Batik [Import]

Eddie Gomez, Jack DeJohnette, Ralph Towner, Ralph Towner & Marc Copland | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 25, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Universal/Ecm
• ASIN: B00005LL8K
• Also Available in: Hardcover  |  Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,788,765 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Waterwheel

2. Shades of Sutton Hoo

3. Trellis

4. Batik

5. Green Room

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Overlooked Masterpiece, May 23, 2000

By 

Stephen Silberman "writer, Wired Magazine" (SF, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Batik (Audio CD)

Towner says that 'Batik' is his worst-selling album. Chalk it up to the dreary LP cover art, because it can't be the music. 'Batik' gives Towner the chance to play with a dream-team rhythm section of Bill Evans alumni, Eddie Gomez and Jack DeJohnette. You couldn't ask for more sensitive, articulate, swinging accompaniment, and Towner is at a compositional and performing peak here. This music is profound, reflective, deeply mysterious; but it's also vigorous and sparking with ensemble brilliance. Towner has covered Waterwheels several times with Oregon, but never with as haunted a quality as here. Trellis is a gorgeous, dark melody, classic Towner, never played again. And Green Room is where Bill Evans might have gotten to if he'd lived another twenty years, the sublime delicacy and gravity fused with a more "outside" sensibility. I can't say enough about this album. It's too bad the sales figures seem to have dissuaded Manfred Eicher from an affordable domestic release -- but this is worth it.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Historic Jazz Recording, May 15, 2003

By 

william lenihan (Italy) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Batik (Audio CD)

There are not sufficient words to describe the ECM recording, Batik by the great guitarist/pianist and composer Ralph Towner along with his cohorts Eddie Gomez and Jack DeJohnette. This unusual music speaks like all great music, beyond our linguistic boundaries. Anyone who has experienced the great flow of jazz music from the the 1960's and 70's before the breakdown of jazz into stylized historicisms will understand the profundity of this recording. Ralph Towner, who artistically managed to find his personal voice within the worlds of modern european classical music, modern jazz and non-western music of sorts, recorded a masterpiece of improvised music with Batik. The flow of energy and the great precision with which he plays along with his legendary partners, is extraordinary. This collection of music is probably identified correctly as Towner's most 'jazz' recording. For newcomer listeners to jazz, it should be noted that Towner comes from a period in jazz when the music was fully expanding and had not the cultural and economic restraints which characterize much of the popular output of jazz recordings at this writing.
The music on Batik is truly a heavenly experience of great composition - like no other, great playing, and the kind of communication among the musicians only heard in the likes of the Bill Evans trio of the early 1960's and of the great Miles Davis band of the same period. This music though, is truly original in concept and in sound, and yet strangely enough, no school of playing seems to have come from it. It stands alone. I highly reccommend the recording for all thoughtful listeners who desire music played with a sense of mystery, an unidentifiable unity of message and superb musicianship. It is truly a work of art in jazz and improvised music.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Some of Towner's best work, August 19, 2002

By 

"worldmusicexplorer" (Clarkston, MI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Batik (Audio CD)

I bought this album on vinyl when it first came out(recorded Jan. 1978). The passion that Ralph emits from the undulating melodies on this album seems to seep into Eddie and Jack. Jack Dejohnette is able to hold together some of the most delicate jazz string work I've heard. Eddie's flowing bow work on this album was a welcomed contrast to the labored plucking he was doing with Chick Corea in this era. This album proves that Mr. Gomez's calling was not in trying to compete with Stanley Clarke's acoustic speed bass.
I enjoy real jazz such as this. Ralph apparently learned composition from Miles. Where a simple melody and structure are enough for the best musicians to walk into a studio and improvise perfection.
The melodies of Waterwheel and Batik stuck in my head for many years of not having a working turntable. If I didnt have one now I would pay the import price for this CD just to enjoy these songs again.