HUONG THANH — Mangustao (2004) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Vietnamese vocalist Huong Thanh rose to fame in the new millennium as her nation's premier jazz talent. Thanh was brought up in a musical household steeped in the cai luong tradition. Mentored by her father, famed vocalist Huu Phuoc, Thanh was trained in the complex musical style blending the demands of a complex tonal language with operatic expression and storytelling. She studied formally in Saigon, beginning at age 13. By 16 Thanh had taken the stage in her first of many cai luong productions. Touring throughout Europe matured Thanh as a musician, and offered opportunities to be exposed to different musical styles. Thanh often returned to Vietnam, recording with some of the nation's most renowned talents. On one such trip she was introduced to guitarist Nguyên Lê, who introduced her to the world of jazz. Thanh joined Lê's Tales from Vietnam project, which toured Europe extensively and released highly acclaimed material exploring traditional Vietnamese music with jazz sensibilities. In 1999 Thanh applied the valuable experience she gained with Tales from Vietnam to her solo career. Moon and Wind, her debut disc, was released by the ACT label that year, to rave reviews. With each release that followed, Thanh earned a larger audience for her special brand of jazz. Following Dragonfly (2001) and Mangustao (2004), Huong Thanh's fourth disc, Fragile Beauty, was released in 2007. The album peaked at number two on World Music Charts Europe, generating Thanh's strongest sales yet. Evan C. Gutierrez
Tracklist :
1    Perfumed Flower (Hoa Thơm Bướm Lượn)    6:35
2    The Mountain And The Source (Thoả Nỗi Nhớ Mong / Sông Cầu Nước Chảy Lê Thê)    5:21
3    In The Pagoda (Vào Chùa)    6:44
4    The Blue Dome Of The Sky    6:37
5    Heave Ho ! (Hò Nện)    3:47
6    The Courting (Lý Đò Đưa)    5:13
7    Cold Winter, Faraway Land    5:54
8    South Delta Song    4:57
9    Moon Boat (Ngồi Tựa Mạn Thuyền)    5:45
10    Like A Guitar With No Strings (Hát Ru Nam Bộ)    3:36
Credits :
Acoustic Bass [Pizzicato], Arco Bass – Michel Benita
Choir – The Barbès Faith Choir
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Synthesizer, Sampler, Computer, Producer, Arranged By, Engineer, Mixed By – Nguyên Lê
Fretless Bass [Electric] – Michel Alibo
Goblet Drum [Zarb], Cajón, Daf, Udu, Tambourine [Rek], Ghatam [Gatam] – Bijan Chemirani
Oboe, English Horn – Paul McCandless
Oud – Dhafer Youssef
Percussion [West Indies Percussion Like Ti Bwa, Tambu Ka, Chacha] – Bago
Piano, Electric Piano – Dominique Borker
Singing Bowls [Tibetan Bowls], Bells [Tuned Bell], Gong [Gongs], Chimes – François Verly
Strings – The Barbès Deluxe
Trumpet – Paolo Fresu
Vibraphone, Marimba – Illya Amar
Vocals – Huong Thanh
Vocals, Guimbri, Tabla, Cymbal [Hand Cymbals] – Karim Ziad
Zither [Đàn Bầu], Flute [Sao (transverse), Tiêu (straight Bamboo Flutes)], Lute [Dan Tam (3-strings Fretless), Dan Nguyêt (moon Shaped)], Zither [16-strings Dan Tranh] – Hao Nhiên
Zither [Đàn Bầu], Zither [16-strings Dan Tranh], Lute [Dan Kim] – Duong Tam

NGUYÊN LÊ QUARTET — Walking on the Tiger's Tail (2005) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

 "It is, without exaggeration, one of the best jazz albums of the last ten years" (RHEIN-NECKAR-ZEITUNG) CD of the Month, April 2005 AUDIO ACT

Guitarist Nguyên Le explores a wide span of modern styles throughout Walking on the Tiger's Tail. Some of the up-tempo pieces are essentially fusion while other selections look towards the folk-jazz of Oregon (helped out by the many horns of Paul McCandless), world music and post-bop jazz. The bassless quartet finds each of the musicians assuming the role of the bass at one time or another, and so effectively that one rarely notices its absence. Le's passionate guitar solos, the mixture of stylists and styles, and the inventive originals (which include some impressionistic ballads) make the music completely unclassifiable as anything but stimulating 21st century creative jazz. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 Wingless Flight 4:38
Nguyên Lê
2 Yielding Water 6:02
Nguyên Lê
3 Totsu! 7:55
Nguyên Lê
4 Snow on a Flower 5:34
Nguyên Lê
5 Jorai 5:05
Nguyên Lê
6 Butterfly Dream 5:52
Nguyên Lê
7 Walking on the Tiger's Tail 8:21
Nguyên Lê
8 Bee 5:25
Nguyên Lê
9 Evening Glory 4:59
Nguyên Lê
10 Zamora 6:39
Nguyên Lê
11 Eventail 5:07
Nguyên Lê
Credits
Drums, Percussion – Jamey Haddad
Producer – Nguyên Lê
Electric Guitar, Guitar [Electroacoustic], Electronics, Composed By, Liner Notes – Nguyên Lê
Oboe, Soprano Saxophone, Sopranino Saxophone, Oboe, English Horn, Bass Clarinet – Paul McCandless
Piano – Art Lande

