Symposium and Masterclass with Ralph Towner

The Symposium on the Music of Ralph Towner will present Mr. Towner himself in discussion with faculty member William Lenihan on the many facets of Towner’s musical approach and career.  The event will concentrate on his life’s work, from his years in New York in the loft scene of the late 60’s and 70’s where he developed a new music, to his life and residency in Europe.  Among musical topics, Towner will discuss his musical relationship with Paul Bley, Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea and other professional colleagues, as well his long relationship with Manfred Eicher and ECM records.  Towner’s ECM catalog of twenty-nine recordings among the multitude of his larger oeuvre will be discussed with attention to his ground-breaking works with Jan Garbarek, Kenny Wheeler and Jack DeJohnette.

Of particular interest will be the presentation of Towner’s music and a discussion of his musical language and approach to composition, improvisation and the guitar. 

Towner, an accomplished jazz pianist will also address the musical relationship between his two primary instruments.

The symposium will be of interest to professional musicians, a wide general-interest audience and students of composition, jazz, classical guitar and new music.