Search - Ralph Towner, Paolo Fresu :: Chiaroscuro

INCOMPARABLE LIGHT AND SHADE

Steve Wyzard | Lomita, CA | 03/29/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Now that both Tomasz Stanko and Enrico Rava have returned to the label, the trumpet has become increasingly important to ECM Records. Here we are introduced to Paolo Fresu, who has led many ensembles and recorded many albums (available as imports) in his native Italy. This is his first widely distributed release in the western hemisphere, and he is teamed with classical/12-string virtuoso guitarist Ralph Towner, who also leads the chamber-jazz group Oregon, and has recently turned 70 (?!?). The two recently met at a festival in Italy, and are now performing and touring together as a duo.



So when was the last time you heard a guitar/trumpet duet? This album works brilliantly on every level despite taking a risk with an unusual pairing. Yes, this is mostly quiet, reflective, introspective, meditative music, but there is also way too much happening with both performers for it to remain placidly in the background. Towner, who has played on many of ECM's greatest albums (Matchbook, Solstice, Batik, Solo Concert, et al), contributes fleet-fingered picking on "Punta Giara", double-tracks a baritone guitar on "Sacred Place" and "Doubled Up", and recaptures throughout the classical/jazz/world/folk sound he has given us for almost 40 years of recording on the ECM label. Fresu plays both trumpet and flugelhorn, and his tone has just enough sharp edges (especially on the title-track) to avoid being dismissed as a smooth impressionist. He performs a muted tribute to Miles Davis on "Blue in Green", which receives a very different arrangement from Towner's cover with Gary Burton on 1986's Slide Show album. The album closes with 2 brief, but haunting improv pieces, "Two Miniatures" and "Postlude".



It all sounds "very ECM", and one wonders why this instrumental pairing hasn't been attempted before (or if it has, why so rarely). At 46:43, the idea is not overworked and never drifts into aimless repetitiveness. Excellent sound and booklet graphics, as always, are a given with ECM. Highly recommended for late-night listening, and for those looking for something different."

UTTER JAZZ STARDUST

DAVID HALL | USA | 04/20/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"CHIAROSCURO is a brand new 2010 Jazz album that is absolutely first rate in every aspect. The artists are Ralph Towner (guitar), and Paolo Fresu (trumpet) - musical soulmates. There is an elegance, an exquisite taste and economy purring throughout this entire album that threw me for a loop. I'm big on 'less is more' when it comes to my musical preferences, particularly Jazz, and this completely unexpected musical gem has soared to the top of the list of my listening pleasures. All but one of the selections on the c.d. are Towner compositions, the one exception being the cover of Blue In Green by Bill Evans. Of course, the one on Kind of Blue will perhaps always be the quintessential version of the song, and yet the one on this album has a serene majesty second to none. One of the songs on the album is reprised. That one is Sacred Place, and its ravishing, gorgeous. Getting the impression I'm crazy about this album? I am, indeed. I discovered/sampled/purchased this album via, and thanks to, Amazon. Most highly recommended."

Textures evocative of memories beyond words.

Azoic | Portland, Oregon United States | 03/29/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Up front,I must say that I am a long-time ECM devotee.This is not new age music.It is beyond -and it gets nearer to what it means to be human than any other cd I've heard for years.This is intelligent music for the heart.Towner's masterpiece.Indispensible."