Paul Winter Albums (32)
'Jamming with the Aliens'
Release Date 1/1/2007
Tracks 10
Label One Season
See Album Tracklist and Review
'Silver Solstice'
Release Date 12/6/2005
Tracks 64
Label Living Music
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What The Critics Say
A live recording of the 25th annual Winter Solstice concert from Paul Winter and a remarkable cast at St. John's Cathedral in New York. It's become a vital seasonal tradition, with music spanning the globe (and the addition of a DVD in the package), from gospel to the Balkans, Irish to new age. In many ways it defies description, being so eclectic. Yet at the same time maybe it's one of those you-had-to-be-there things, since, on disc at least, it becomes something to be admired rather than emotionally involved with. The quality of the musicianship is never less than brilliant -- Winter attracts the highest caliber of performer -- but at the same time there's a slight sense of blandness about it. "Sound Over All Waters," for example, is a moving gospel piece, but here it comes across more Whitney Houston than Mahalia Jackson -- a quavering voice doesn't equal emotion, no matter what the pop divas say. The live context takes away much of the subtlety, unfortunately, and you're left more with performances than intricate pieces of music. However, that said, it has a power. ~ Chris Nickson, All Music Guide
'Journey with the Sun'
Release Date 10/31/2000
Tracks 13
Label Living Music
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What The Critics Say
For 20 years, new age wind player Paul Winter has headlined world-class audiovisual musical extravaganzas celebrating the summer and winter solstices at New York's Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Most of the contemplative nature of this worldbeat meets new age recording reflects the ambience of the early morning summer celebration, while two songs -- the intensely percussive, Middle Eastern-flavored "Caravan at Dawn" and the mystical "Yabu" -- come from the 1999 winter show that featured Mickey Hart playing RAMU, or Random Access Music Universe (i.e., an incredible array of electronic sounds). The unique spiritual power of the album derives from vocalist Arto Tuncboyacian, an Armenian whose African-sounding guttural vocals utter phrases in "vocables" from his own personal dialect; this is exotic scat singing at its most creative! The mystical "Broken Arm" shows the more heartfelt side of his vocals, and the interesting mood swings continue throughout. The joyous jig-like "Mountain Wedding" features the Uilleann pipes of Davy Spillane, and these pipes are used to more haunting effect on "Pas de Deux." "Singing to the Mountain" is a wistful, folksy tribute to Tuncboyacian's late brother, who was killed in a plane crash in Turkey. ~ Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide
'Songs of the Humpback Whale'
Release Date 8/25/1998
Tracks 5
Label Living Music
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What The Critics Say
Songs of the Humpback Whale isn't the only album of humpback whale recordings, but it is the most famous -- not to mention the most influential. Produced by zoologist Dr. Roger Payne, and originally released on LP in 1970, this album did a lot to galvanize environmentalists and had a significant impact on the Save-the-Whales movement of the '70s. The sounds that these whales make have an incredibly haunting beauty; in their own unique way, their sounds are quite musical -- and many of the people who heard Songs of the Humpback Whale back in the early '70s decided that killing the gigantic creatures was a bad thing. Humpback whales were in danger of extinction at the time, but thanks to the Save-the-Whales movement, the whaling industry seriously curtailed its activities. According to the liner notes that were written when Living Music reissued Songs of the Humpback Whale on CD in 1991, environmentalists "had stopped 99% of the industry" by 1990. Did the Save-the-Whales movement turn everyone into a hardcore vegetarian? Of course not. When it comes to political and social concerns, there are seldom easy answers -- and the more red meat was vilified in the '70s and '80s, the more attractive seafood became. It's hard to disagree with the ideas that Yes expressed on their 1978 song "Don't Kill the Whale," but how many members of that great progressive rock band actually swore off seafood altogether? The sheer beauty of Songs of the Humpback Whale did, however, make a lot of people stop and think about the way animals are killed; one doesn't have to be sold on the idea of total vegetarianism (let alone veganism) to realize that some species deserve a certain amount of protection. And whatever one's views on environmentalism, Songs of the Humpback Whale is an enriching CD, and certainly a classic of its kind. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Twelve bossa nova numbers recorded as duets between saxophonist Paul Winter and his Consort cohort Oscar Castro-Neves on guitar, Brazilian Days finds the duo digging up overlooked gems from the likes of Antonio Carlos Jobim, Carlos Lyra, Noel Rosa, Vinicius de Moraes, Edu Lobo, and Luiz Eca. The numbers are gentle and relaxed, with bassist Nilson Matta and drummer Paulo Braga fine in support. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Much is made in the liner notes of this recording about the lengths Paul Winter and his compatriots went to find just the perfect place in the Grand Canyon to record. For once, all the hyperbole is justified. The sound here is nothing short of breathtaking. Winter's saxophone reverberates off the canyon walls and has a truly transcendent sound and feeling. That said, the compositions -- 21 of them, lasting over an hour in total time -- are as evanescent as the sound of Winter's saxophone fading into the rocks, and there's only so much solo saxophone one can take (Winter's bandmate Paul Halley adds organ on two cuts). Interesting and exhilarating in small doses, Canyon Lullaby can go beyond soothing to soporific if listened to in one sitting. ~ Ross Boissoneau, All Music Guide
'Prayer for the Wild Things'
Release Date 6/21/1994
Tracks 21
Label Living Music
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What The Critics Say
This is one of those albums that immediately bowls over anyone listening. Paul Winter is notable for a string of excellent instrumental albums, but Prayer for the Wild Things easily qualifies as his best to date, mixing acoustic instrumentation, studio electronics, Native American chant and drumming, the sounds of 22 animal species and more into a gorgeous, shifting collage of music and sound. The album is described as "An Earth Music Celebration of the Northern Rockies Inspired by the wilderness art of Bev Dootlittle." The result is almost 70 minutes of musical grandeur -- without one grandiose or pompous moment. ~ Steven McDonald, All Music Guide