OREGON (ft. Ralph Towner, Collin Walcott, Paul McCandless, Glenn Moore) Berliner Jazztage 1980 (1980) VIDEO | VHS (MPG)

Tracklist :
1- Cloud Dance (Walcott) / (improvisation) (Oregon)
2- Waterwheel (Towner)
3- Beneath An Evening Sky (Towner)
4- Vessel (Towner)
Credits :
Ralph Towner - Classical and 12-String Guitars, Piano
Collin Walcott - Percussion, Sitar
Paul McCandless - Reeds
Glenn Moore - Double Bass

DAVID FRIESEN - Star Dance (1976-2007) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

The Inner City CD reissue series has many fine recordings listed, and depending on your point of view and taste level, any of them might be considered important coming out of jazz in the mid- to late '70s. Bassist David Friesen's debut album, Star Dance, has to be considered pivotal and central in the stance of contemporary music for many reasons, not the least of which being that the playing of the musicians is excellent. It also sets a tone for the coming together of world musics -- in the spirit of the pioneering ensemble Oregon -- and has within its grasp both spiritual and earthy elements that few groups were able to merge. With elements culled from Friesen's upbringing in the Pacific Northwest, progressive jazz of the '60s, folk-rooted sounds, chamber music, and New York City funk, Friesen and his band sound as unique unto themselves as any band before, during, or after this time period. Paul McCandless (on loan from Oregon), fellow Pacific Northwest friend/electric guitarist John Stowell, and Big Apple studio drummer Steve Gadd are unlikely bedfellows with Friesen, yet achieve common-ground status within this broad mix of styles. McCandless plays the double-reeded English horn on the majority of these selections, and for the outstanding "Winter's Fall" coalesces with Friesen's sky church bowed harmonic bass alongside Stowell's tiny guitar notes, as Gadd's 7/8 beat takes over the three in a 4/4 funky midsection. The title track is a trio sans Gadd, which strikes a much more baroque and rural pose in unison lines. "Dolphin in the Sky" is dedicated to friend Jack Howell, a somber, slow tearjerker as if at a gravesite during a funeral, extracting great emotional depth, especially from McCandless. Dancing gleefully, "Mountain Streams" is a flowing, dense, and textural piece that taps into the natural, feminine side of life. On his more familiar oboe, McCandless plays with the full quartet during "Clouds," as the title suggests in a slow, wafting motif, while "Fields of Joy" is also unmistakably similar to the ancient and present music of Oregon, very composed, traipsing through rows of daisies, and breaking into a samba beat. There's a bass/drums duet improvisation, "1 Rue Brey," and an unaccompanied bass solo, "Children of the Kingdom," which readily reveals Friesen's religious center with strummed harmonics and a thematic-based ostinato for improvising off of. The sonic footprint created by this ensemble is both arresting and disarming -- a sound that uniquely speaks to a higher power and universal dialect. Now that the album is once again in print, there's no excuse to pass on this excellent recording, fused from many disparate elements and brilliantly performed by all the participants. by Michael G. Nastos
Tracklist:
1 Winter's Fall 6:00
David Friesen
2 Duet And Dialogue 4:14
David Friesen
3 Dolphin In The Sky (In Memory Of Jack Howell) 3:48
David Friesen
4 Star Dance 3:45
David Friesen
5 1 Rue Brey 3:05
David Friesen
6 Fields Of Joy 4:13
David Friesen
7 A Little Child's Poem (For David, Scott And Tobin) 6:06
David Friesen
8 Clouds 3:25
David Friesen
9 Children Of The Kingdom 3:50
David Friesen
10 Mountain Streams (For Kim)2:57
David Friesen / Paul McCandless
Credits:
Acoustic Bass – David Friesen
Drums – Steve Gadd
Electric Guitar – John Stowell
Oboe, English Horn – Paul McCandless
Songwriter [All Songs By] – David Friesen

DAVID FRIESEN - Waterfall Rainbow (1977-2018) RM / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

