Vinyl Record
Herb Ellis & Remo Palmier - Windflower
Herb Ellis & Remo Palmier - Windflower on LP vinyl. A 1978 record available from Kilmorna Collection in Listowel, Ireland.
LP ยท 1978
Available from Kilmorna Collection in Listowel.
Buyer notes: 1978 LP, currently available from the Kilmorna Collection vinyl shelf. Pay for pickup in Listowel or ship within Ireland for EUR 5.50.
Windflower is a quietly glowing guitar-jazz meeting between Herb Ellis and Remo Palmier, the kind of record whose reputation has grown because the music sounds so unforced. Originally emerging from the late 1970s Concord Jazz world, it places two guitarists in a small-group setting where conversation matters more than display. Ellis brings the clean swing authority associated with his long career, while Palmier's presence gives the album a graceful, slightly elusive charm. The title track sets the tone: lyrical, relaxed, melodic and light on its feet. The Night Has a Thousand Eyes, My Foolish Heart, Close Your Eyes and Danny Boy let the guitars move with patience rather than hurry, while Walkin', Stardust, Triste and Groove Merchant open different rhythmic and harmonic doors. Nothing feels like a cutting contest. The pleasure is in the handoffs, the voicings, the way one player leaves air for the other to answer. What makes Windflower special is its modest confidence. It does not need a big concept or a hard sell; it trusts touch, tune and time. That calm surface can make the album feel almost casual at first, but repeat listening reveals the craft: elegant lines, gently responsive accompaniment, and a shared sense of swing that never has to raise its voice.
Windflower matters because it preserves an unusually warm dialogue between two jazz guitarists from different public profiles. Ellis was widely recognized; Palmier was more elusive on record, which gives the session extra appeal. For collectors, it has become a small classic of relaxed guitar interplay: not a loud statement, but a beautifully proportioned album where taste, tone and mutual respect carry the music.
This is a strong choice for jazz collectors who value feel over flash. Windflower works in the foreground for close guitar listening and in the background for atmosphere, but it is never merely decorative. Its appeal belongs to the details: clean articulation, warm ensemble balance, standards treated with affection, and a conversational ease that makes the record feel personal without becoming sleepy.
Relaxed small-group jazz guitar with warm clean tone, lyrical solos, gently swinging rhythm support, standards-rich pacing and conversational interplay between two seasoned players.
Recommended for: Jazz guitar collectors looking for tasteful duo-led interplay; Listeners who enjoy mellow small-group sessions with standards at the centre; Fans of Herb Ellis, Remo Palmier and warm Concord-era guitar jazz.
What year is Windflower associated with? Windflower is associated with its original late-1970s release period, commonly listed as 1978. What kind of jazz is Windflower? It is relaxed small-group guitar jazz, built around melodic standards, clean tone and conversational improvisation. Why do collectors care about this album? Its appeal comes from the rare pairing of Ellis and Palmier, the tasteful playing, and the album's quietly enduring reputation among guitar-jazz listeners.