The Squid's Ear Magazine


Torchia, Gene / John Stowell: Duo [2 CDs] (Not On Label)

A fascinating double album uniting guitarist Gene Torchia on amplified classical guitar and John Stowell on electric guitar, recorded in the studio between 2023 and 2025, blending composed works written for modern classical guitar and flute with Stowell's improvisations to create a rich and stylistically diverse dialogue spanning blues, Latin, Irish, baroque, and avant-garde forms.
 

Price: $17.95



Quantity:

In Stock

Quantity in Basket: None

Log In to use our Wish List
Shipping Weight: 3.00 units

Sample The Album:





Product Information:

Personnel:



Gene Torchia-amplified classical guitar

John Stowell-electric guitar

Click an artist name above to see in-stock items for that artist.



UPC: 195269378912

Label: Not On Label
Catalog ID: None
Squidco Product Code: 36943

Format: 2 CDs
Condition: New
Released: 2025
Country: USA
Packaging: Cardboard Gatefold 3 Panels
Recorded at Studio 1861, in 2023, 2024 and 2025, by Gene Torchia.
Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

Artist Biographies

"My artwork is driven by music. I am a jazz and classical guitarist who expresses my love of music through art. As I listen to music, I draw and handprint my work using the music to set the mood of each art piece. Like practicing my muscial instrument daily, I immerse myself in drawing each day to improve my artistic expression; it is an essential ritual in my life.

The play of light and shadow is my primary focus. I refer to photographic images as I draw in charcoal. I love the tactile process of working layers of charcoal on paper and building a two-dimentional image into an image that appears three-dimentional. I attempt to make my drawing photorealistic and employ my style of drawing to enhance the work. When I am successful, the image looks like it lifts off the page. The process of handprinting on an etching press takes hours and each print takes on the texture of the paper and has a unique character born of the way the plate is inked. There is a special patina that is the residue of the lithograph process. It is a "labor of love" where there is a surprise every time.

When I work on portraits, I try to capture the essence of the musician. The intent of my Jazz Masters Print Series is to honor the jazz musicians who have given us so much wonderful music. As I work on my Vintage Watch Series, I attempt to illuminate the essence of the era in which the watches were made and worn."

-Gene Torchia Website (https://www.genetorchia.com/about)
11/13/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"John F. Stowell (born July 30, 1950) is an American jazz guitarist, composer, author, and lecturer.

Stowell, who plays electric and acoustic guitar, was born in New York and raised in Connecticut. He had private studies with Linc Chamberland and John Mehegan. Several years later he met bassist David Friesen in New York City. Stowell took a trip to Portland, Oregon, where Friesen lives, and decided to stay. The two formed a duo in 1976 that recorded and toured prolifically for seven years, with performances in the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia. The duo continues to perform thirty years after their first meeting. In 1983, Stowell and David Friesen joined flutist Paul Horn and Paul's son Robin Horn (on drums) for a tour of the Soviet Union. In 1977 Stowell recorded his debut album Golden Delicious; his sidemen were Jim McNeely, Mike Richmond, and Billy Hart

Stowell teaches internationally. He has been an artist-in-residence at schools in Germany, Indonesia, Argentina, the United States and Canada. He served as assistant director and performer at Oregon Public Broadcasting's PDX Jazz Summit in 1991, and since 1995 has been a contributing columnist for a number of magazines, including Down Beat, Guitar Player, Canadian Musician, Soundcheck (Germany), and Guitar Club (Italy). In Germany, he teaches at Jazz & Rock Schulen Freiburg with Frank Haunschild, with whom he plays regularly. He has also worked with Uwe Kropinski, Dave Liebman, Hiram Mutschler, Gérard Pansanel, Gustavo Assis-Brasil, David Becker, and Nicolao Valiensi. In 2005 he published Jazz Guitar Mastery (book and DVD).

Stowell holds his guitar in a diagonal position, which facilitates playing close, piano-like voicings more comfortably."

-Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Stowell)
11/13/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:
Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Jazz
Jazz & Improvisation Based on Compositions
Melodic and Lyrical Jazz
Guitarists, &c.
NY Downtown & Metropolitan Jazz/Improv
Duo Recordings
New in Improvised Music
Recent Releases and Best Sellers

Search for other titles on the label:
Not On Label.


