{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox album| | name = A Closer View | type = Album | artist = Gary Peacock & Ralph Towner | cover = A Closer View.jpg | alt = | released = January 1998<ref>{{cite web|title=A Closer View |url=https://www.ecmrecords.com/shop/143038751530/a-closer-view-ralph-towner-gary-peacock |website=ECM }}</ref> | recorded = December 1995 | venue = | studio = Rainbow Studio<br>Oslo, Norway | genre = Chamber jazz | length = 56:34 | label = ECM<br>ECM 1602 | producer = Manfred Eicher | chronology = Gary Peacock | prev_title = Just So Happens | prev_year = 1994 | next_title = Now This | next_year = 2015 | misc = {{Extra chronology | artist = Ralph Towner | type = Album | prev_title = Ana | prev_year = 1997 | title = A Closer View | year = 1998 | next_title = Verso | next_year = 2000 }} }}
'''''A Closer View''''' is an album by American jazz guitarist Ralph Towner and bassist Gary Peacock recorded in December 1995 in Norway and released on ECM in 1998.<ref name="ECM discography">[http://www.ecmrecords.com/Catalogue/ECM/1600/1602.php ECM discography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916121737/http://www.ecmrecords.com/Catalogue/ECM/1600/1602.php |date=2012-09-16 }} accessed October 20, 2011</ref>
== Reception == The AllMusic review by Leo Stanley awarded the album 3 stars, stating, "''A Closer View'' finds Ralph Towner working with Gary Peacock, crafting a subtle, textured instrumental album that relies more on compositions than improvisations. Occasionally, it all gets a little too static and colorless, but the best moments are fluid, engaging and graceful."<ref name="AllMusic">Stanley, L. [http://www.allmusic.com/album/a-closer-view-r351307 AllMusic Review] accessed October 20, 2011</ref>
Doug Ramsey of ''Jazz Times'' wrote "The news release accompanying the advance CD says that three of the pieces in A Closer View are “off-the-cuff joint compositions.” One can only guess which three. The most attentive and knowledgeable listener will be unable to tell where composition ends and improvisation begins in this music performed by guitarist Towner and bassist Peacock. The most discerning will not consider it an issue. It is more important that, despite its quietness, the richly textured music flows with uncommon harmonic interest and rhythmic strength. No one familiar with Peacock's and Towner's many past collaborations will be surprised at their synergy, which may involve ESP. Each is a virtuoso who makes virtuosity servant to the music. Deep intelligence, hard work and complexity went into the conception and performance of the pieces on this album. The listener hears ease and simplicity. As Red Mitchell famously observed, simple isn't easy. Hearing Peacock and Towner, you'd never know it."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ramsey|first1=Doug|title=Ralph Towner/Gary Peacock: A Closer View|url=https://jazztimes.com/reviews/albums/ralph-townergary-peacock-a-closer-view/|website=Jazz Times|publisher=jazztimes.com|accessdate=23 March 2018|date=1 November 1998}}</ref>
{{Music ratings | rev1 = ''AllMusic'' | rev1Score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref name="AllMusic"/> | rev2 = ''The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings'' | rev2score = {{Rating|4|4}}<ref name="Penguin">{{cite book |last1=Cook |first1=Richard |authorlink1=Richard Cook (journalist) |last2=Morton |first2=Brian |authorlink2=Brian Morton (Scottish writer) |title=The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings |year=2008 |edition=9th |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-0-141-03401-0 |page=1411}}</ref> }}
== Track listing == ''All compositions by Ralph Towner, except as noted.'' # "Opalesque" (Peacock, Towner) - 3:29 # "Viewpoint" - 1:19 # "Mingusiana" - 4:03 # "Creeper" - 6:10 # "Infrared" - 3:55 # "From Branch to Branch" (Peacock, Towner) - 5:13 # "Postcard to Salta" (Peacock, Towner) - 3:12 # "Toledo" - 6:18 # "Amber Captive" (Peacock, Towner) - 4:15 # "Moor" (Peacock) - 4:59 # "Beppo" - 6:24 # "A Closer View" - 4:48
== Personnel == * Ralph Towner – classical guitar, 12 string guitar * Gary Peacock – double bass
== References == {{reflist}} {{Gary Peacock}} {{Ralph Towner}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Closer View}} Category:ECM Records albums Category:Gary Peacock albums Category:Ralph Towner albums Category:1998 collaborative albums Category:Albums produced by Manfred Eicher