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George
Winston is a name synonymous with New Age piano. Indeed,
he is widely regarded as the forerunner of the genre-
and was the first person to be signed onto the Windham
Hill label back in the early 80s. George Winston has an
extensive musical background, and as well as playing
piano, is equally at home on guitar. This, however, is a
piano CD, and it brings together some of his most loved
recordings from his 25 years with the label (at the CDs
release in the late 90s). Specifically, it features
music from his "Seasons" albums ("Autumn", "Winter into
Spring", "December" and "Summer" as well as other themed
albums- "Forest", "Ballads and Blues 1972" and "Linus
and Lucy- The Music of Vince Guaraldi". To many
listeners, the music contained within this CD is New Age
piano. Winston, however, categories his piano music
differently: Folk piano, Stride piano and Rhythm and
Blues piano.
The CD opens with the very lovely "Colours/Dance",
taken from the "Autumn" album. In common with
many of the pieces to be found here, George
Winston has taken it upon himself to self-edit
his lengthy works, and the end product is more
accessible and allows the CD to offer a greater
range. Certainly, the edit from over ten minutes
to a little over three might seem a little
drastic, but it seems to work very well. The
piece is lovely and very uplifting. Winston
cites his inspiration as "the blazing yellow
maple and cottonwood trees of Billings and Miles
City, Montana". The album's second track, "The
Venice Dreamer (Part 2)" has a moody opening,
before turning into another fun piece.
A favourite of mine is the third cut- "Living in
the Country" from the album "Summer". It has a
simple, but very effective melody that you'll be
humming for days. It is extremely playful and
brings to mind singing birds and children
playing. This song was originally a solo guitar
instrumental, composed and recorded by folk
singer Pete Seeger around 1956. "The Cradle" on
this CD is a live recording rather then the
studio track as found on the album "Forest". It
is a very gentle piece, and soothing in nature.
Winston describes its source in his notes: "The
original version by Larry Young (Khalid Yasim)
was a duet for organ and drums from his Blue
Note label album, Heaven on Earth. This version
is slightly expanded and changed a bit, as all
songs that are played live continue to grow and
change." He dedicates the track to all mothers!
With a track title like "Joy", you
really would expect the ensuing music to
be positive and hit the "feel-good"
button. It does just that. This is a
catchy, happy piece inspired by J.S.
Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's
Desiring". Track 6, "Treat Street"
offers a completely different style, and
a wild change in direction. Very bluesy,
"Treat Street" is Winston's
interpretation of a track by Vince
Guaraldi- as a follow-up single to the
very successful "Cast Your Fate to the
Wind". This version by Winston is also
influenced by the late New Orleans'
pianist James Booker. Winston also
credits Henry Butler as been a source of
inspiration. Pachelbel's Canon seems to
feature on countless New Age piano CDs,
but few are as lovingly played as this
one. It is amazing to think that a piece
composed in 1699 is still widely used in
the genre over three hundred years
later.
The CD's eighth track, "Thanksgiving"
is an edited version from Winston's
"December" album. He credits his friends
and the surroundings of Miles City,
Montana as his inspiration for this
beautiful piece. It has a slow tempo,
and is exceptionally nice to listen to.
"Miles City Train" is frenzied, and is
the sort of piece that his fellow
ex-Windham Hill pianist Philip Aaberg
would enjoy playing. It captures the
hustle and bustle of the station and the
train. Winston tells how he was inspired
by the train rides he made to and from
Miles City in the 1950s. It is a busy,
busy piece, and one that showcases his
considerable talent. Not one to fall
asleep to!
Track ten is "Corrina, Corrina", a very
melodic piece which rolls along effortlessly. It
is from his "Summer" album. In Winston's linear
notes, he states that the song, "is sometimes
played as a lament for a lost lover, but also
sometimes as a love song or a lullaby for a
child, which is the spirit in which it is played
here." I particularly like the flurry of soft
notes just after the two minute mark, which
remind me very much of a lullaby. A lovely
piece.
I am also particularly fond of "Hummingbird"
and am intrigued by the opening and the ending.
It sounds like Winston is plucking something
(although, from the linear notes, it suggests
that it is a special piano technique.) It's a
great tune, and Winston reveals how the
"Hummingbird" runs at the end of the piece are a
right-hand technique learned from the great
Stride pianist Thomas "Fats" Waller. It is
certainly different, but very appealing. Track
12, "Longing/Love" is a heavily edited version
of the Autumn piece, reduced from over nine
minutes, to a little over five. Again, this
features an attractive melody which should
appeal to most listeners.
The final section of the CD begins on a real
high, with "Cast Your Fate to the Wind". This is
another of Vince Guaraldi's, who Winston clearly
holds in high esteem. It was Guaraldi's first
single and first hit way back in 1962.
Apparently, it was the "B" side of the single,
but the disc jockeys of the time thought better,
and played it as the "A" side. It's a wonderful
piece and expertly played by Winston. It's great
fun to listen to and, I would imagine, even more
fun to play. "Sandman" is another previously
unreleased bonus track. It's a quiet and quite
lovely piece- one of the gentlest pieces on the
entire album. Yet another favourite is the
album's fifteenth track, "The Snowman's Music
Box Dance". This is from the album "Forest" and
is an adaptation of a piece composed by Howard
Blake. It sounds very much like a children's
piece. One can almost visualise the snowman
merrily moving on the Music Box. Lots of high
notes here, and the clarity is amazing.
Two bonus tracks bring the CD to a close. The
first, "Northern Plains" is very quiet, and
Winston tells how it was inspired by the plains
of Eastern Montana, where he grew up. Winston
cites his friend and fellow composer Philip
Aaberg as a source of inspiration for this
atmospheric piece. The closing track, "Sleep
Baby Mine" is another adaptation- this time of a
piece of music by Alfred S. Burt and Wihla
Hutson, written in 1949. This song is one of
fifteen carols he wrote as a gift for friends.
The piece was apparently inspired by the birth
of his daughter. A jazz trumpeter by trade, I am
pleased to report that Winston's version sounds
very relaxing and is solo piano. A soothing end
to a perfect CD.
"All the Seasons of George Winston" is quite
a remarkable album. I was thrilled with my
purchase when I acquired this CD a number of
years ago, and treasure it dearly. Winston is a
prolific composer, and his latest CD was
released in September 2006 ("Gulf Coast Blues
and Impressions"). Fans of piano music who
welcome a variety of styles, expertly played by
a master of his craft, will welcome this CD with
open arms. It is a superb release, and one that
most certainly deserves the distinction of
"Piano Heaven".
S.C.
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