Towner, Ralph - At First Light

American guitarist Ralph Towner has been an ECM artist since the early 1970s, building a unique body of work with his recordings for the label. Central to his output are his solo albums, the first of which, Diary, was released 50 years ago. At First Light continues this fine tradition, drawing inspiration from a wide musical palette. "My solo recordings have always featured my own compositions, which contain references to many composers and musicians who have fascinated me," Towner writes in the liner notes, mentioning the influences of George Gershwin, John Coltrane, John Dowland, and Bill Evans, among others: "I think At First Light is a good example of how this wide range of influences can be shaped into my own personal music." In addition to his own songs, Towner also plays Hoagy Carmichael's "Little Old Lady," Jule Styne's "Make Someone Happy," and the traditional tune "Danny Boy." At First Light was produced by Manfred Eicher and recorded at the Auditorio Stelio Molo RSI in Lugano in February 2022.