Chiaroscuro

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Release Date: 9th Nov 2009
Catalogue No: 1797510
Label: ECM
Length: 46 minutes

Usually despatched in 3 - 4 working days

Towner: Wistful Thinking

Work length4:19

$1.10

$1.50

Paolo Fresu (trumpet), Ralph Towner (guitar)
Recorded: 2008-10-16
Recording Venue: Artesuono Recording Studios, Udine

Towner: Punta Giara

Work length6:20

$1.10

$1.50

Paolo Fresu (trumpet), Ralph Towner (guitar)
Recorded: 2008-10-16
Recording Venue: Artesuono Recording Studios, Udine

Towner: Chiaroscuro

Work length6:30

$1.10

$1.50

Paolo Fresu (trumpet), Ralph Towner (guitar)
Recorded: 2008-10-16
Recording Venue: Artesuono Recording Studios, Udine

Towner: Sacred Place

Work length4:13

$1.10

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Paolo Fresu (trumpet), Ralph Towner (guitar)
Recorded: 2008-10-16
Recording Venue: Artesuono Recording Studios, Udine

Miles Davis, Bill Evans: Blue In Green

Work length5:44

$1.10

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Paolo Fresu (trumpet), Ralph Towner (guitar)
Recorded: 2008-10-16
Recording Venue: Artesuono Recording Studios, Udine

Towner: Doubled Up

Work length4:55

$1.10

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Paolo Fresu (trumpet), Ralph Towner (guitar)
Recorded: 2008-10-16
Recording Venue: Artesuono Recording Studios, Udine

Towner: Zephyr

Work length7:28

$1.10

$1.50

Paolo Fresu (trumpet), Ralph Towner (guitar)
Recorded: 2008-10-16
Recording Venue: Artesuono Recording Studios, Udine

Towner: The Sacred Place (reprise)

Work length1:58

$1.10

$1.50

Paolo Fresu (trumpet), Ralph Towner (guitar)
Recorded: 2008-10-16
Recording Venue: Artesuono Recording Studios, Udine

Ralph Towner, Paolo Fresu: Two Miniatures

Work length2:38

$1.10

$1.50

Paolo Fresu (trumpet), Ralph Towner (guitar)
Recorded: 2008-10-16
Recording Venue: Artesuono Recording Studios, Udine

Ralph Towner, Paolo Fresu: Postlude

Work length2:30

$1.10

$1.50

Paolo Fresu (trumpet), Ralph Towner (guitar)
Recorded: 2008-10-16
Recording Venue: Artesuono Recording Studios, Udine

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The debut album from a duo with a most uncommon instrumentation, acoustic guitar and trumpet - but it's a highly attractive combination. Ralph Towner, guitarist extraordinaire, an ECM artist since 1972, is joined by Italian trumpet star Paolo Fresu, making his label debut for ECM.

Bright melodies and subtle colours prevail in a programme of old and new Ralph Towner compositions, plus improvisations, and a favourite from Kind of Blue era Miles Davis. The choice of "Blue in Green" as the sole cover version here says something about the aesthetic priorities of both musicians. These are players who understand the power of silence and melodic clarity. Fresu's trumpet playing, with his clear vibratoless sound, has often been compared with that of Miles Davis.

Towner first encountered Fresu 15 years ago, at a festival in Sardinia where the guitarist had been commissioned to write music for an ensemble. Paolo was the trumpet player. "From the first phrase he played I thought: wow, this guy really understands melodies!" The piece played that day, "Punta Giara", is revisited here. "Sacred Place" and "Doubled Up" are the first recordings to feature Ralph's new baritone guitar, tuned a fifth below standard guitar tuning. The instrument, reaching down for the deep notes, wonderfully balances Fresu's flugelhorn. Elsewhere Ralph's classical guitar sings in its unique way. Perfect moments, like a flaring of fireworks.

Chiaroscuro is Ralph Towner's 22nd album as a leader for ECM, in a discography with well over 30 titles. Alongside the landmark recordings like Diary, Solstice and Batik, this one has all the hallmarks of a classic.

Chiaroscuro

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