| Open Letter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 1992 [1] | |||
| Recorded | July 1991 and February 1992 | |||
| Studio | Rainbow Studios Oslo, Norway | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 53:40 | |||
| Label | ECM ECM 1462 | |||
| Producer | Manfred Eicher | |||
| Ralph Towner chronology | ||||
| ||||
Open Letter is an album by American jazz guitarist Ralph Towner recorded over two sessions in July 1991 and February 1992, and released on ECM later that year. Towner is backed by former Weather Report drummer Peter Erskine. [2]
The AllMusic review by Rick Anderson awarded the album 3 stars, stating, "Ralph Towner's a difficult case. The snoozy noodlings of his former band Oregon can be downright stupefying, but his solo work is often, though not always, quite a bit more interesting. Open Letter walks both sides of the line, but succeeds more often than it fails." [3]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings | [4] |
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.
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.
Solo Concert is a live solo album by American guitarist Ralph Towner recorded at the Amerika Haus in München, Germany and Limmathaus in Zürich, Switzerland in October 1979 and released on ECM the following year.
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.
Current Events is a studio album by jazz guitarist John Abercrombie recorded in September 1985 and released on ECM the following year. The trio features rhythm section Marc Johnson and Peter Erskine.
Second Sight is a studio album by Marc Johnson's Bass Desires, recorded in March 1987 and released on ECM later that year. Johnson's Bass Desires quartet features guitarists Bill Frisell and John Scofield, and former Weather Report drummer Peter Erskine.
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.
John Abercrombie / Marc Johnson / Peter Erskine is a live album by American jazz guitarist John Abercrombie recorded at the Nightstage in Boston on April 21, 1988 and released on ECM the following year. The trio features rhythm section Marc Johnson and Peter Erskine.
StAR is an album by Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek recorded in January 1991 and released on the ECM October later that year. The trio features Miroslav Vitouš—who wrote most of the album—and Peter Erskine.
The Widow in the Window is a studio album by Canadian jazz trumpeter Kenny Wheeler recorded over three days in February 1990 and released on ECM later that year. The quintet features rhythm section John Abercrombie, John Taylor, Dave Holland and Peter Erskine.
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.
Lost and Found is an album by guitarist Ralph Towner recorded in May 1995 and released on ECM the following year. The quartet features reed player Denney Goodhew and rhythm section Marc Johnson and Jon Christensen.
Ana is a solo album by American jazz guitarist Ralph Towner, recorded in March 1996 and released on ECM April the following year.
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.
November is an album by American jazz guitarist John Abercrombie recorded in November 1992 and released by ECM a year later. The trio features rhythm section Marc Johnson and Peter Erskine with reed player John Surman.
Anthem is a solo album by American jazz guitarist Ralph Towner recorded in February 2000 and released on ECM March the following year.
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.
You Never Know is an album by American jazz drummer Peter Erskine recorded in July 1992 and released on ECM January the following year. The trio features pianist John Taylor and bassist Palle Danielsson.
