Paul Winter Consort, Ralph Towner & Gary Burton

This final Sunday Music Muse Day of the year, I step away from the holiday music and present two old favorites with a single musician in common, Ralph Towner.   First up, Paul Winter Consort - Road.  Seeing the cover of this CD, I had to buy it. Although, I promised myself I'd resist buying CDs of the original vinyls I sold with my record collection, two years ago. I first heard The Winter Consort at a free live concert at John Jay Brauch College near the School of Visual Arts, back in the 1970s. It was just a chance attendance. I liked their mix of folk and world music.  I remember borrowing the album from the NY Public Library, and buying a copy years later. Later, I recognized the guitarist, Ralph Towner, on an ECM record and started following his music.  Actually, all the band members, with the except of Paul Winter were to become major artists on the ECM label, and I have their recording in my CD collection.

My second choice is Ralph Towner and Gary Burton - Matchbook, the vinyl record. I'm not sure if this was the first Ralph Towner record I purchased, but it is a favorite of mine. The original one I had, I sold with my record collection.  I already had a replacement CD copy. This vinyl copy was bought at a thrift store, to rescue it from the junk record bind it was in. I couldn't let it remain with all those trashy records. I gave it to my son Spencer, who's into vinyl, now, as an Xmas gift.  Ralph Towner has reminded a solid favorite guitarist of mine, and he's still alive, performing, and recording for ECM, at 85 year old. 

I hope everyone is having a wonderful, and peaceful holiday season. All the best to you, and your families.