For those unaware, an ECM artist for his entire musical career, US guitarist Ralph Towner has built up a unique body of work in his recordings for the label.

Central to his oeuvre are his solo albums, the first of which, Diary, was issued 50 years ago. His brand new recording, At First Light (due out April 7th, 2023 via ECM Records) extends this great tradition, drawing inspiration from a broad palette of music.

In addition to his own pieces, Towner also plays Hoagy Carmichael’s Little Old Lady, Jule Styne’s Make Someone Happy and the traditional tune Danny Boy.

1. Flow
2. Strait
3. Make Someone Happy
4. Ubi Sunt
5. Guitarra Piccante
6. At First Light
7. Danny Boy
8. Fat Foot
9. Argentinian Nights
10. Little Old Lady
11. Empty Stage

On what is a simply heavenly musical experience to embody oneself with, the new recording opens on the trickling gossamer of Flow and the gently-woven Strait, and then brings us a quietly furtive rendition of Jule Styne’s Make Someone Happy, the collared perkiness of Ubi Sunt, and then we are brought forth the sharper tones within of the mid-tempo Guitarra Piccante.

Along next on this sumptuous album is the beautiful, and titular At First and the organically heartfelt melodies within the traditional Danny Boy, and they are in turn backed by the rambunctiously restrained Fat Foot, the laid back, sumptuously-created Argentinian Nights, the album rounding out on a free flowing rendition of Hoagy Carmichael’s Little Old Lady, closing on the acutely-honed Empty Stage.

My solo recordings have always included my own compositions in which there are trace elements of the many composers and musicians that have attracted me, writes Towner in a liner note, citing the influence of, among others, George Gershwin, John Coltrane, John Dowland and Bill Evans: I feel that At First Light is a good example of shaping this expanse of influences into my personal music.

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