| Matchbook | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1975 | |||
| Recorded | July 26–27, 1974 | |||
| Studio | Tonstudio Bauer Ludwigsburg, W. Germany | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 38:58 | |||
| Label | ECM 1056 ST | |||
| Producer | Manfred Eicher | |||
| Ralph Towner chronology | ||||
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| Gary Burton chronology | ||||
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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. [1]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| DownBeat | [3] |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings |  [4] |
| The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide | [5] |
Scott Yanow, in a review for AllMusic, noted that the pairing of Towner and Burton was "a logical matchup, since both musicians are open to folk melodies and are generally quiet improvisers". However, he also stated: "More tempo and mood variation would have uplifted the otherwise fine music." [2]
In an article at Acoustic Guitar , Mark Kemp wrote: "In the early 1970s, ECM Records described its overall philosophy as 'the most beautiful sound next to silence.' This ECM collaboration... defined that philosophy. The nylon-string and vibes interplay... are the essence of chamber jazz: intimate, quiet, contemplative, and absolutely beautiful." [6]
Tyran Grillo, writing for Between Sound and Space, commented: "A matchbook doesn't typically provide a surface for lasting statements. On its flap, one scrawls a phone number, an address, or any other piece of information as ephemeral as the flames for which it is mass-produced. Such is not the case with guitarist Ralph Towner and vibraphonist Gary Burton. Instead, we get indelible marks of grace and humility, each a brighter spark at the wick of our attention... The sound of this album is like no other and unfolds itself with the delicacy of a morning glory, yet with melodies as indestructible as the sunlight that sustains them. Its many colors are provided not only through finely wrought melodies, but also through a wealth of rhythmic variations throughout. If you like either of these artists apart, then you can’t go wrong with them together." [7]
All tracks are written by Ralph Towner, except as noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Drifting Petals" | 5:19 | |
| 2. | "Some Other Time" | 6:16 | |
| 3. | "Brotherhood" | Gary Burton | 1:12 |
| 4. | "Icarus" | 5:53 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Song for a Friend" | 5:10 | |
| 2. | "Matchbook" | 4:34 | |
| 3. | "1 × 6" | 0:56 | |
| 4. | "Aurora" | 5:11 | |
| 5. | "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" | Charles Mingus | 4:22 |
Patrick Bruce Metheny is an American jazz guitarist and composer.
Gary Burton is an American jazz vibraphonist, composer, and educator. Burton developed a pianistic style of four-mallet technique as an alternative to the prevailing two-mallet technique. This approach caused him to be heralded as an innovator, and his sound and technique are widely imitated. He is also known for pioneering fusion jazz and popularizing the duet format in jazz, as well as being a major figure in music education from his 30 years teaching at the Berklee College of Music.
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.
Pat Metheny Group is the debut album by the Pat Metheny Group, recorded in January 1978 and released on ECM in March that same year. The quartet features rhythm section Lyle Mays, Mark Egan, and Danny Gottlieb.
80/81 is a double album by jazz guitarist Pat Metheny recorded over four days in May 1980 and released on ECM later that year. Metheny leads a quartet consisting of the rhythm section of Charlie Haden and Jack DeJohnette, with saxophone duties alternating between Dewey Redman and Michael Brecker.
The New Quartet is an album by jazz vibraphonist Gary Burton, recorded over two days in March 1973 and released on ECM later that year. The eponymous quartet features rhythm section Mick Goodrick, Abraham Laboriel and Harry Blazer.
Hotel Hello is an album by vibraphonist Gary Burton and bassist Steve Swallow recorded over two days in May 1974 and released on ECM the following year.
Getting There is a studio album by jazz guitarist John Abercrombie recorded in April 1987 and released on ECM February the following year. The trio features rhythm section Marc Johnson and Peter Erskine, with guest appearances from saxophonist Michael Brecker on three tracks.
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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.
Passengers is an album by American jazz vibraphonist Gary Burton, with German jazz bassist Eberhard Weber. It was recorded for ECM in November 1976 and released the following year. Burton's quartet features rhythm section Pat Metheny, Steve Swallow and Danny Gottlieb.
Polarization is an album by American jazz trombonist and composer Julian Priester and Marine Intrusion recorded in January 1977 and released on ECM later that year. The sextet features saxophonist Ron Stallings and rhythm section Ray Obiedo, Curtis Clark, Heshima Mark Williams and Augusta Lee Collins.
Batik is an album by American jazz guitarist Ralph Towner recorded in January 1978 and released on ECM September that same year. The trio features rhythm section Eddie Gómez and Jack DeJohnette.
Old Friends, New Friends is an album by guitarist Ralph Towner, recorded in July 1979 and released on ECM Records in November of the same year. The quintet features trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, cellist David Darling and rhythm section Eddie Gómez and Michael Di Pasqua.
Five Years Later is a collaborative album by American jazz guitarists Ralph Towner and John Abercrombie, recorded in March 1981 and released on ECM February the following year.
El Corazón is an album by jazz trumpeter Don Cherry and drummer Ed Blackwell recorded in February 1982 and released on ECM later that year.
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.
Dawn Dance is an album by South African guitarist Steve Eliovson and American percussionist Collin Walcott, recorded in January 1981 and released on ECM later that year.
Départ is an album by British jazz trio Azimuth with American jazz guitarist Ralph Towner, recorded in December 1979 and released on ECM the following year. The trio features trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, vocalist Norma Winstone and pianist John Taylor, joined by guitarist Ralph Towner.