Ralph Towner interviewed by Pablo Held

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  • Опубліковано 1 гру 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 156

  • @charleslyall5857
    @charleslyall5857 2 місяці тому

    I met Ralph after a concert he did with John Abercrombie in Glasgow around 1984. He was very friendly and it was such a privilege to meet them both and hang out for a while. His music was then, and remains probably the biggest influence for me as a musician. Thanks for this wonderful interview.

  • @vadimneselovskyi
    @vadimneselovskyi 2 роки тому +20

    Thank you so much, Pablo, for interviewing Ralph. He is one of the most important living musicians for me.

    • @PabloHeldmusic
      @PabloHeldmusic  2 роки тому +1

      For me too! Thanks for checking this out, Vadim! Hope you're well

  • @geraldmellon740
    @geraldmellon740 Рік тому +1

    Fantastic interview allowing Ralph to talk at length. Surely the fact Ralph recorded so much in Norway and Germany gave his music the unique sound those ECM recordings have. Thank goodness for Ralph meeting Manfred Eicher! Timeless beautiful music. ❤️

  • @ulfmanuquartett5094
    @ulfmanuquartett5094 7 місяців тому +1

    Thanks Pablo, a fabulous interview!!! Ralph Towner is one of my long standing biggest guitar heroes and musicians of all time. I think he should be mentioned alongside with Pat Metheny, Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock for his innovations and boundless creativity. He defined a genre! I still marvel at most of his solo guitar compositions, trying to understand what the heck he´s doing there, and then he tops it by improvising over them. Not to mention all the stuff with Oregon. I wrote an orchestral piece called Flying in an Evening Sky, guess what the model was for it.

  • @pablohuelszpiano9639
    @pablohuelszpiano9639 2 роки тому +3

    Ralph is such a fantastic composer , one of the best of our times by far !!! Green and Golden , The Silence Of A Candle and The Reluctant Bride are some of my favorite pieces ever!!!

  • @stickpictures
    @stickpictures 3 місяці тому +1

    49:04: Gato Barbieri
    Great interview, love Towner really getting into the weeds of his playing and technique.

  • @kmal16
    @kmal16 Рік тому +2

    One my biggest influences to date. Thank you immensely for this interview. I briefly met Mr Towner during the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville after seeing him play at this wonderful church. He has always been my major musical influence. His harmonic and lyrical ideas have always influenced my own love of sound and music, to me he's sort of a Debussy of our times, if I may make this comparison. His sense of color, tone, overtone, voicing, harmony melodic motifs and composition is more like a painter's world in a way. He paints through his compositions. So, many thanks for this. It was great to hear him speak on Renaissance music and Baroque playing, and how it formed his playing. I hope you'll get a chance to interview him if the opportunity presents itself again.

  • @bafffi2
    @bafffi2 2 роки тому +4

    Ralph threw me into music when I saw him playing with Oregon in Kronach/Germany… this was before „Crossing“ early 80s. I’ll never forget this life-changing evening… After the concert I said to myself „I want to play the things he plays on the guitar somewhere along the way in my life“ - well, more or less I tried to achieve this - I‘m a guitar teacher, played some of his pieces in concert… but improvising like he does is still lightyears away from my skills. He‘s a giant in music, jazz, composing, guitar… still one of my heroes.

  • @edunsavage
    @edunsavage 2 роки тому +2

    Thank you for this Pablo. I've been a fan of Ralphs and Oregon since the 1970's. I was fortunate to get to know Ralph, Glen and Paul when they were artists in residence here in Ashland, OR for 3 years in a row. The Maestro!

  • @briansilcox5720
    @briansilcox5720 2 роки тому +10

    After 48 yrs of following, listening to recordings of RalphTowner, this adds a new dimension to the man and his unique methods. Thank you Pablo and Ralph!

  • @vincenteoppolo9025
    @vincenteoppolo9025 2 роки тому +3

    ❤ this is the greatest gift …
    Thank you Pablo 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

  • @markusmilianmuller
    @markusmilianmuller 2 роки тому +6

    Thank you so much! I have been waiting for such an in-depth interview with Ralph Towner for 30+ years. What a joy! I always mention him to younger musicians I play with, and very often they haven't heard his name. It's so important to keep him on the map, his artistry is beyond compare.

