Solstice (album)

Solstice
Studio album by Ralph Towner
Released	1975
Recorded	December 1974
Studio	Arne Bendiksen Studio, Oslo
Genre	Jazz
Length	40:58
Label	ECM ECM 1060
Producer	Manfred Eicher
Ralph Towner chronology
Matchbook (1975) Solstice (1975) Sargasso Sea (1976)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide	[2]

Solstice is an album by the American guitarist Ralph Towner that was released on the ECM label in 1975. It features Towner with Jan Garbarek, Eberhard Weber and Jon Christensen.

The 1977 album, Solstice/Sound and Shadows, was released by Towner on ECM with the same quartet.

Reception

Allmusic awarded the album with 4.5 stars and its review by Michael G. Nastos states: "Of the many excellent recordings he has offered, Solstice is Towner's crowning achievement as a leader fronting this definitive grouping of ECM stablemates who absolutely define the label's sound for the time frame, and for all time".^[1]

Track listing

All compositions by Ralph Towner except where indicated.

1. "Oceanus" – 11:04
2. "Visitation" – 2:36
3. "Drifting Petals" – 7:01
4. "Nimbus" – 6:31
5. "Winter Solstice" – 4:02
6. "Piscean Dance" – 4:15
7. "Red and Black" – 1:19
8. "Sand" (Eberhard Weber) – 4:10

Personnel

• Ralph Towner - 12-string and classical guitar, piano
• Jan Garbarek - tenor and soprano saxophone, flute
• Eberhard Weber - bass, cello
• Jon Christensen - drums, percussion

Sampling

The American hip hop group Atmosphere used a sample of Jon Christensen's drum introduction to "Piscean Dance" on a track called "Shoes", which features on their 2003 album Seven's Travels.

References

1. Nastos, M. G. Allmusic Review: Solstice accessed 10 March 2010
2. Swenson, J. (Editor) (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 193. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.