Recommended & Related Releases:
Cline, Nels / Elliott Sharp
Open The Door
(Public Eyesore)
Bailey, Derek / John Stevens
The Duke of Wellington
(Confront)
Seminal figures in the evolution of free or nonidiomatic improvisation, guitarist Derek Bailey and percussionist/pocket trumpeter John Stevens are heard in a 1989 London performance vividly captured by Michael Gerzon at The Duke of Wellington, their restless and enthusiastic interplay shifting from angular invention to lyrical reflection in a compelling document of their remarkable rapport.
Noyes, Lee / Barry Chabala
The Lightgiver
(Ftarri)
A 4-part series of collaborative improvisations between US guitarist Barry Chabala and Canadian-born, Sweden-based electroacoustic improviser Lee Noyes, Chabala performing on acoustic & electric guitars and objects, Noyes on piano & percussion, and both on prepared piano, for elegantly diaphanous interactions that employ a score influenced by The I Ching and Albert Camus.
Gargaud, Guillaume / Eero Savela
Syyspimee
(Ramble Records)
A truly lovely and intimate duo album between French guitarist, composer and improviser Guillaume Gargaud and Finnish trumpet player Eero Savela, their second album after their 2020 release Helsinki, expanding their conversation in relaxed and filtered jazz that balances abstraction and lyricism with a natural pace and sophistication.
Durrant, Phil / Daniel Thompson
Live / Studio
(Bead)
The improvising string duo of stalwart London improvisers, Daniel Thompson on acoustic guitar and Phil Durrant on the octave mandola, are heard in two settings of texturally rich, intricate interactions, first at Cafe OTO in 2022 for an extended improvisation, then at Cable Street Studios two months later for six succint, impressively diverse dialogs.
Machinefabriek w/ Anne Bakker
Wisps
(Not On Label (Machinefabriek Self-released))
The followup to their album Oehoe, electroacoustic composer Rutger Zuydervelt (Machinefabriek) developed this set of 10 tracks from improvised recordings on violin, viola and voice by Anne Bakker, creating a fascinating and succinct set of compositions through the deconstruction of her virtuosic playing and Zuydervelt's electronic additions.
E42.A8
IIII [2 CDs]
(Not On Label)
A double CD compilation released to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the electro-acoustic improv space E42.A8 based in Tournai, Belgium, featuring 21 musicians, in varying ensembles, from 2 to 9 people, presenting an eclectic and diverse mix of styles and approaches to experimental music through textures, rhythm, and indescribable sound sources; fascinating.
Machinefabriek
CM_30 (Music for a performance by Kolja Huneck)
(Not On Label (Machinefabriek Self-released) )
Music written to accompany a light & juggling performance by German contemporary circus artist Kolja Huneck, Rutger Zuydervelt developing the compositions of these works using only short looping structures that weave and develop into a tapestry of sound, inspired by the repetitive motions of Kolja's performance and the 30 centimeter round discs with which he performs.
Gibbs, E. Jason / Nat Baldwin
Microstates
(Orbit577)
After a year of collaboration where Gibbs and Baldwin developed a common language and shared aesthetic to explore time, space, texture, frenetic energy, and the limits of their instruments and technique, double basssist Nat Baldwin and guitarist E. Jason Gibbs recorded this fascinating set of free improvisations at Apohadion Theatre, in Portland, Maine.
Gerard, Pierre
Cavite Aerienne
(Not On Label)
Extremely patient compositions for electronics, cello, guitar and tenor sax from French sound and visual artist Pierre Gerard: "Air" using recordings from his duo partner of tenor saxophonist Bertrand De Lamalle with long sections of silence; "Cavity" employs previously recorded guitar improvisations that interact with Gerard's live electronic improvisations.
Kalman, Egil / Fredrik Rasten
Weaving a Fabric of Winds [VINYL]
(Shhpuma)
Swedish bass player Egil Kalman, here on modular syntheizer, joins Norwegian guitarist Fredrik Rasten, for a lovely album of drifting electronics and beautifully entwining acoustic guitar, unhurriedly developing environments of warm, slowly evolving chord structures that show influences from players like Catherine Lamb or the Wandelweiser collective.
Kalman, Egil / Fredrik Rasten
Weaving a Fabric of Winds
(Shhpuma)
Swedish bass player Egil Kalman, here on modular syntheizer, joins Norwegian guitarist Fredrik Rasten for a lovely album of drifting electronics and beautifully entwining acoustic guitar, unhurriedly developing environments of warm, slowly evolving chord structures that show influences from players like Catherine Lamb or the Wandelweiser collective.
Polyorchard
Color Theory in Black and White
(Not On Label)
Two trios, "Black" with cellist Chris Eubank and violist Dan Ruccia, and "White" with trombonist Jeb Bishop and saxophonist Laurent Estoppey, each with the foundation of bassist David Menestres, balancing experience in free improvisation and compositional music to create an exciting hybrid, a chamber collective of tumult and control.
Machinefabriek
Becoming [CD + DOWNLOAD]
(Not On Label)
The fourth dance piece by Dutch/Spanish choreographer Ivan Perez to feature an original soundtrack by Rutger Zuydervelt (Machinefabriek), performed live on stage in Korzo in The Hague, and at Vondelpark in Amsterdam, the composer and coreographer developing a movement and sound 'vocabulary' to create a performance that mixes structured and improvised music.
Akiyama, Tetuzi / Anla Courtis
Naranja Songs
(Public Eyesore)
Two acoustic guitars collaborate in a beautiful and spare dialog, using extended techniques including bowing and percussive approaches that never detract from the sublime elements of their playing.




The Squid's Ear Magazine

The Squid's Ear Magazine

© 2002-, Squidco LLC