Liner Notes
Piano solos
SEPTEMBER
1. Colors/Dance (10:25)
Inspired by the blazing yellow cottonwoods of Miles City and Billings, Montana, where I mainly grew up.
The middle section of improvisation over two chords was inspired by the great band The Doors (Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger, John Densmore and the late Jim Morrison [1943-1971]), particularly the improvisation on two chords in the instrumental section of Light My Fire from their first album in 1967, THE DOORS (Elektra). This section was also inspired by the modal improvisation over different sets of two chords by the late, great saxophonist John Coltrane (1926-1967). This style of improvisation appears in the middle of Coltrane's version of My Favorite Things from the 1960 album of the same name (which also inspired The Doors) and his version of Greensleeves from the 1961 recording THE COMPLETE AFRICA/BRASS SESSIONS (Impulse!). Another inspiration was the Coltrane-influenced version by the great jazz organist Jimmy Smith, from his 1965 album ORGAN GRINDER SWING (Verve). I was also inspired by a similar improvisation by the late, great composer/guitarist Frank Zappa on his song Black Napkins, especially from hearing him play it live in 1975. He recorded it several times, including on his albums MAKE A JAZZ NOISE HERE (Rykodisc), FRANK ZAPPA PLAYS THE MUSIC OF FRANK ZAPPA––A MEMORIAL TRIBUTE (available from the family site at www.zappa.com), YOU CAN’T DO THAT ON STAGE ANYMORE VOL. 6 (Rykodisc) and ZOOT ALLURES (Rykodisc). His music has been very inspirational to me in general, especially his 1969 instrumental album HOT RATS (Rykodisk).
The Doors' first album, which is like one long song from the beginning to the end, is the album that most inspired AUTUMN, which I recorded thirteen years later in 1980. Of all the composers whose music I love to interpret, The Doors’ and Jim Morrison’s songs have taken the longest for me to make them sound how I want—some have taken 34 years. I now play ten Doors songs at the solo piano dances I am currently doing, and I do a solo piano version of one of Jim Morrison’s songs, Bird of Prey, that he sang a cappella on his poetry album, AN AMERICAN PRAYER (Elektra). Jim Morrison has inspired and influenced my playing more than any other vocalist. (The Doors' official website is www.thedoors.com.)
When I play this song live I now play it as a medley with Tamarack Pines, the song that begins my album FOREST. Colors/Dance was composed in 1979.
2. Woods (6:47)
Also inspired by the trees in Miles City, Montana, which was built around the Yellowstone River in Eastern Montana. Composed in 1974.
3. Longing/Love (9:10)
Composed in 1975
OCTOBER
4. Road (4:14)
Composed in 1971
5. Moon (7:44)
The second half is influenced by traditional Japanese koto music. When I play this live I now play it with Lights in the Sky from the FOREST album. The first half was composed in 1973, and the second half was composed in 1979.
6. Sea (2:42)
Particularly influenced by The Doors. The introduction is inspired by the late, great guitarist and composer John Fahey (1939-2001). Composed in 1973.
7. Stars (5:36)
Inspired by composer Dominic Frontiere’s great soundtracks for the first year of the television series THE OUTER LIMITS from 1962-1963, some of which are on the soundtrack album THE OUTER LIMITS ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK (Crescendo Records).
Also inspired by Russian composer Aram Khachaturian’s (1903-1978) Adagio, from the Gayaneh ballet suite of 1942 (which was prominently used in the soundtrack of the film 2001), and by Lullaby, from the same suite. Composed in 1973.
Produced by William Ackerman
Recorded June 19 & 20, 1980
Engineered by Harn Soper and Russell Bond (Stars)
Mastered by Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering, Hollywood, CA
Cover photo by Ron May
Design by William Ackerman
All pieces composed by George Winston
All selections published by Imaginary Road Music/Dancing Cat Music (BMI)
Special thanks to Henry Roeland Byrd (the late Professor Longhair), Thomas “Fats” Waller, the late Bola Sete, the late John Fahey, Alex deGrassi, John Creger, Steve Reich, Dominic Frontiere, Nels Cline, Russell Bond, Megan Corwin, the late Frank Zappa and the members of The Doors: Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger, John Densmore and the late Jim Morrison.
BONUS TRACK
8. Too Much Between Us (5:38)
This song was written around 1969 by Robin Trower, Gary Brooker and Keith Reid of the great band Procol Harum for their beautiful epic third album, A SALTY DOG (A&M Records), which tells a story about voyage at sea. Procol Harum, best known for their 1967 hit A Whiter Shade of Pale, with great organ playing by Matthew Fisher and great vocals by Gary Brooker, was one of my very favorite ensembles, and one that I got to hear live at the Miami Pop Festival in late December, 1968. My other favorite bands were mainly organ-based, including The Doors, with Ray Manzarek on organ; The Rascals, with Felix Cavaliere on organ (both he and Ray played the bass simultaneously with the organ in live performances—Ray with his left hand on a keyboard bass, and Felix on the bass pedals); the original Blood, Sweat & Tears, with Al Kooper on organ (on the first album CHILD IS FATHER TO THE MAN - Columbia); and all of the late Frank Zappa's great ensembles.
BONUS TRACK CREDITS
Produced by George Winston, Howard Johnston and Cathy Econom
Engineered by Howard Johnston
Additional engineering by Justin Lieberman
Mastered by Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering, Hollywood, CA
Too Much Between Us published by [Essex Music International, Inc. (ASCAP)