I don't know about you, but I prefer Winston's older stuff. You know, the music that made him famous. I love that music.I like Vince Guaraldi too, but come on! I guess the man will play and record what he enjoys and you can't knock him for that. You can however be disappointed that he no longer creates the kind of music that put his name on the musical map.
Here's a press release about the new Winston CD...
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Pianist George Winston recorded a tribute album in 1996 to jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi (1928-1976), a musician beloved by generations for the compositions he recorded for various Charlie Brown television specials and for his standard "Cast Your Fate to the Wind." That album was Linus & Lucy-The Music of Vince Guaraldi, and Winston revisits his musical hero a second time with Love Will Come-The Music of Vince Guaraldi, Vol. 2, a collection of a wide range of Guaraldi interpretations. The 16-song album will be available February 2nd.
Many of the songs from Winston's new album are from the Charlie Brown episodes, and tracks for them written by Guaraldi include "Time For Love" from the episode, There's No Time For Love Charlie Brown, "Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown," "Love Will Come," "Woodstock," "Little Birdie," "It Was a Short Summer Charlie Brown," "Rain, Rain, Go Away," "Air Music," and "You're Elected Charlie Brown." The album also features other Guaraldi compositions from his jazz albums.
As a sixteen year old Winston (not yet playing music, but an avid fan of instrumental music) became captivated by the Charles Schulz film, A Charlie Brown Christmas. Immediately after purchasing the soundtrack, Winston immersed himself in the sixteen Peanuts® television specials scored by Guaraldi, becoming captivated by Vince's sounds and compositions. Many of the songs featured on Linus & Lucy were also from Vince's soundtracks from the Peanuts® series.
"There are three composers that I have at one time or another tried to play all of their songs: New Orleans R&B pianist Professor Longhair, The Doors, and Vince Guaraldi," says Winston. Vince Guaraldi and his music are so much a part of the deep heart and soul of San Francisco, and for those that know his music, of the experience of childhood, and people of all ages. I love Vince's melodies and his chord progressions and his piano playing - especially his left hand."
George Winston integrates his passion for Vince's music and New Orleans R&B piano, together with childhood experiences in order to create a sound inspired by legends such as The Doors, and New Orleans pianists Henry Butler, James Booker, and Professor Longhair. Winston conveys a sense of life through his music with a sensibility of the seasons and topographies of Mother Earth.
Edward Weiss is a pianist/composer and webmaster of Quiescence Music's online piano lessons. He has been helping students learn how to play piano in the New Age style for over 14 years and works with students in private, in groups, and now over the internet. Visit http://www.quiescencemusic.com now and get a FREE piano lesson!
I like his older stuff too - much better than his newer stuff. I went to one of his concerts last year and it was a HUGE dissapointment. Between his Guaraldi attempts, his New Orleans music and his slack key guitar he managed to alienate his audience and over half the crowd left at intermission. Too bad because his New Age music is what we all went there to hear!
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree with you more Joel. I imagine George doesn't need the money anymore so he's free to create what he wants. And as an artist, he should. But his fans might have something to say about it. And I doubt it will be too positive.
ReplyDeleteI prefer the early stuff too, but should an artist be constrained to produce only what an audience demands to hear? It violates the whole notion of artistic freedom. Joe
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