David Friesen follows up his excellent debut album Star Dance with a program of original compositions that advances both his spiritual center and his love for the music of the ensemble Oregon. Though never officially a member of Oregon -- that space is always reserved for Glen Moore -- it seems he would fit in naturally, and displays that compatibility by employing Ralph Towner and Paul McCandless for this effort. Percussionist Jim Saporito, drummer Bob Moses, and electric guitarist John Stowell are also included, making for a group that fully understands how Friesen's religious beliefs and love of nature easily factor into his organic, contemporary jazz-influenced sound. Unlike Star Dance, there's no tour de force music here, but the title track is close to being classic in its galloping pace, guitar and English horn unison, with a wonderful flute solo from the usual baritone saxophonist Nick Brignola. Towner and Stowell prove compatible partners on acoustic and electric guitars respectively for the lovely "Spring Wind," a wedding song in beats of four and six that would be perfect for an outdoor nuptial ceremony in the woods. The two plectrists also show up together on "Song of Switzerland" which is neutral between Towner's strummings and the wafting oboe of McCandless. "Dancing Spirits Before the Lord" is memorable in that it echoes the Oregon concept, as the instruments all chime in agreement, a pretty but quick piece. There are several overdubbed solo tracks by Friesen, including the improvised "French Festival," a patient, strummed "The Peace That Passes Understanding," a stereo separated "Flight of the Angels," and the virtuoso display during "Song of the Stars" where the bassist's awesome technique takes on many bowed and plucked stances. Because of the solo pieces, this is a more self-indulgent, but no less impressive effort from Friesen, thankfully once again in print on compact disc. by Michael G. Nastos  
Tracklist :
1     Spring Wind (A Wedding Song for Vincent and Sharon) 7:59
David Friesen
2     French Festival 4:22
David Friesen
3     Waterfall Rainbow 4:30
David Friesen
4     Castles and Flags 3:27
David Friesen
5     The Peace That Passes Understanding (In Memory of Andre Gerand) 3:03
David Friesen
6     Song of Switzerland 5:46
David Friesen
7     Song of the Stars 5:19
David Friesen
8     Dancing Spirits Before the Lord 7:21
David Friesen
9     Flight of the Angels 2:41
David Friesen
Credits :
Acoustic Bass – David Friesen
Classical Guitar, Twelve-String Guitar – Ralph Towner
Composed By, Arranged By – David Friesen
Drums – Bobby Moses
Electric Guitar – John Stowell
Flute – Nick Brignola
Oboe, English Horn, Bass Clarinet – Paul Mc Candless
Percussion – Jim Saporito

OREGON – Our First Record (1970-2004) RM | Serie Oregon Collection Vol.1 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1 Canyon Song 2:47
Ralph Towner
2 Full Circle 4:42
Ralph Towner / Collin Walcott
3 Japan/Charles St. Melancholy 3:35
Oregon / Ralph Towner
4 Collin's Delite 3:42
Collin Walcott
5 Cry of the Peacock/Coral 6:25
Ralph Towner / Collin Walcott
6 Maty's New Bloom 2:17
Glen Moore
7 Aheer 7:06
Collin Walcott
8 Recuerdos 3:40
Francisco Tárrega
Arranged By – Ralph Towner
9 L' Histoire du Farm Suite 3:51
Oregon
10 Jade Visions 3:20
Scott LaFaro
11 Molecular 1:34
Oregon
12 Margueritte 3:09
Collin Walcott
13 Entrez Devotée Compagne 1:01
Traditional
Arranged By – Ralph Towner
Credits :
Classical Guitar, Twelve-String Guitar, Piano, Mellophone – R. Towner (faixas: 8, 13)
Flute, Bass – Glen Moore
Oboe, English Horn – Paul McCandless
Producer – Oregon
Tabla, Sitar, Twelve-String Guitar, Percussion, Esraj, Liner Notes – C. Walcott (faixas: 2, 4, 5, 7, 12)

OREGON – Distant Hills (1973) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

DISTANT HILLS, Oregon's 1973 follow-up to MUSIC FROM ANOTHER PRESENT ERA, is as eclectic, genre-bending, and pleasurable as its predecessor. The unique talents of multi-instrumentalists Collin Walcott, Glen Moore, Ralph Towner, and Paul McCandless work together in a fashion that recalls the collective precision of 20th-century classical chamber music, yet with the range and improvisatory flair of jazz.
Like most of Oregon's output, DISTANT HILLS is marked by forays into trans-global sounds. The sitar-fueled "Dark Spirit," for example, conjures uneasy, snake-charmer dreams, and the bongos-and-violin duet of "Mi Chinita Suite" sounds like an avant-garde recital in the Amazon. The high, reedy keen of "Confession" and the dramatic shape-shifting of "Canyon Song" testify to the fact that although Oregon's music is quite accessible, at its root it is dedicated to vital experimentation. AllMusic
Tracklist :
1     Aurora 7:48
Ralph Towner
2     Dark Spirit 5:55
Ralph Towner
3     Mi Chinita 7:02
Paul McCandless / Glen Moore / Ralph Towner / Collin Walcott
4     Distant Hills 6:34
Ralph Towner
5     Canyon Song 5:04
Ralph Towner
6     Song for a Friend 5:24
Ralph Towner
7     Confession 6:25
Paul McCandless / Glen Moore / Ralph Towner / Collin Walcott
Credits :
Bass – Glen Moore
Guitar – Ralph Towner
Oboe – Paul McCandless
Producer – Oregon
Sitar, Tabla – Collin Walcott

OREGON - Winter Light (1974-1990) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

