| A Closer View | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | January 1998 [1] | |||
| Recorded | December 1995 | |||
| Studio | Rainbow Studio Oslo, Norway | |||
| Genre | Chamber jazz | |||
| Length | 56:34 | |||
| Label | ECM ECM 1602 | |||
| Producer | Manfred Eicher | |||
| Gary Peacock chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Ralph Towner chronology | ||||
| ||||
A Closer View is an album by American jazz guitarist Ralph Towner and bassist Gary Peacock recorded in December 1995 in Norway and released on ECM in 1998. [2]
The AllMusic review by Leo Stanley awarded the album 3 stars, stating, "A Closer View finds Ralph Towner working with Gary Peacock, crafting a subtle, textured instrumental album that relies more on compositions than improvisations. Occasionally, it all gets a little too static and colorless, but the best moments are fluid, engaging and graceful." [3]
Doug Ramsey of Jazz Times wrote "The news release accompanying the advance CD says that three of the pieces in A Closer View are “off-the-cuff joint compositions.” One can only guess which three. The most attentive and knowledgeable listener will be unable to tell where composition ends and improvisation begins in this music performed by guitarist Towner and bassist Peacock. The most discerning will not consider it an issue. It is more important that, despite its quietness, the richly textured music flows with uncommon harmonic interest and rhythmic strength. No one familiar with Peacock's and Towner's many past collaborations will be surprised at their synergy, which may involve ESP. Each is a virtuoso who makes virtuosity servant to the music. Deep intelligence, hard work and complexity went into the conception and performance of the pieces on this album. The listener hears ease and simplicity. As Red Mitchell famously observed, simple isn't easy. Hearing Peacock and Towner, you'd never know it." [4]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings | [5] |
All compositions by Ralph Towner, except as noted.
Patrick Bruce Metheny is an American jazz guitarist and composer.
Gary George Peacock was an American jazz double bassist. He recorded a dozen albums under his own name, and also performed and recorded with major jazz figures such as avant garde saxophonist Albert Ayler, pianists Bill Evans, Paul Bley and Marilyn Crispell, and as a part of Keith Jarrett’s “Standards Trio” with drummer Jack DeJohnette. The trio existed for over thirty years, and recorded over twenty albums together. DeJohnette once stated that he admired Peacock's "sound, choice of notes, and, above all, the buoyancy of his playing." Marilyn Crispell called Peacock a "sensitive musician with a great harmonic sense."
Ralph Towner is an American multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger and bandleader. He plays the twelve-string guitar, classical guitar, piano, synthesizer, percussion, trumpet and French horn.
John Laird Abercrombie was an American jazz guitarist. His work explored jazz fusion, free jazz, and avant-garde jazz. Abercrombie studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. He was known for his understated style and his work with organ trios.
Bill Connors is an American jazz guitarist who was a member of Chick Corea's band Return to Forever. After leaving Return to Forever, he recorded three acoustic albums and then three electric albums as a leader/soloist.
Psalm is an album by the Paul Motian Band recorded in December 1981 and released on ECM June the following year—Motian's fifth album for the label and first with the quintet, featuring guitarist Bill Frisell, bassist Ed Schuller, and saxophonists Joe Lovano and Billy Drewes.
The Out-of-Towners is a live album by American jazz pianist Keith Jarrett recorded at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich on July 28, 2001 and released by ECM on August 30, 2004. Jarrett's trio—the Standards trio—features rhythm section Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette.
Garden of Eden is an album by the Paul Motian Band, consisting guitarists Ben Monder, Steve Cardenas and Jakob Bro, saxophonists Chris Cheek and Tony Malaby, and bass guitarist Jerome Harris, recorded in November 2004 and released on ECM in February 2006.
Matchbook is an album by guitarist Ralph Towner and vibraphonist Gary Burton recorded over two days in July 1974 and released on ECM the following year.
Sargasso Sea is an album by American jazz guitarists John Abercrombie and Ralph Towner, recorded in May 1976 and released on ECM later that year.
Oregon is an album by American jazz fusion band Oregon recorded in February 1983 and released on ECM later that year. The quartet features guitarist Ralph Towner, reed player Paul McCandless, bassist Glen Moore, and sitarist Collin Walcott.
Crossing is an album by jazz fusion band Oregon recorded in October 1984 and released on ECM the following year. The quartet features guitarist Ralph Towner, reed player Paul McCandless, bassist Glen Moore, and percussionist Collin Walcott—their final album with Walcott, who died a month after its recording.
Slide Show is an album by guitarist Ralph Towner and vibraphonist Gary Burton recorded in May 1985 and released on ECM January the following year.
City of Eyes is an album by American jazz guitarist Ralph Towner recorded in 1988 and released on ECM April the following year. The quintet features trumpeter, Markus Stockhausen, oboist Paul McCandless, and rhythm section Gary Peacock and Jerry Granelli.
Oracle is an album by American jazz bassist Gary Peacock and guitarist Ralph Towner, recorded in May 1993 and released on ECM January the following year.
Not Two, Not One is an album by Canadian jazz pianist Paul Bley, American jazz bassist Gary Peacock and American jazz drummer Paul Motian, recorded for ECM in January 1998 and released on February 15, 1999.
Time Line is a solo album by American guitarist Ralph Towner recorded at the Propstei Sankt Gerold in September 2005 and released on ECM the following year.
Amaryllis is an album by American jazz pianist Marilyn Crispell recorded in February 2000 and released on ECM March the following year. The trio features rhythm section Gary Peacock and Paul Motian.
Age of Everything is an album by American jazz guitarist Joe Morris, which was recorded in 2002 and released on his own Riti label. He leads a new trio with bassist Timo Shanko and drummer Luther Gray.
Travel Guide is an album by guitarists Ralph Towner, Wolfgang Muthspiel, and Slava Grigoryan recorded in Switzerland in August 2012 and released on ECM September the following year.