  • @docnelson2008
    @docnelson2008 2 роки тому +5

    In the early days of ECM Ralph made a big impact on my jazz listening and he has continued to do so. I think this wonderful interview brings out all the reasons for cherishing this truly great musician.

    • @stewiewilliamson1541
      @stewiewilliamson1541 Рік тому

      Who can forget the album Solstice. Possibly my favorite album of all time.

  • @paulvever7393
    @paulvever7393 2 роки тому +1

    El sax argentino era el Gato Barbieri. Excelente entrevista!! Gracias

  • @jamesconraadtucker
    @jamesconraadtucker Рік тому +1

    Wonderful. Ralph Towner remains my favorite guitarist for simply too many reasons. I've seen Raloh with Oregon three times here in NYC. He's just that warm and personable. I got to ask him about his Ramirez guitar after one show at "My Father's Place." My favorite album remains "Diary". I've heard most every guitarist from Rock, to Blues, to Fusion, Bluegrass, and back. Ralph is still front and center in my music, and is one of those very special artists. Thank you Raloh, and thank you to the interviewer who did a great job here.

  • @bridude2001
    @bridude2001 Рік тому +1

    That was Gato Barbieri he was referring to. He composed the music for Last Tango in Paris. Fine sax player.

  • @lionellovanoni733
    @lionellovanoni733 10 місяців тому +1

    Ralph is why I still love classical guitar after so many years ❤

  • @donaldanderson6604
    @donaldanderson6604 2 роки тому +4

    The discussion of legato is so good. Ralph's point about so called easy classical guitar pieces is very important. Most people can't play those easy pieces musically. Good to hear Julian Bream getting a mention.

  • @cosmicman621
    @cosmicman621 2 роки тому +2

    ...that was really great.thanks a lot ✌️

  • @tubytele
    @tubytele 2 роки тому +1

    I played guitar for years with the late, great Nick Brignola. Ralph Towner would send him tunes occasionally which we truly loved to play! I'm blown away by his guitar playing and compositional skills. Thank you so much for this interview!!

  • @matthewsnyder6127
    @matthewsnyder6127 2 роки тому +3

    Absolutely wonderful interview. I could listen to him talk about New York in the 70s all day long.

  • @robertgiles9124
    @robertgiles9124 2 роки тому +2

    Last Tango was; Gato Barbieri.
    I saw Oregon with Trilok Gurtu. Ralph played some great piano too then. His album with Garbarek..Solstice...was so mesmerising.

  • @edrahil238
    @edrahil238 2 роки тому +12

    This is such a precious series, thank you Pablo! 🙏

    • @PabloHeldmusic
      @PabloHeldmusic  2 роки тому +1

      thank you! If you'd like to support it go to patreon.com/pabloheld

  • @cfibanez
    @cfibanez 2 роки тому +4

    An interview/conversation morphing into a master class and back again. Wonderful. Many thanks for this. Ralph has always been right there at the top for me.

  • @bradprevedoros1029
    @bradprevedoros1029 2 роки тому +3

    Hello Pablo, Thanks for publishing this interview. I am western Canadian based guitarist and had the opportunity to attend a 4 week masterclass series with Ralph and the members or Oregon many years ago. He was amazing then! And of course so were Paul, Colin and Glenn. Their influence inspired me to make a career with music which I continue to do today. Unfortunately I don't have the brilliant mind that Ralph has but I'm still striving for that "perfect" composition and improvisation. All the best, Brad Prevedoros

    • @PabloHeldmusic
      @PabloHeldmusic  2 роки тому

      thanks for sharing this, Brad! All the best to you, too!

  • @mariobarrela
    @mariobarrela Рік тому +2

    Thanks a lot for this beautiful interview!

  • @richardmy
    @richardmy 2 роки тому +4

    Ralph is also one of my heroes. I've listened to him for decades going back to Oregon. Still just about everynight I play his Sirius and Spotify channels.
    Thanks for this great interview and insight into Ralph Towner.

