Solstice is an album by American jazz guitarist Ralph Towner recorded in December 1974 and released on ECM the following year. The Solstice quartet features saxophonist Jan Garbarek and rhythm section Eberhard Weber and Jon Christensen.

Solstice
Studio album by
Released1975
RecordedDecember 1974
StudioArne Bendiksen Studio
Oslo, Norway
GenreJazz
Length40:58
LabelECM 1060 ST
ProducerManfred Eicher
Ralph Towner chronology
Matchbook
(1975)
Solstice
(1975)
Sargasso Sea
(1976)
Solstice chronology
Solstice
(1975)
Sound and Shadows
(1977)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide[2]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings[3]
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The American hip hop group Atmosphere used a sample of Jon Christensen's drum introduction to "Piscean Dance" on a track called "Shoes", which features on their 2003 album Seven's Travels.

Reception

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AllMusic awarded the album with 4.5 stars and its review by Michael G. Nastos states: "Of the many excellent recordings he has offered, Solstice is Towner's crowning achievement as a leader fronting this definitive grouping of ECM stablemates who absolutely define the label's sound for the time frame, and for all time".[1]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Ralph Towner except where noted.

Side I
No.TitleLength
1."Oceanus"11:04
2."Visitation"2:36
3."Drifting Petals"7:01
Total length:20:41
Side II
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Nimbus" 6:31
2."Winter Solstice" 4:02
3."Piscean Dance" 4:15
4."Red and Black" 1:19
5."Sand"Eberhard Weber4:10
Total length:20:17 40:58

Personnel

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Solstice

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References

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  1. ^ a b Nastos, M. G. Allmusic Review: Solstice accessed 10 March 2010
  2. ^ Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 193. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.
  3. ^ Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 1410. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.