Like many, I first heard Towner through his ringing solo introduction on 12-string guitar to The Moors from Weather Report’s I Sing The Body Electric of 1972. I soon discovered Towner’s contemporary work for ECM and have since relished the vast majority of the sessions he has made for the label, through a most productive relation that now stands at just over half a century.
When the solo guitar At First Light came for review, initially I was disappointed that the 12-string did not feature. But it took only one listen (quickly followed by many more) to appreciate the wisdom of the decision to feature Towner exclusively on classical guitar.
The packaging of this superbly recorded release, with a diversity of characterful new Towner originals rounded out by Make Someone Happy, Danny Boy and Little Old Lady, is some of the simplest seen on an ECM issue: three black and white images of Towner at work.
Also unusual is the fact that the sleeve booklet contains an informative, wide-ranging yet tautly focused written piece from Towner concerning his musical likes and influences (including Bill Evans and John Coltrane as well as Renaissance and baroque music) as well as his development over the years.
In an hour-long interview with Pablo Held from 2022, available on YouTube and as highly recommended as the present disc, Towner calls his classical guitar “my little travelling piano” and in the booklet here he speaks of “a very pianistic instrument capable of sophisticated polyphony and myriad tone colours”.
All such distinguish a recital where luminous legato phrasing serves a considered range of poetic reflection (sample Flow, Ubi Sunt and the title track) as well as the kind of special Towner capacity for finger-clicking, smile-inducing rhythm which marks, e.g., Guitarra Picante and Fat Foot. Unmissable beauty from first note to last.
Discography
Flow; Strait; Make Someone Happy; Ubi Sunt; Guitarra Picante; At First Light; Danny Boy; Fat Foot; Argentinian Nights; Little Old Lady; Empty Stage (44.14)
Towner (classical g); Lugano. February 2022.
ECM 486 1035