    • @PabloHeldmusic
      @PabloHeldmusic  2 роки тому

      I‘m glad you liked the interview Richard. Thank you!

  • @feralsanders
    @feralsanders 7 місяців тому +1

    Great insights revealed here... I understand Ralph is not in good health in 2024, hopefully he'll recover and stick around in reasonably good health for several more years.

  • @frankdaniel869
    @frankdaniel869 2 роки тому +4

    Now I finally understood why I was always fascinated when listening to Ralph Towner playing - thank you again, Pablo!
    And Bill Evans actually once was the opener for an Oregon Concert?!

  • @AdamLevyGuitarTips
    @AdamLevyGuitarTips Рік тому +2

    Thanks for this, Pablo! A great conversation with the master.

  • @arvingarrison1410
    @arvingarrison1410 2 роки тому +2

    Thank you so much for this fantastic interview Pablo. Met Ralph 2017 in Wuppertal also (after a lot of rain the sun began to shine when Ralph played) and had the great pleasure to have a little chat with him afterwards. Ralph plays straight from the heart and has so much to say in his music. He makes me feel better every time.

    • @PabloHeldmusic
      @PabloHeldmusic  2 роки тому +1

      Hey Arvin! That's the same concert I where I also met Ralph for the first time. We had dinner together after the show and I asked him tons of questions already there. I'll never forget it!

  • @michaelvaladez6570
    @michaelvaladez6570 2 роки тому +4

    Thank you for this wonderful interview. I have been following Maestro Towner career for sometime and he is always an inspiration. I dearly hope that he is in good health 🙏. I heard he fell off a stage due to a heart condition. Nice to see him in this interview in good regard. Thank you again for this post keep up the good work.This is so a treat to hear him work out the germ of an idea of a song.His sense of melody and composition are always beautiful and haunting to hear..I will always treasure any interview and live footage of him playing a treasure. He is an American composure, a true treasure. I was fortunate to hear him play in concert in my home town in Northern California and was on bill with two other guitarist separately.And he did a Q and A before his 2nd show and it was quite pleasingly to hear him do this and do a solo performance on his 12 string and classical guitar was the best.

  • @piaget5peercounsel
    @piaget5peercounsel Рік тому +1

    I was amazed by the Moor in "I sing the body electric" of weather report.
    Calourful with technics never heard of. Aethethetic appreciation fulfilled with alike lover of a first glimpse.

  • @smg4911
    @smg4911 2 роки тому +2

    Wonderful, thanks. So glad we had the opportunity to see him up close at Pizza Express in London last year.

    • @PabloHeldmusic
      @PabloHeldmusic  2 роки тому

      Cool! Solo, or which line up was it?

    • @smg4911
      @smg4911 2 роки тому

      @@PabloHeldmusic Solo

    • @smg4911
      @smg4911 2 роки тому +1

      @@PabloHeldmusic seen this one? ua-cam.com/video/dvKchhYy3SQ/v-deo.html

    • @PabloHeldmusic
      @PabloHeldmusic  2 роки тому

      @@smg4911 I haven’t! Thx for sharing

  • @glennzone
    @glennzone 2 роки тому +3

    That was wonderful. :-)
    I still remember with great fondness having a drink and chat with him after a show back in the ‘80’s.
    He’s still the same, wonderful, affable Ralph.
    Ralph, thanks also for your wonderful improv method book ! I certainly got a lot of mileage out of that !
    . . . and thanks, Pablo ! Very nice. I’ll have to check out some of your other interviews.

    • @PabloHeldmusic
      @PabloHeldmusic  2 роки тому

      Thanks for this Glenn. Hope you enjoy the other episodes!

  • @fanellymusic
    @fanellymusic 2 роки тому +3

    Thanks a lot Pablo for this precious interview ❤️🙏

    • @PabloHeldmusic
      @PabloHeldmusic  2 роки тому

      Thank you for watching it! I’m glad we can all learn together from the greats

  • @johnshaw4597
    @johnshaw4597 2 роки тому +5

    Candid, relaxed, informative, and revealing. And brimming with Ralph's infectiously wonderful disposition and humor. Such things come through in all the interviews with Ralph that I've read or listened to over the years. And though I'm reluctant to rate them, this one is at least tied for 1st place. Thanks, so much.