If there was a "second best" recording from Oregon in their early years, this would be it. The concept of "Winter Light" certainly reflects the visage of the Pacific Northwest in the fourth season, yet it is a music, and time of year, filled with hope for the future while pondering a somewhat bleak present. Winter can be pleasant, bearable and filled with its own snowy delights. The first three pieces on their own are worth the price of this entire project, and are definitive works from the quartet. "Tide Pool" while accented with bizarre twists, is anchored by Walcott's energetic tabla and Towner's pure bred energy on acoustic guitar. Of course Jim Pepper's "Witchi-Tai-To" is classic, made moreso by the group's personal collective serenity and peace injected into the flavor of the composition. "Ghost Beads" is really the one for Towner and oboist Paul McCandless to dig in and fully express their vitruosity. These are three great examples of early world music. While the rest of the recording is not as provocative, it is still well played and conceived. "Winter Light" is heartily recommended as your follow-up Oregon purchase after "Music Of Another Present Era," with "Distant Hills" a close third. by Ron Wynn  
Tracklist :
1     Tide Pool 8:34
Ralph Towner
2     Witchi-Tai-To 3:26
Jim Pepper
3     Ghost Beads 6:38
Ralph Towner
4     Deer Path 2:47
Glen Moore
5     Fond Libré 5:04
Paul McCandless
6     Street Dance 2:08
Oregon
7     Rainmaker 4:27
Ralph Towner
8     Poesia 5:25
Oregon
9     Margueritte 4:05
Collin Walcott
Credits :
Double Bass, Electric Bass, Violin, Flute – Glen Moore
Oboe, English Horn, Bass Clarinet – Paul McCandless
Piano – Glen Moore (faixas: 4)
Producer – Oregon
Tabla, Sitar, Percussion [Pakhawaj], Congas, Percussion, Dulcimer, Clarinet, Photography By [Cover] – Collin Walcott
Twelve-String Guitar, Body Percussion [Hands], Percussion [Clay Drums], French Horn, Piano, Classical Guitar – Ralph Towner

OREGON – In Concert (1975-2001) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

A textbook live recording by Oregon, a premier acoustic band. It contains their usual classical, African, and jazz elements and shows that they're more aggressive and animated in performance than in the studio. The recording is excellent and fully displays the broad range of colors, rhythms, and textures that they present. Ron Wynn
Tracklist :
1     Introduction 0:42
George Schutz
2     Become, Seem, Appear 6:39
Oregon
3     Summer Solstice 9:43
Ralph Towner
4     Undertow 3:43
Paul McCandless
5     The Silence of a Candle 9:50
Ralph Towner
6     Tryton's Horn 5:04
Oregon
7     Yet to Be 6:56
Ralph Towner
Credits :
Bass, Flute, Violin – Glen Moore
Ensemble – Oregon
Oboe, English Horn, Bass Clarinet, Flute [Wooden] – Paul McCandless
Piano – Glen Moore (faixas: 6), Ralph Towner (faixas: 7)
Producer – Oregon
Sitar, Tabla, Clarinet, Percussion, Congas – Collin Walcott
Twelve-string Guitar, Classical Guitar, Mellophone, French Horn, Trumpet – Ralph Towner

OREGON - Friends (1977-1992) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Interstate 8:44
Bass – Glen Moore
Congas, Timbales – David Earl Johnson
Oboe – Paul McCandless
Piano – Ralph Towner
Tabla – Collin Walcott
Written-By – Ralph Towner
2    Gospel Song 2:28
Bass – Glen Moore
Bass Clarinet – Paul McCandless
Tenor Saxophone – Bennie Lee Wallace
Written-By – Paul McCandless
3    Grazing Dreams 3:34
Bass – Glen Moore
Classical Guitar – Ralph Towner
Congas – David Earl Johnson
English Horn – Paul McCandless
Sitar – Collin Walcott
Written-By – Collin Walcott
4    Slumber Song 5:54
Bass Clarinet – Paul McCandless
Flute [Bass Flute] – Glen Moore
Percussion – Collin Walcott
Piano – Larry Karush
Twelve-string Guitar – Ralph Towner
Written-By – Paul McCandless
5    Time Remembered 4:43
Bass – Glen Moore
Congas, Hihat – Collin Walcott
English Horn – Paul McCandless
Piano, Percussion – Ralph Towner
Written-By – Bill Evans
6    First Thing In The Morning 3:19
Tabla – Collin Walcott
Tenor Saxophone – Bennie Lee Wallace
Written-By – Bennie Wallace, Collin Walcott
7    Love Over Time 3:46
Piano [Lower Piano] – Glen Moore
Piano [Upper Piano] – Larry Karush
Written-By – Glen Moore
8    Timeless 8:20
Bass – Glen Moore
English Horn – Paul McCandless
Sitar, Tabla – Collin Walcott
Twelve-string Guitar, French Horn – Ralph Towner
Written-By – John Abercrombie

OREGON - Violin (1978) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Fine late '70s material from the acoustic band Oregon. Despite the title, it's not violin-dominated material, but their standard blend of Asian, European, African, and American elements and influences. by Ron Wynn
Tracklist :
1     Violin (Group Improvisations) 15:34
Oregon
2     Serenade 2:11
Ralph Towner
3     Raven's Wood 9:37
Ralph Towner
4     Flagolet 5:15
Glen Moore
5     Friend of the Family
Ralph Towner
Credits :
Bass – Glen Moore
Ensemble – Oregon
Oboe, Bass Clarinet – Paul McCandless
Piano – Collin Walcott (faixas: 4), Ralph Towner (faixas: 3)
Producer – Oregon
Tabla, Percussion – Collin Walcott
Twelve-String Guitar, Classical Guitar – Ralph Towner
Violin [Guest Artist] – Zbigniew Seifert

