The members originally met as part of Paul Winter’s "Consort". They initially performed under the name "Thyme—Music of Another Present Era" before settling on Oregon , a nod to the home state of members Ralph Towner and Glen Moore.
1972 debut, Music of Another Present Era , is a foundational masterwork of acoustic jazz fusion, blending folk, Indian classical, and Western chamber music. Formed by former members of the Paul Winter Consort , the quartet— Ralph Towner , Paul McCandless , Glen Moore , and Collin Walcott —crafted a sound that erased cultural boundaries rather than simply bridging them. Album Overview Release Date: January 1, 1972 Label: Vanguard Records Core Style: Chamber Jazz / World Fusion Key Personnel:
If you find a clean, lossless rip of this album—preferably from the Japanese pressing or a high-resolution needle drop—do not let it go. Load it onto your DAC, put on your planar magnetic headphones, and cue up "The Silence of a Candle." Oregon Music of Another Present Era 1972 FLAC
A comparison of the opening piano chord in “The Silence of a Candle” reveals:
The FLAC version of Oregon's "Music of Another Present Era" (1972) is a must-listen for fans of jazz fusion, world music, and atmospheric soundscapes. The album's unique blend of Eastern influences, jazz, and folk elements, combined with the high-quality sound reproduction, makes for a captivating listening experience. If you're looking to explore the early days of jazz fusion or simply seeking a relaxing, thought-provoking listen, this album is an excellent choice. The members originally met as part of Paul
Table_title: Oregon – Music Of Another Present Era Table_content: header: | Label: | Vanguard – VSD 79326 | row: | Label:: Format:
To understand the album, one must first understand the seismic shift in music during the late 1960s and early 70s. After the collapse of their work with vibraphonist Gary Burton, four virtuosos—Ralph Towner (classical and 12-string guitar, piano, trumpet), Paul McCandless (oboe, English horn, soprano sax, bass clarinet), Glen Moore (double bass, violin, piano), and Collin Walcott (sitar, tabla, percussion, mridangam)—set out to create a music that ignored geographic and temporal boundaries. Formed by former members of the Paul Winter
The album features 14 tracks, typically averaging about three minutes each, which helps maintain focus and prevents "repetitive bloat": Primary Composer North Star Ralph Towner The Rough Places Plain Ralph Towner / Collin Walcott Collin Walcott At the Hawk's Well Glen Moore Children of God Oregon (Group) Oregon (Group) Paul McCandless / Glen Moore Shard / Spring Is Really Coming Oregon (Group) Bell Spirit Paul McCandless / Collin Walcott Baku the Dream Eater Ralph Towner The Silence of a Candle Ralph Towner Land of Heart's Desire Glen Moore Paul McCandless Touchstone Ralph Towner Personnel and Instrumentation