    • @PabloHeldmusic
      @PabloHeldmusic  2 роки тому

      That’s so kind John. Thanks for these words.

  • @dreamdeeplyrelaxingexpansi9103

    Ralph Towner reminds me a lot of Egberto Gismonti ….Would be great to have heard his comments on him…a giant of a composer improviser player …Great interview thanx

  • @GlennMichaelThompson
    @GlennMichaelThompson 2 роки тому +1

    I'm so glad I happened to come across this video. Liked, subscribed, and will be back soon to peruse your UA-cam channel. Thanks for such a wonderful interview with Ralph Towner.

    • @PabloHeldmusic
      @PabloHeldmusic  2 роки тому +1

      Thank you for these kind words. Have fun exploring the other interviews!

  • @danobrien9925
    @danobrien9925 2 роки тому +3

    Thank you Pablo I've been a fan of Ralph for years this is awesome, best wishes ✨✨

    • @PabloHeldmusic
      @PabloHeldmusic  2 роки тому

      Thank you Dan! I’m glad you like it. Take care!

  • @phillywop1
    @phillywop1 2 роки тому +3

    that mans twelve string is an orchestra. perhaps the greatest piano/guitarist of our time

    • @tee4452
      @tee4452 Рік тому

      Right now I'm listening to Spirit Lake from Solo Concert and your comment really resonates.

  • @tima4923
    @tima4923 2 роки тому +3

    Absolutely fantastic interview. Grateful.

  • @juanangelesquivel5788
    @juanangelesquivel5788 2 роки тому +2

    Thanks for this interview Pablo!, and for all the information and incredible musicians that you have interviewed on this space.

    • @PabloHeldmusic
      @PabloHeldmusic  2 роки тому +1

      thank you Juan! If you feel like supporting the podcast please go to patreon.com/pabloheld or share the interviews with your friends - it really helps!

  • @GER_1
    @GER_1 2 роки тому +5

    This is gold...! Thank you for sharing! It's great to see the master creating and smiling! Really appreciate this interview and if you have the possibility of doing more with Ralph or any Oregon member, we'd be very thankful! The gratitude that I have to all Oregon members is just ineffable... Long, happy and peaceful life to all Oregon members! From Chile, thank you so much again and wish you a good day!

  • @yukonnoka
    @yukonnoka 2 роки тому +4

    I think the Brazilian guitarist Baden Powell is very underrated. He did some amazing things on classical guitar.

  • @martinmark5100
    @martinmark5100 Рік тому +1

    Thank you so much! Greetings from Slovakia!

  • @artneue
    @artneue 2 роки тому +2

    Thank you! There's not many good interviews with Ralph. This one's great! So good to see he is still going strong.

  • @breakfastplan4518
    @breakfastplan4518 2 роки тому

    When I was a kid I loved Towner. As I learned theory ( And aged ) Ralph became more and more of a 'Hit or miss' kind of musician to me. This is not a bad thing, it just means I have my own ideas and thats a good thing. I'm sure Ralph would agree. But one thing that is very certain.... This interview is a "HIT". Great Job, Pablo!

  • @javiermk1055
    @javiermk1055 8 місяців тому +1

    Great interview, thanks!

  • @aeropilot4419
    @aeropilot4419 Рік тому

    This was great, sometimes rambly, but a gem of an interview, thank you for doing this! I have seen Ralph play many times 1976-2006 both as a solo artist, and in Oregon 🙂

  • @ronenizem
    @ronenizem 2 роки тому +1

    Love & great respect Mr. Towner 🙏

  • @rodleaverton
    @rodleaverton 2 роки тому +2

    Absolutely lovely interview. Thank you!

  • @CAJMusic
    @CAJMusic 2 роки тому +4

    What a great interview! Fascinating!

  • @jerrypalmer3534
    @jerrypalmer3534 Рік тому +1

    Great Interview !! Thanks for this !!

