A cleansing exactitude is one reaction to At First Light. Another is the feeling of a craftsman at work in complete command of the classical guitar on this studio recording made in Lugano last year.
Ralph Towner needs no introductions to ECM fans given his long tenure on the label stretching all the way back to Diary a half century ago. And while solo guitar albums aren't everyone's cup of tea - and certainly not ours - nevertheless it is hard to resist such musicianship and evergreens as eternally giving as 'Make Someone Happy' and Irish tune 'Danny Boy,' the latter doubly fitting given that the album is released this month on St Patrick's Day. The title track is one of a number of Towner originals of which the deftly chugging 'Fat Foot' exerts its siren call most of all.
'Flow,' the opening track, from At First Light is streaming. Ralph Towner photo: Caterina Di Perri/ECM
- MORE READING:
Ralph Towner / Wolfgang Muthspiel / Slava Grigoryan's Travel Guide reviewed in 2013
Ralph Towner/John Abercrombie's Five Years Later reviewed in 2014
Tags: reviews