Vinyl Vault: “Solstice” – Ralph Towner

We passed the winter solstice a couple weeks ago, but the days are still short making this week’s Vinyl Vault selection still timely. This week we’ll hear a 1975 ECM release from Ralph Towner, “Solstice.” The album is widely considered to be the classic example of the early ECM sound. Towner plays 12 string and classical guitar as well as piano. He’s joined by Jan Garberek on tenor and soprano saxophones and flute, Eberhard Weber on bass and cello and Jon Christensen on drums and percussion. The album was engineered by Jan Erik Kongshaug, who passed away only two months ago. Kongshaug engineered and produced over 400 ECM albums and was integral in developing the distinctive ECM sound. “Solstice” is one of his finest early works with an airy, spacious quality and the immediate presence of each instrument.

Check out this milestone album on the Vinyl Vault with Geoff Anderson, Tuesday, December 7 at 8:30 pm on KUVO Jazz.