Icarus

Paul Winter Consort, Paul Winter

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 19, 1989)
• Original Release Date: March 1973
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000024ZB
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #126,762 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording
This 1972 classic captures saxophonist Paul Winter and his ensemble at the height of their improvisational powers. Winter was one of the first artists to incorporate such exotic instruments as the sitar and tabla into his music and the result was memorable chamber jazz-folk played in the wonderfully experimental, post-hippie way only Winter and his merry band could. The title track, one of guitarist Ralph Towner's compositions, became famous for its pensive melody and soaring soprano sax. "Whole Earth Chant" is a piece that foreshadows New Age artists like Loreena McKennitt with its echoing tribal drums interwoven with ominous distorted guitar. And "Minuit" downright borders on what today some would call world music--it features a choir of voices singing a simple, sauntering melody taken from a Guinean folk song. Classic early '70s Winter. --Karen Karleski

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Transitional jazz - a leap into world music, November 4, 2002

By	Erika Borsos "pepper flower" (Gulf Coast of FL, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Transitional jazz ... including a little bit of India (sitar, tabla), a little bit of Africa (numerous percussion instruments), and a little bit of Mexico (marimba) and South America. Although produced 30 years ago, the music is as meaningful and relevant today as in 1972 when it was created. This is contemplative music, not meditative, which is softer and quieter ... this is great "thinking" music. The musical phrases are original and refreshing, create winding moods ... which need to be explored. It is great background music at a party or for laying back on a lazy Sunday afternoon, letting thoughts drift wherever they may ... It seems Paul Winter was ahead of his time: well time has caught up with him! The mellow saxaphone and cello sounds when accompanied by any number of "world" instruments are the sounds of the future and the future is ... HERE, NOW! GO: LISTEN AND ENJOY!
Dedicated to the memory of Bob Zeidler Amazon.com reviewer who introduced me to the music of Paul Winter. Erika Borsos

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The grandfather of world musics, June 19, 2001

By	Peppino - See all my reviews

Paul Winter fused musics from Brasil, India, Native North America and Africa,and encorporated elements of Classical and "cool Jazz" into a wonderful *GUMBO * LOOOOOOONG before the current trendmongers jumped the bandwagon, and did it with clarity, articulation, and respect for the sounds he was assimilating into his musical vision.(This was HIS American vision of Andrade's "cultural cannibalism", which BRASILIAN musicians have been very successful at since the beginning of the 1900's thru current times). For years, this lp/cd has been the "soundtrack" for public radio stations, as they have continuously used soundbites from tracks from this cd in the incidental music between shows -BUT this music deserves MUCH more introspection, as the tracks are quite wonderful. The soaring "Icarus" was a staple of PWC concerts, and later in Oregon's shows.(Towner & McCandless were founding fathers of Oregon,a natural progression after they left PWC. "Whole Earth Chant" is a track that combines the elements I describe already with a "funky" herb Buschler bassline & a soaring David Darling cello solo.I feel current celloists Hank Roberts and Mr Brubeck from Oranj Symphonette were influenced byhim greatly..... Minuit is a simplistic African "round" a folk form, but somehow quite touching to the heart. Mr. Winter was one of the first wave of US musicians to tour Brasil. He never got the mass exposure of his cohorts, Stan Getz, Charlie Byrd, Herbie Mann, et al. A trail blazer, I hope this cd enjoys a renaissance it truely deserves, given the great interest in World/Fusion sounds these days. Mr. Winter's vision remains fresh,as his "mission" was the musics first, not the $$$$$$.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The meeting of the spirits, September 3, 2001

By	Sumatriptan (Fixing a barbecue at the Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Icarus (Audio CD)

Paul Winter Consort is the band where Ralph Towner, Paul McCandless, Collin Walcott and Glen Moore have first played all together and have decided to create their legendary fusion group - OREGON. The sound of ICARUS, their second album, is kind of new-age-ish with some reminescences of KING CRIMSON's "Sailor's Tale" and "Formentera Lady" (JUNIPER BEAR), and John McLaughlin's Shakti (WHOLE EARTH CHANT). Some other musicians on this album include great cello master DAVID DARLING and HERB BUSHLER on fender bass. If you liked this album, and have never heard OREGON's music - rush to the store and get yourself some of their later albums (DISTANT HILLS, CROSSING, WINTER LIGHT)