  • @talosanmartincornejo6860
    @talosanmartincornejo6860 Рік тому +1

    Excelente entrevista Pablo 👌un Joya gracias me suscribo Saludos desde Santiago de Chile .

  • @maxschultz3956
    @maxschultz3956 2 роки тому +2

    Ralph a favorite since I heard him with Oregan in Stockholm in the 70ies . 😊

  • @AlanShoesmith
    @AlanShoesmith 2 роки тому +2

    There are very few interviews with Ralph Towner…thanks so much for this !!

    • @PabloHeldmusic
      @PabloHeldmusic  2 роки тому +1

      thank you! I'm glad Ralph agreed to do this with me. You're absolutely right, there aren't many interviews of him out there...

  • @andorrasrevenge1683
    @andorrasrevenge1683 2 роки тому +2

    Thank you for all the work to get these interviews done. Great job Pablo!

    • @PabloHeldmusic
      @PabloHeldmusic  2 роки тому

      thank you!! You can support the podcast over at patreon.com/pabloheld - it really helps me to continue this work.

  • @ArielAr
    @ArielAr 2 роки тому +4

    Pablo ! You did a great job ! I hope you can make more videorecorded talks with Ralph!

  • @alexeykr
    @alexeykr 2 роки тому +1

    Great interview with one of my favorite musicians. Thank you, Pablo!

  • @hanshalt
    @hanshalt 2 роки тому +3

    Amazing insight into his compositional approach! I think he was referring to Gato Barbieri-Argentine sax player

    • @PabloHeldmusic
      @PabloHeldmusic  2 роки тому +1

      yes I think so too. Had to do the background check myself after the interview ;-)

  • @paxwallace8324
    @paxwallace8324 2 роки тому +1

    Before Peacock got his Jarrett gig, Gary and Ralph were playing together quite a bit in Seattle. I was in Peacock's Theory class at that time. But I had been listening to Oregon and Ralph ECM way before that.

    • @PabloHeldmusic
      @PabloHeldmusic  2 роки тому

      oh cool! What was it like to study theory with Gary Peacock?

    • @paxwallace8324
      @paxwallace8324 2 роки тому

      @@PabloHeldmusic Well anything he was interested in at that time it seemed like he'd bring it into class. Including correlations between 20th century physics and eastern mysticism. So his ideas about how motivic improvisation is holographic e.g. Bill Evans remains with me. Some things were less useful for me at least like he taught us Schoenberg's rules of functional tonality that was good! but then within those rules have everyone write something that indicated a different tonality. Honestly it was so long ago I've confused some ideas from Jim Knapp who I studied theory with . I really liked some polytonal examples that I use today like tritone,maj7,b7 over a root. He was also brilliant. They both talked about how intervallic distance makes dissonance less so. This is all while he was trying to get his Jarrett gig.

    • @paxwallace8324
      @paxwallace8324 2 роки тому

      What's most disconcerting is that both Peacock and Jim Knapp are Dead. I'm getting old I'm very happy Towner is still alive and kicking and playing great.

    • @paxwallace8324
      @paxwallace8324 2 роки тому

      @@PabloHeldmusic I remember most that he shared his deep love/respect for Bill Evans.

  • @uneedtherapy42
    @uneedtherapy42 2 роки тому +4

    Perhaps the greatest acoustic guitarist ever....

  • @thick_air
    @thick_air 2 роки тому +1

    Really love this series. I have gotten so much from listening to these interviews. Thank you!

    • @PabloHeldmusic
      @PabloHeldmusic  2 роки тому

      Thanks for this feedback Marco, that‘s so cool! I’d like to invite you to become a patron at patreon.com/pabloheld - that’s the best way to support the interview series and help me to continue doing this.

  • @EricSkyeMusic
    @EricSkyeMusic 2 роки тому +2

    Thank you for this treasure

  • @ninoruggieri1332
    @ninoruggieri1332 2 роки тому +2

    Great !Thank you 🎵🎶

  • @christopherheinig5590
    @christopherheinig5590 2 роки тому +2

    Excellent interview & thank you for this GREAT insight into Ralph Towner ! Subscribed !

