Learn about the between Vanguard vinyl pressings and modern digital remasters.
: One of Towner's finest compositions, featuring his delicate piano work alongside McCandless's soaring woodwinds. It remains a staple of the band’s catalog. Sonic Architecture and Instrumentation Oregon Music of Another Present Era 1972 FLAC
The paper posits that the album's title was a deliberate philosophical statement. The music suggests that the "Another Present Era" is one of contemplation, a counter-narrative to the frantic pace of the 20th century. In the digital age, this sentiment is even more relevant. The ability to access this album in a lossless, bit-perfect format bridges the gap between the 1972 studio session and the modern listener, eliminating the technological degradation that often distances us from historical recordings. Learn about the between Vanguard vinyl pressings and
For the dedicated listener, the quest to truly appreciate the album's genius must include the highest possible sound quality. The FLAC version provides a direct, unadulterated path to the heart of this masterpiece. It allows one to hear the subtle breath of Paul McCandless's oboe, the intricate patterns of Collin Walcott's tabla, and the gentle, democratic conversation between four masters at the peak of their creative powers. Sonic Architecture and Instrumentation The paper posits that
Upon its release, Music of Another Present Era was immediately recognized as a groundbreaking work. It was not just a jazz album; it was a statement of transcultural possibility. As Thom Jurek's review for Qobuz states, the album "set the stage not only for a new transculturalism in jazz, but also created a lasting template for the fusion of musics from world traditions that would flower over a decade later". The four musicians "operated on the premise that melodic ideas and expansive harmonies all contributed to a music that didn't bridge cultures, but erased them and eradicated them".
The album spans 12 tracks, alternating between tightly woven compositions and ethereal, free-form miniatures.