OREGON – Out of the Woods (1978-1992) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Long before "New Age" and "World Music" became part of the musical-term language, Oregon was making music that would influence (directly or indirectly) those genres. During the early 1970s, the much-maligned fusion movement in jazz was building up steam, and Oregon, in their quiet, understated way, contributed greatly. The band played acoustically--all the players had jazz backgrounds as well as a strong interest in ethnic musics from around the globe. They all played multiple instruments as well.
Oregon's music might be described as elegant folk melodies and "Third World" rhythms played by a jazz band with the precision and grace of a classical chamber ensemble. OUT OF THE WOODS was originally released in 1978, but it sounds like it came from a time all its own. "Witchi-Tai-To" (composed by the late Jim Pepper) has a captivating, dreamlike feel, and "Reprise" shows the respect they have for the blues. Once you take a stroll in these WOODS, you'll want to lose yourself in them. AllMusic
Tracklist :    
1     Yellow Bell 7:02
Ralph Towner
2     Fall 4:26
Glen Moore
3     Reprise 1:02
Ralph Towner
4     Cane Fields 4:35
Paul McCandless
5     Dance to the Morning Star 5:36
Collin Walcott
6     Vision of a Dancer 4:03
Ralph Towner
7     Story Telling 1:03
Collin Walcott
8     Waterwheel 6:26
Ralph Towner
9     Witchi-Tai-To 8:24
Jim Pepper
Credits :
Artwork – David Wilcox
Bass – Glen Moore
Guitar [Classical], Guitar [Twelve String], Piano, Flugelhorn, Percussion – Ralph Towner
Oboe, Cor Anglais, Bass Clarinet – Paul McCandless
Percussion, Guitar, Sitar, Tabla – Collin Walcott
Producer – Oregon

OREGON - Roots in the Sky (1979-1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

A 1992 CD reissue of their 1979 album, among their only releases ever issued by a major label. It was characteristically free-wheeling and eclectic, with long stretches of classical, Asian, African, and jazz coming together, and the group mixing structured ensemble work with surging free solos.  by Ron Wynn
Tracklist :
1 June Bug  3:58
Ralph Towner
2 Vessel   7:46
Ralph Towner
3 Sierra Leone  4:04
Collin Walcott
4 Ogden Road  6:30
Ralph Towner
5 House of Wax  4:34
Collin Walcott
6 Hungry Heart  5:31
Paul McCandless
7 Orrington's Escape  0:50
Ralph Towner
8 Roots in the Sky   4:23
Glen Moore
9 Longing, So Long   6:54
Collin Walcott
Credits :
Bass – Glen Moore
Classical Guitar, Twelve-String Guitar, Piano, Flugelhorn, Percussion – Ralph Towner
Oboe, English Horn, Bass Clarinet – Paul McCandless
Percussion, Sitar, Tabla, Guitar – Collin Walcott
Producer – Oregon

OREGON ‎- Moon And Mind (1979-1991) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Person-To-Person 3:11
Dulcimer, Tabla – Collin Walcott
Twelve-String Guitar – Ralph Towner
Written-By – Ralph Towner
2    I Remember Me 4:00
Oboe, Bass Clarinet – Paul McCandless
Piano – Glen Moore
Written-By – Jan Hammer
3    Rejoicing 4:17
Arranged By – Collin Walcott
Bass – Glen Moore
Sitar – Collin Walcott
Written-By – Traditional
4    The Elk 6:02
Bass – Glen Moore
Bass Clarinet – Paul McCandless
Written-By – Paul McCandless
5    Gloria's Step 3:14
Bass – Glen Moore
Classical Guitar – Ralph Towner
Written-By – Scott La Faro
6    Moon And Mind 8:22
Oboe – Paul McCandless
Piano – Ralph Towner
Written-By – Paul McCandless
7    Dust Devil 3:03
Flute – Paul McCandless
Tabla – Collin Walcott
Written-By – Paul McCandless
8    Elevator 3:53
Organ [Hammond], Classical Guitar, Percussion – Ralph Towner
Piano, Congas, Percussion – Collin Walcott
Written-By – Collin Walcott, Ralph Towner
9    Dunvegan 4:23
Bass – Glen Moore
Piano – Ralph Towner
Written-By – Ralph Towner 

