Ralph Towner

Diary is an introspective and ethereal masterwork by American guitarist, pianist, and composer Ralph Towner. Released in 1973 on ECM Records, the album feels exactly as its title suggests: a private, deeply personal notebook of sound sketches, dreams, and reflections.

This is not a “guitar” album in the conventional sense. It is a collection of sonic meditations that unfold in hushed tones and intimate textures. With just two instruments—classical guitar and piano—played solely by Towner himself, Diary crafts a solitary world where jazz, classical, and European art song coexist in sublime balance.