This work is inspired by the musical piece "Toledo" by Ralph Towner, featured on the album A Closer View (ECM, 1995)—a duo with double bassist Gary Peacock.
Towner’s writing is highly structured, yet it allows ample room for improvisation to breathe; this approach to composition is reflected in my own work: a clear framework paired with free-flowing lines.
Light and color. Towner’s music is often evoked through luminous imagery, open harmonies, and lingering resonances. Here, a fluorescent pink that softens into white renders visible the transition from intensity to silence—the fading of a resonance.
Sedimentation. The city of Toledo layers different historical eras; this canvas layers various planes; and Towner’s music layers diverse traditions. All three explore the concept of strata that engage with one another without ever merging into one.