OREGON - Oregon (1983-1987) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

In 1983, the ubiquitous composers' collective known as Oregon left its old homestead of Vanguard Records and moved over to Manfred Eicher's ECM. It was also one of the final recordings the band did with multi-instrumentalist Collin Walcott; he was killed in a car accident a year later. Here's the strange thing about this date: Since the early '70s, Oregon had been an acoustic, chamber jazz/improvisational group. ECM had seemed like a proper home to Oregon from the beginning -- especially since Ralph Towner, the group's guitarist and pianist -- had done tons of solo work for the label. So what's the first thing that appears on ECM? Towner playing a Prophet 5 synthesizer on "The Rapids," a track that belongs firmly in the Pat Metheny Group's canon -- even though he composed it. If he were trying for an imitation, he could never have gotten closer. With its crescendos, Paul McCandless' swirling soprano lines lyrically cascading over the top, and the Nana Vasconcelos-like percussion from Walcott, it is identical in compositional structure to anything from Offramp. The group improvisation "Beacon" is more in line with the band's musical aims, featuring Glen Moore on viola and McCandless on oboe, but Towner still holds fast to the synth instead of a guitar or piano. The piece is a study in textures and contrasts, with both Towner and Moore providing tonal drones for McCandless to move through and around. Of the rest, only "Taos" and "There Was No Moon That Night" are reminiscent of Oregon's ingenious musical past. The rest are loosely knit improvisations that seem to go nowhere; they're shoddy studies in dynamics and color with scant traces of microtonal ambiences seeming to be literally thrown in for good measure. If this disc was supposed to signal a new direction in the band's development, somewhere along the line they slipped off track, and despite the use of a Prophet 5, went backwards.
(This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa')
Tracklist :    
1     The Rapids 8:29
Bass – Moore
Composed By – Towner
Percussion – Walcott
Soprano Saxophone – McCandless
Synthesizer [Prophet 5 Synthesizer], Piano – Towner
2     Beacon 2:56
Composed By – Oregon
Oboe – Paul McCandless
Percussion – Collin Walcott
Synthesizer [Prophet 5] – Ralph Towner
Viola – Glen Moore
3     Taos 6:15
Bass – Glen Moore
Classical Guitar, Synthesizer [Prophet 5] – Ralph Towner
Composed By – Oregon
Percussion, Drum [Tongue Drum] – Collin Walcott
Tin Whistle [Tin Flute] – Paul McCandless
4     Beside a Brook 4:26
Bass – Glen Moore
Composed By – McCandless
Oboe, English Horn – Paul McCandless
Piano, Synthesizer [Prophet 5] – Ralph Towner
5     Arianna 6:29
Bass – Glen Moore
Composed By – Moore
Oboe, English Horn – Paul McCandless
Sitar – Collin Walcott
Twelve-String Guitar, Synthesizer [Prophet 5] – Ralph Towner
6     There Was No Moon That Night 7:19
Bass – Glen Moore
Bass Clarinet – Paul McCandless
Classical Guitar, Synthesizer [Prophet 5] – Ralph Towner
Composed By – Oregon
Percussion – Collin Walcott
7     Skyline 1:19
Bass – Glen Moore
Composed By – Oregon
Percussion – Collin Walcott
Synthesizer [Prophet 5] – Ralph Towner
8     Impending Bloom 7:51
Bass Drum, Voice [Voices] – Collin Walcott
Composed By – Moore
English Horn, Musette – Paul McCandless
Piano, Bass – Glen Moore
Synthesizer [Prophet 5] – Ralph Towner

OREGON - Crossing (1985) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

One of the earliest and finest exponents of world jazz, Oregon began life in 1970 as an offshoot of the Paul Winter Consort, in which the group's original members had played. From the beginning, the band eschewed most jazz conventions. Percussionist Collin Walcott played tabla, sitar, and dulcimer, among other instruments, but did not use a trap set; bassist Glen Moore doubled on clarinet, viola, and piano, and its front line was formed by a double-reedist (Paul McCandless) and an acoustic guitarist (Ralph Towner). The band's music differed from much of what had heretofore been considered jazz. The concept of blues and swing was given a much-reduced prominence in favor of other, less literal forms of tonal and rhythmic organization. For example, Indian ragas would occasionally replace chord changes, and talas would supplant swing time. The group's dynamic approach was quieter than typical by jazz standards, and their overall aesthetic somewhat introspective. Improvisation was central to the band's work, however, and in this sense their music is most firmly in the jazz tradition. Oregon's music is characterized by a heightened method of ensemble interaction, a rapt attention to timbral contrast, and an openness to any and all cultural influences. After Walcott's death in a car accident in 1984, the group disbanded for a time, before eventually replacing him with percussionist Trilok Gurtu. web
Tracklist :
1    Queen Of Sydney 8:10
Bass, Flute – Moore
Composed By – McCandless
Oboe – McCandless
Synthesizer [Prophet 5 Synthesizer], Piano – Towner
Tabla, Percussion – Walcott
2    Pepé Linque 4:17
Bass – Moore
Bass Clarinet, Soprano Saxophone – McCandless
Composed By – Moore
Synthesizer [Prophet 5], Cornet, Piano – Towner
Tabla, Percussion – Walcott
3    Alpenbridge 6:26
Bass – Moore
Classical Guitar, Synthesizer [Prophet 5] – Towner
Composed By – Towner
Oboe – McCandless
Sitar – Walcott
4    Travel By Day 4:18
Bass – Moore
Composed By – Walcott
Sitar – Walcott
Twelve-String Guitar – Towner
5    Kronach Waltz 3:00
Bass Clarinet – McCandless
Composed By – Moore
Cornet – Towner
Piano – Moore
Snare [Snare Drum], Bass Drum – Walcott
6    The Glide 6:07
Bass – Moore
Composed By – Towner
Piano, Cornet, Synthesizer [Prophet 5] – Towner
Soprano Saxophone – McCandless
Tabla, Percussion – Walcott
7    Amaryllis 8:49
Bass – Moore
Composed By – McCandless
English Horn, Oboe – McCandless
Percussion – Walcott
Twelve-String Guitar, Synthesizer [Prophet 5] – Towner
8    Looking-Glass Man 4:20
Bass – Moore
Composed By – Towner
Piano – Towner
Soprano Saxophone – McCandless
9    Crossing 3:13
Bass – Moore
Classical Guitar, Synthesizer [Prophet 5], Piano, Percussion – Towner
Composed By – Towner
Percussion – Walcott
Soprano Saxophone – McCandless

