Pioneering Guitarist Ralph Towner Has Died

[BluesRunTheGame]

Influential jazz guitarist Ralph Towner has died.
The musician’s passing was confirmed earlier today – January 18th – by his long-term label ECM. Ralph Towner was 85 years old, and had latterly lived in Rome.
The guitarist was unusual in that he was one of very few modern figures in jazz and improvisatory music who focused exclusively on the acoustic instrument. Associated with both six and twelve-string, Ralph Towner broadened the lexicon of the guitar within jazz, and inspired countless followers.

https://www.clashmusic.com/news/pioneering-guitarist-ralph-towner-has-died/

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[PJMcK]

1. An inventive musician!

Thanks for posting.

[ProfessorGAC]

2. Here's One Of Him Doing...

...something he was particularly famous for doing: playing solo jazz on a 12 string.
Some amazing stuff, plus the fingerpicking with such little space between the strings is incredible.

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[BluesRunTheGame]

3. I got to see him play live once...

…in a duo with guitarist John Abercrombie. He played his 12 string a bit on that afternoon. It was at an outdoor festival in Winter Park, CO and their set was between acts like Freddie Hubbard and Gato Barbieri.

I wish I could’ve seen him with Oregon. I loved that band.

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[hatrack]

4. He was the real deal - a serious multi-instrumentalist and composer . . .

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And in case you're wondering, no relation to the song by the same name by Brewer and Shipley . . .

[WestMichRad]

5. Sad news

Love his music, have many of his solo and duet albums and those with Oregon. One of the greatest of his generation.

R.I.P. Ralph.