Travel Guide
Studio album by
Ralph Towner, Wolfgang Muthspiel, and Slava Grigoryan
ReleasedSeptember 20, 2013 (2013-09-20)
RecordedAugust 2012
StudioAuditorio Stelio Molo RSI
Lugano, Switzerland
GenreJazz
Length50:30
LabelECM 2310
ProducerManfred Eicher
Ralph Towner chronology
Chiaroscuro
(2009)		 Travel Guide
(2013)		 My Foolish Heart
(2017)

Travel Guide is an album by guitarists Ralph Towner, Wolfgang Muthspiel, and Slava Grigoryan recorded in Switzerland in August 2012 and released on ECM September the following year.[1][2][3]

The trio first performed as a group in 2005, and previously appeared together on the album From a Dream.[3]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
All About Jazz[4]
The Guardian[5]

In a review for AllMusic, Thom Jurek wrote: "These compositions weren't written for these players to showcase their solo chops, but rather as songs with limited but impeccable improvisation... Travel Guide is an understated, uncluttered gem of virtuosity and composition. The unselfish sense of deference between these players reveals not only their comfort with one another, but the collective confidence of a uniquely voiced, developing group."[1]

John Kelman of All About Jazz stated: "as genre lines continue to blur and, in some cases, dissolve entirely, recordings like the rigorous yet open-minded Travel Guide demonstrate there are plenty of meeting points for those unconstrained by false definitions of style or approach."[4]

The Guardian's John Fordham called the album "a guitar fan's delight, but also a warmly inviting collection of song-shaped pieces," and commented: "The sonics of all-guitar bands can turn to a blur, but these three phrase in their own ways... though the songs are mostly patiently thoughtful, their differences emerge the deeper in you get."[5]

Writing for Jazz Times, Thomas Conrad remarked: "The classical mindset is apparent in the formality, orderliness and technical sophistication of this music. But the elegant structural frameworks support individual and collective improvisation... The diversity of alluring sonorities is extraordinary. It is hard to think of a recent jazz recording prettier than Travel Guide."[6]

In an article for Something Else!, S. Victor Aaron wrote: "Mellow is what you get from an ECM disc involving Ralph Towner, and Travel Guide is no exception. You get the fine craftsmanship, pristine production and a solid batch of songs, too. Thus, this is how mellow with a trio of guitarists is done right."[7]

George W. Harris of Jazz Weekly stated: "What brings it all together is a tremendous amount of lyricism, sensitive listening, inherent melody and kindred souls to create one of the most sublime sessions in recent memory... Delicate without being fragile, this is music for a lifetime of listening pleasures."[8]

Track listing

  1. "The Henrysons" (Wolfgang Muthspiel) – 7:04
  2. "Father Time" (Ralph Towner) – 4:37
  3. "Windsong" (Wolfgang Muthspiel) – 6:43
  4. "Duende" (Ralph Towner) – 4:29
  5. "Amarone Trio" (Wolfgang Muthspiel) – 5:42
  6. "Travel Guide" (Ralph Towner) – 6:34
  7. "Die Blaue Stunde" (Wolfgang Muthspiel) – 5:19
  8. "Nico Und Mithra" (Wolfgang Muthspiel) – 3:44
  9. "Tarry" (Ralph Towner) – 1:03
  10. "Museum of Light" (Ralph Towner) – 5:17

Personnel

References

  1. 1 2 3 Jurek, Thom. "Ralph Towner / Wolfgang Muthspiel / Slava Grigoryan: Travel Guide". AllMusic. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Ralph Towner - Travel Guide". Jazz Music Archives. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Travel Guide". ECM Records. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  4. 1 2 Kelman, John (October 15, 2013). "Ralph Towner / Wolfgang Muthspiel / Slava Grigoryan: Travel Guide". All About Jazz. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  5. 1 2 Fordham, John (January 9, 2014). "Ralph Towner/Wolfgang Muthspiel/ Slava Grigoryan: Travel Guide – review". The Guardian. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  6. ↑ Conrad, Thomas (August 9, 2014). "Ralph Towner/Wolfgang Muthspiel/Slava Grigoryan: Travel Guide". Jazz Times. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  7. ↑ Aaron, S. Victor (October 8, 2013). "Ralph Towner, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Slava Grigoryan – Travel Guide (2013)". Something Else!. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  8. ↑ Harris, George W. (November 25, 2013). "Ralph Towner/Wolfgang Muthspiel/Slava Grigoryan: Travel Guide". Jazz Weekly. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
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