If you were a record collector in the 1960s, you may have encountered Ralph Towner as a sideman with the freshly eclectic Paul Winter Consort.  Remarkable among jazz guitarists of the era, he only played nylon-string acoustic.  His sound was perfect for the Winter ensemble, which was collectively busy inventing the 'New Age' genre.  The enormously talented Mr. Towner died in Rome on January 26, 2026 at the age of 85. 

World Music collectors will certainly be interested in his body of work with Oregon, a group he founded in 1970 with Paul McCandless, Glen Moore and Collin Walcott. After a few Vanguard releases, the band moved to the ECM label in the 1980s and most of Mr. Towner's recordings as leader since that time have appeared on that label.  Beside 6- and 12-string guitars, he played keyboards (especially piano), trumpet, French horn and percussion.  His music had great depth and integrity, being at once skillful and original.