🎵 AotW AOTW: The Winter Consort - ROAD (SP-4279)

[Captain Bacardi]

The Winter Consort
ROAD
A&M SP-4279

Released 1970

Format: Vinyl

Produced by Phil Ramone

Songs:

• 1. Icarus (Ralph Towner) - 4:30
  2. Fantasy, Fugue & Ghost Beads (Mudarra/Bach/Towner) - 7:06
  3. Um Abraco (A Big Hug) (Ralph Towner) - 4:20
  4. Ave Maria Stella/Andromeda (Dufay/Towner) - 8:14
  5. General Pudson's Entrance (Ralph Towner) - 5:50
  6. Come To Your Senses (Darling/McCandless/Moore/Towner/Walcott/Winter) - 6:41
  7. Requiem (David Darling) - 7:30
  8. Africanus Brasileiras (Kalagala Ebwembe) (Traditional, arranged by Paul Winter and Oscar Castro-Neves) - 8:10

Musicians:
Paul Winter - Sax
David Darling - Cello
Ralph Towner - Classical and 12-String Guitar
Paul McCandless - Oboe, English Horn
Collin Walcott - Tabla, Conga, Surdos, Traps, Tambourine
Glen Moore - Bass
(Miscellaneous percussion played by all: Amadinda Xylophone, Kalimba, Afuche, Reco-Reco, Agogos, V-8 Juice Shaker, Rubo, Sleighbells)

Recorded in Concerts at Royce Hall, U.C.L.A.; Kilbourn Hall, Eastman School of Music, Rochester, NY; Whiskey A Go-Go, Hollywood

Engineers: Phil Ramone, Dave Greene
Remote Recording: Wally Heider, Fedco
Consort's Sound Engineer: Bobby Greene

Art Director: Tom Wilkes
Cover Art: Abe Gurvin
Calligraphy: Barbara Vosse
Photography: Slick Lawson



Capt. Bacardi

 

[Dave]

The real document, of course, is SEEING Paul Winter Live, which I did just a few years ago,--his Signature Song, "Icarus"--and all...!!!

If only this album came with a "bonus video"...!



Dave

 

[Captain Bacardi]

This album is far more listener-friendly than the original Consort LP, and is a lot closer to jazz than that album as well. The opener "Icarus" has been a concert staple of Paul Winter for years. Guitarist Ralph Towner gets plenty of well-deserved attention with his compositions, including the Brazilian-themed "Um Abraco" and the clever medley of "Ave Maria Stella/Andromeda". "Come To Your Senses" is completely improvised by all of the musicians. The highlight for me was the ending piece "Africanus Brasileiras", which is somewhat reminiscent of some Tamba 4 recordings. This is a pretty decent album. 3 & 1/2 stars.



Capt. Bacardi