OREGON - Ecotopia (1987) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Given the death of Colin Walcott, a virtual architect of Oregon's sound, it would natural to assume the band would have to search for a way to fill that void. It would also be quite natural for them to make a record that reflected that void. That said, and allowing for the exception that Oregon was leaning in a somewhat, shall we say, "more accessible" direction before Walcott's untimely demise, there is no excuse for this waste of studio time and Manfred Eicher's energy. It is no wonder that he began the ECM New Series a few years before, given the junk churned out by some of label's stable between 1983 and 1988, and this record is a stellar example. Simply put, this is a trite, new age piece of dreck slopped out by a group of musicians whose combined creativity should always take them to stellar heights. There are no redeeming tracks on this disc, and few redeeming moments (the 12-string and tabla introduction to "Innocente" is one) where one can remember that this was a band that opened a new door in chamber jazz in terms of composition and free improvisation. Worthless.
(This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa')
Tracklist
1     Twice Around the Sun 10:31
Ralph Towner
2     Innocente 6:24
Ralph Towner
3     Wbai 2:02
Trilok Gurtu / Paul McCandless / Glen Moore / Oregon / Ralph Towner
4     Zephyr 5:55
Ralph Towner
5     Ecotopia 5:06
Ralph Towner
6     Leather Cats 7:39
Glen Moore / Samantha Moore
7     Redial  5:59
Ralph Towner
8     Song of the Morrow 5:16
Collin Walcott
Credits :
Bass – Glen Moore
Classical Guitar, Twelve-String Guitar, Piano, Synthesizer [Synthesizers] – Ralph Towner
Design [Cover Design] – Barbara Wojirsch
Drum Machine – Ralph Towner (faixas: 1)
Electronic Wind Instrument [Wind Driven Synthesizers] – Paul McCandless (faixas: 3, 8)
Oboe, English Horn, Soprano Saxophone – Paul McCandless
Producer – Manfred Eicher
Tabla, Percussion – Trilok Gurtu 

OREGON - 45th Parallel (1989) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Oregon bothers jazz people because a) they're difficult to categorize, and b) they radiate endlessly cheerful vibes bordering on vacuous new age while maintaining a sharp improvisational edge. So goes this high-profile appearance on Columbia's spinoff label, which sometimes stays within the bounds of post-bop jazz yet is more likely to go veering off in contemplative folk-like, Asiatic, Spanish, or even neo-classical directions. Ralph Towner handles both the piano and various guitars and synthesizers with equal facility, while Paul McCandless' reed work evokes the pure white light of Paul Winter; Glen Moore continues to man the bass; Trilok Gurtu alternates between tabla and traps; and Nancy King checks in with a bout of eccentric scatting on "Chihuahua Dreams." This is intriguing, free-thinking stuff, always intelligent, evidently durable, yet the music misses the spark of true inspiration that could have made it memorable. by Richard S. Ginell
Tracklist :
1     Pageant 6:26
Ralph Towner
2     Hand in Hand 6:00
Ralph Towner
3     King Font 5:29
Ralph Towner
4     Riding on the "D" Train 2:29
Trilok Gurtu / Ralph Towner
5     Beneath an Evening Sky 5:02
Ralph Towner
6     Chihuahua Dreams 5:04
Lyrics By – S. Moore
Music By – G. Moore
Vocals – Nancy King
7     Urumchi 4:16
Paul McCandless
8     Les Douzilles 7:25
Ralph Towner
9     Bombay Vice 4:51
Trilok Gurtu
10     Pageant (Epilogue) 1:52
Ralph Towner
Credits :
Bass – Glen Moore
Piano, Synthesizer [Synthesizers], Twelve-String Guitar, Classical Guitar – Ralph Towner
Producer – Oregon
Saxophone [Piccolo], Soprano Saxophone, Oboe, English Horn, Bass Clarinet – Paul McCandless
Tabla, Drums, Percussion, Voice – Trilok Gurtu 