  • @mitchkahle314
    @mitchkahle314 2 роки тому +2

    Wonderful. Thanks Pablo.

    • @PabloHeldmusic
      @PabloHeldmusic  2 роки тому

      Mitch! you're always one of the first to check out the new episodes. I appreciate it!

  • @pallhe
    @pallhe 2 роки тому +1

    Gold!

  • @FritsKist
    @FritsKist 8 місяців тому +1

    The life you were born to live.

  • @GuillermoBazzola
    @GuillermoBazzola 2 роки тому +1

    Hi, Pablo,
    This is wonderful. I've met Ralph a few times and besides being a tremendous musician he's a nice guy and a great talker.
    BTW, on 48:30 he's speaking about Gato Barbieri. Shortly after that, John Abercrombie played a couple years on Gato's band.

  • @michaelhuber4047
    @michaelhuber4047 2 роки тому +3

    Danke! Du machst eine tolle Arbeit (wenn auch vielleicht nur für ein kleines Publikum) mit den Interviews.

    • @PabloHeldmusic
      @PabloHeldmusic  2 роки тому

      Danke Michael - Du kannst den Podcast gerne weiter empfehlen ;-)

  • @maximtrianov3661
    @maximtrianov3661 2 роки тому +2

    Bravo , Pablo! Bravo, Ralph!!!

  • @vitgit
    @vitgit 2 роки тому +2

    great masterclass! thank you

    • @PabloHeldmusic
      @PabloHeldmusic  2 роки тому +1

      yeah I guess it is kind of like a masterclass ;-)

  • @andrejofak4787
    @andrejofak4787 2 роки тому +2

    Thank you, subscribed....

  • @MrShogun25
    @MrShogun25 2 роки тому +1

    thank you

  • @zu0832
    @zu0832 2 роки тому +2

    Thanks so much! Is there a part 2 to this interview?

  • @kickassbass
    @kickassbass 2 роки тому

    Thank you Pablo for this amazing opportunity, realy like his work and playing, did you managed to try his guitar, just curious how high is the string action, sounds like a dream anyway.

  • @paulmitchell5349
    @paulmitchell5349 Рік тому

    Without practice even a master can goof it.

  • @GregHornAdventures
    @GregHornAdventures 2 роки тому +1

    Great interview/master class. Any idea when Ralph will release "At first light"?

    • @PabloHeldmusic
      @PabloHeldmusic  2 роки тому +2

      He told me he just went into the studio to record a new solo album a couple of months ago. I suppose this was one of the songs he recorded!

    • @GregHornAdventures
      @GregHornAdventures 2 роки тому

      @@PabloHeldmusic I hope so. I found his performance of it on your Live in Cologne 2021concert.You guys are pretty good too.😉Thank you again for this interview and for your reply.

  • @christiaandejong
    @christiaandejong 2 роки тому +1

    Thanks Pablo. I am curious what Ralph's thought would be about guitarists/composers like Leo Brouwer or Dusan Bogdanovic. Or doesn't he listen or relate to them?

    • @PabloHeldmusic
      @PabloHeldmusic  2 роки тому +1

      I think we talked about Leo Brouwer once, but not during this conversation

    • @christiaandejong
      @christiaandejong 2 роки тому

      @@PabloHeldmusic I would be very curious. In my own playing and composing both Ralph Towner as Leo Brouwer had much impact.

  • @PIPEHEAD
    @PIPEHEAD 2 роки тому

    What a madman - emulating the piano on a guitar ! He'd have been better off doing something useful, like being a pilot for example. Oh well, it takes all sorts ............ Superb interview ( no surprise there ) .

  • @arvidsmith1038
    @arvidsmith1038 Рік тому

    49:04. it was Gato !!!

  • @sllesson4111
    @sllesson4111 2 роки тому

    ...Gato Barbieri is the Argentine saxophonist

  • @vitgit
    @vitgit 2 роки тому +2

    48:54 Gato Barbieri )

  • @glennhenshaw7474
    @glennhenshaw7474 2 роки тому +1

    12:10 left hand exercise

  • @vbassone
    @vbassone Рік тому

    Gato Barbieri