This is arguably the get-go recording to fully flesh out the aural surface area for which ECM has come upwardly to move known. Although I am good aware of the immense groundswell of musical action that was the 1970s, surely an album similar this was a refreshing as well as altogether mind-altering sense for those fortunate plenty to move immature musical explorers at the time. Featuring a lineup of musicians who would instruct on to weave ECM’s significance into the stuff of time, Solstice is a tour de forcefulness of musicianship, writing, arrangement, as well as recording.
Each rails is brimming with life as well as features the sensitive application of a multifariousness of instrumental combinations as well as studio savvy. “Oceanus” showcases Garbarek inwards his prime, soaring with an unbridled emotional register. As always, Towner’s 12-string speaks inwards 360 degrees. Superb drumming from Christensen complements lush melodic lines from Weber, who stretches a melodic cello into infinity field his bass arises similar the conical aftereffect of a H2O droplet. “Visitation” clouds this ardor inwards a nocturnal vision filled with laughing spirits. “Drifting Petals” is a ho-hum progression, a timid hold off out onto a dusty manifestly where the hope of liberty looms larger than the possibility of danger. But as well as hence an elder’s advice rings inwards our ears as well as pushes us onward. Feet displace of their testament as well as line us into the ever-receding horizon every bit the get-go drops of a squall streak across our foreheads. Towner proves i time to a greater extent than that his pianoforte musings are non to move taken lightly, every bit they brand for i of the most evocative tracks on the album. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 transcendental 12-string solo (with gentle dimensional back upwardly from Weber) opens “Nimbus,” presently blossoming into a flourish of flutes, drums, as well as a bowed bass that cries with the grating fluidity of a sarangi. Garbarek’s sax joins inwards the fray as well as lets loose its harmonious fire. The deftly overdubbed flutes return, spreading their wings for a few moments earlier fluttering off into the distance. “Winter Solstice,” “Piscean Dance,” as well as “Red as well as Black” incorporate a triptych of duets: the get-go for classical guitar as well as sax, the 2d a prime number jam for 12-string as well as drums, as well as the tertiary for 12-string as well as bass. “Sand” ends our cosmic journeying with i of Garbarek’s deepest meditations for sax ready to the strangely compelling ululations of Christensen’s flexatone lolling close inwards the background.
Melodically robust field structurally yielding, this is an album to move treasured as well as is a must-listen for anyone desiring to know what ECM is all about. An astounding coming together of musical minds if in that location ever was one.
When Ralph Towner flare-up onto the contemporary jazz scene inwards the mid-70s, listeners were good aware of his awesome talent every bit a fellow member of Oregon. But when Solstice was issued on the ECM label, it took the bright guitarist's caché to a much higher level, specially every bit a composer. With the otherworldly curved soprano sax as well as flute playing of January Garbarek, the precise drumming of Jon Christensen, as well as unique bass sounds of Eberhard Weber, the music on this album lifted the ECM/Euro-styled jazz as well as improvised music to a novel realm of pure expressionism. Simply seat -- this music is stunningly beautiful. The incredible "Oceanus" begins with Towner's cascading guitar, followed past times the swelling as well as symphonic bass of Weber, a swinging drum trouble past times Christensen with Garbarek's atmospheric as well as dramatic curved soprano layering contrasting timbres, symmetry, as well as unusual colors. "Nimbus" opens with some astounding technical harmonics from Towner, to a greater extent than hence considering the acoustic nature of his instrument. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 circular subject inwards implied 3/4 underneath 4/4 leads to overdubbed flutes from Garbarek, bowed bass, the curved soprano inwards 6/8 all identifying the pure ECM sound. "Piscean Dance" is a funky workout betwixt Towner as well as Christensen, the earthiest rails on the date, as well as an practise of intuitive confluence. Other portions of the disc are infinite oriented similar the loose, gratuitous as well as haunting "Red & Black," "Visitation" with multiple percussion sounds of flexatone as well as shakers nether Weber's bowed bass as well as Garbarek's alien dragonfly flute, field Weber's "Sand" has the musicians staring at the Crab Nebula field firmly rooted inwards a strut afterwards inwards the piece. Towner's wondrous pianoforte is heard on "Drifting Petals," a pretty as well as pensive waltz with unison lines amongst Garbarek's flute, as well as hence Towner switches to guitar inwards a deeper discourse with the quartet. As mutual frigidity every bit the Norwegian studio (Oslo) they were recording in, "Winter Solstice" is non hence much profound every bit it is telepathic, every bit the players purpose stop-start techniques, i time to a greater extent than inserting a 3/4 musical rhythm into a 4/4 equation. Of the many splendid recordings he has offered, Solstice is Towner's crowning achievement every bit a leader fronting this definitive grouping of ECM stablemates who absolutely define the label's audio for the fourth dimension frame, as well as for all time.
Down Beat: “Solstice inspires through its expressive openness… revealing depth of texture, nuance as well as meaning.” Perfect Sound Forever: “The LP is non solely i of the moodiest ever published past times ECM, simply past times anyone.” Solstice, recorded 1974, belongs to the dandy early on production projects of ECM, with a novel band formed inwards the studio. It’s the get-go of Towner’s recorded encounters with the European players, as well as this US-Norwegian-German quartet has a graphic symbol all its own. Ralph’s synthesis of classical guitar technique as well as jazz improvisational skills inspires all participants on now-famous tunes including “Nimbus” as well as “Oceanus”. (Many hereafter associations grew out of this meeting, including the Garbarek/Towner collaboration on Dis, as well as the integration of Eberhard Weber into the January Garbarek Group, as well as of Jon Christensen into Weber’s Colours band.)
Track listing:
All compositions past times Ralph Towner except where noted.
1. "Oceanus" – 11:04
2. "Visitation" – 2:36
3. "Drifting Petals" – 7:01
4. "Nimbus" – 6:31
5. "Winter Solstice" – 4:02
6. "Piscean Dance" – 4:15
7. "Red as well as Black" – 1:19
8. "Sand" (Eberhard Weber) – 4:10
Personnel:
Ralph Towner – 12-string as well as classical guitar, piano
January Garbarek – tenor as well as soprano saxophone, flute
Eberhard Weber – bass, cello
Jon Christensen – drums, percussion
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