bliss!