ECM Touchstones: Solstice

Ralph Towner | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 26, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 1975
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ecm Records
• ASIN: B001BOX2Z4
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #134,753 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pat Metheny's Favorite ECM Recording, December 12, 2002

By 

Mark A. Taylor (Tucson, AZ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Solstice (Audio CD)

On a wet and rainy October 1976 evening I walked into a Tower Records in Seattle. I immediately took note of the music playing. It was weird, beautiful, mystical, forceful, transcendental all at the same time. I inquired and was told it was Ralph Towner Solstice. I purchased it on Lp. I still have that old Lp as well as the CD. A few months later I got to see Ralph perform duets with John Abercrombie. After the 1st piece there was one perfect moment where you could have heard a pin drop the crowd was so captivated. Towner is one of the greats. Solstice is one of the most played recordings in my collection. Pat Metheny once commented on his website that this was his favorite ECM recording. Pick it up and find out why!

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hypnotic, Eerie, Playful and A Wonderful Musical Wild Ride, January 13, 2005

By 

P. McKenna "theowlwatches" (Atlanta GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Solstice (Audio CD)

This 1974 release by guitarist Ralph Towner only reaffirms his genius and versatility as a musician/composer.

Teaming up with bassist Eberhard Weber, drummer Jon Christensen and saxophonist Jan Garbarek, Towner took 3 other very highly developed musical personalities on a wild ride with him through dark spooky forests ("Visitation"), vast seas ("Oceanus"), deserts ("Sand") and more. Towner lets forth some beautiful Bill Evans-esque piano musings on "Drifting Petals", and even engages Jan Garbarek in a lively duo on "Winter Solstice". Things even get funky on "Piscean Dance".

Bassist Eberhard Weber adds not only brilliant electric upright bass lines to the proceedings but goes further to add eerie choruses of cellos and bowed bass. Jan Garbarek proves a more than capable foil for Towners full rich guitars and piano with his stark, icy, yet oddly soulful tones on tenor, soprano and flute. One of his best moments is "Nimbus" with its tumbling flutes and stern tenor sax interjections.

"Visitation" gets my vote for spookiest track on an ECM release. This improv piece is VERY effective in conjuring up vivid images of walking through a spooky forest at night, screech owls in full cry and something lurking behind the twisted trees.

All throughout, drummer Jon Christensen provides very flexible and empathetic playing, really listening to what's going on and giving his all without overpowering the other musicians. He shoud definitely get a MVP Award in the ECM stable (as he's appeared on so many ECM discs).

Prepare ye for a mindblowing listening experience!

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic, May 23, 2000

By 

D. Levy (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Solstice (Audio CD)

Solstice is one of Ralph Towner's greatest records. While his early work with Oregon and his previous solo album Diary are very much worth hearing, Solstice took his compositions and arrangements to a new level. Working with Christensen, Garbarek and Weber allowed Towner to create a mood that makes the experience of listening to Solstice truly dramatic. It's a very good sounding recording that shows off Towner's unique 12-string and gut-string guitar styles.

Ralph Towner is one of the greatest exemplars of contemporary music that is lumped into jazz but transcends categorization. Solstice is historically important and very enjoyable.