OREGON - Always, Never and Forever (1991) APE (image+.cue), lossless

The eclectic blend of Classical, Jazz, and Eastern/World music of the superb music group Oregon, never ceases to captivate those who hear them.
From the very first album that acquired critical attention from this group "Winter Light" in 1974... audiences worldwide have have been enraptured by Oregon's sound... Giving voice as the group does to unexplored vibrant new innovation.. in a varied blend utilizing their signature improvisational effect...and weaving a tapestry of colors and shapes in ther unique stylized sound,
"Always, Never & Forever" continues the rich legacy of Oregon. Featured percussionist, Trilok Gurtu joins the seminal "World Music" ensemble in this wonderful recording (Intuit) 1991...
The selection "Aurora" has come to be considered a definitive recording by the group. No wonder as one hears the beauty, and symmetry of the woodwind intruments, the wonderful reeds of Paul McCandless...... expressing an awakening like a waterfall rushing...
"Beppo" employs a lovely guitar... gently taking you on your own journey within the composition... Ralph Towner at his best here on Classical guitar... Jazz elements are heard on this composition as well.
The concluding cut to this CD, "Always, Never, and Forever is contemporary Jazz at it's zenith... This selection makes sense, considering that Oregon at it's basic foundation is steeped in the discipline of Jazz...
Aurora means "The rise or dawn of something"... a radiant emission from the upper atmosphere that occurs sporadically over the middle and high latitudes of both hemispheres in the form of luminous bands, streamers or the like... according to The Random House College Dictionary, 1984.
The band Oregon is something like this... their music although not merely sporadic, but as one listens, one can hear... the spectrums.. the streams of color and light.. charged.. as it is played.
this Cd "Always, Never, and Forever" then, radiates and illuminates... to hear this Cd then becomes a musical experience. Oregon's Journey

Tracklist :
1     Beppo 5:41
Ralph Towner
2     Balahto 6:25
Trilok Gurtu
3     Renewal 5:26
Ralph Towner
4     Oleander 2:57
Paul McCandless
5     Rapid Transit 6:48
Ralph Towner
6     When the Fire Burns Low 3:40
Ralph Towner
7     Aurora 5:37
Ralph Towner
8     Playground in Nuclear Winter 4:54
Oregon
9     Guitarra Picante 3:38
Ralph Towner
10     Apology Nicaragua 4:37
Glen Moore
11     Big Fat Orange 2:59
Collin Walcott
12     Always, Never, And Forever 7:32
Glen Moore
Credits :
Bass, Piano – Glen Moore
Guitar [Guitars], Piano [Pianos], Synthesizer [Synthesizers] – Ralph Towner
Oboe, Bass Clarinet, Soprano Saxophone, Sopranino Saxophone, Whistle [Whistles] – Paul McCandless
Percussion, Voice – Trilok Gurtu
Producer, Ensemble – Oregon

OREGON - Troika (1994) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

This is one of only 2 discs Oregon recorded as a trio. The original quartet with percussionist/sitarist Colin Wallcot was intact until Walcott's death in a tour bus accident in November '84 after many recordings with the group. After a break, percussionist Trilok Gurtu entered the band for the next 3 recordings spanning a handful of years, but then departed. Instead of running out and hiring another percussionist, the remaining trio of founding members starting touring and recording as a trio, up until 1997's "Northwest Passage" CD, where they featured 2 different percusionists. The bands only other trio recording, following "Troika",is 1995's "Beyond Words" which takes a completely different approach as "Beyond" is basically a live-in-the-studio recording replicating an Oregon live performance in the context of a high quality studio sound recording. That Cd though primarily features pieces recorded previously by the group (sometimes numerous times)with only a couple new pieces. This recording, then, appears to me to be made up of entirely new pieces specifically written for "Troika" and, as a result, is perhaps the bands more important work as a trio. Matter of fact, in recent years, most of Oregons recordings feature a mix of new compositions and old pieces newly-recorded, which makes "Troika" probably even more important in the bands recorded works for fans looking primarily for material not available or re-recorded elsewhere. Of course the lack of any percussion at all makes this a bit different as well, even though there have been numerous percussionless pieces back in the Colin Wallcott days when Walcott would play sitar. But this is the first complete group recording without any percussion whatsoever. web
Tracklist :
1. Charlotte's Tangle (5:40)
Ralph Towner
2. Gekko (6:06)
Ralph Towner
3. Prelude (Improv 2) (2:21)
Oregon
4. Mariella (6:51)
Ralph Towner
5. Spanish Stairs (Squanto) (2:54)
Oregon
6. Arctic Turn / Land Rover (Free Piece) (2:53)
Oregon
7. Mexico For Sure (3:54)
Glen Moore
8. Pale Sun (6:39)
Oregon
9. I Said Ok (4:20)
Glen Moore
10. Tower (5:32)
Ralph Towner
11. Minaret (3:03)
Oregon
12. Celeste (6:37)
Ralph Towner
Credits :
Ralph Towner - Classical Guitar, Twelve-string Guitar, keyboards
Glen Moore - Double Bass
Paul McCandless - Oboe, English Horn, Reeds