elf@utcsrgv.UUCP (Eugene Fiume) (02/15/84)
I have heard several people mention the Windham Hill label, and have come across some "audiophile"--but reasonably priced--albums in the Jazz Section of my favourite record stores. I would appreciate receiving comments from anyone who has heard Windham Hill recordings. Mail please. In case I gave the wrong impression, I'm more interested in the musical quality of this stuff, though of course the recording quality is right up there too. If there is interest, I'll summarise and post. Eugene Fiume
adolph@ssc-vax.UUCP (Mark Adolph) (09/28/84)
[Don't quote me on any of the following] Windham Hill is a record company started in Palo Alto by Will Ackerman (a fine solo guitarist). I have heard his work (he performs every year at Stanford, our alma mater) and the work of George Winston, a fine solo pianist. As far as I can tell, the label specializes in mellow, "classical" music. They are very popular in the Bay Area, and I especially recommend them to anyone who needs background music for massage. I'd be interested in hearing other opinions about the label. -- Mark ...uw-beaver!ssc-vax!adolph
bourne@cwruecmp.UUCP (bourne) (10/01/84)
Windham Hill is a record label known for its extremely high quality recordings and pressings. When they first came out, distributors wanted them to charge 12 to 15 dollars per album because the albums were of audiophile quality. The guys at Windham Hill didn't want to do that (high quality music for the masses!) and I've purchased their albums for as little as 7 dollars. For those of you unfamiliar with the label and are interested in what's available, I conclude with a mini-review: An Evening With Windham Live: Good starter album as it lets you hear a good selection of the artists, notably George Winston, William Ackerman, and Michael Hedges. The CD version of this one isn't so hot because there is a very noticeable tape hiss. Windham Hill Sampler: There are a couple of these out...I've only heard the '82 sampler. Again, another good starter album featuring some of the lesser known artists. George Winston: December piano solos Very seasonal type of music with variations on Pachelbel's canon, the Carol of the Bells and all those other Christmas-type classical pieces. both the CD and the LP sound great. George Winston: Autumn, Winter into Spring Two more piano solo albums. These two are definitely what I call 'late evening music' requiring a good bottle of wine, a cozy fire, and a member of the opposite sex. Very mellow stuff. Liz Story: Solid Colors piano solos Very different style if you are used to George Winston. This is bright, cheerful music whereas, to me, Winston comes across as being relaxing and soothing. Shadowfax: Shadowfax, Shadowdance ensemble Two albums that kind of break with the Windham Hill acoustic tradition. Here you'll find electric guitars, a lyricon (could someone tell me what the hell this thing is?), and all manner of asian and african percussive instruments. I've enjoyed both albums. Mark Isham: Vapor Drawings Even more bizarre...synthesizers, electronic drums, trumpets, flugelhorns, etc. This album has a more pronounced jazz flavor, compared to the sounds I'm used to hearing from George Winston, etc. William Ackerman: Passage guitar solo Actually, there are quite a few ensemble pieces on this album. The other instruments include piano ( played by Winston), violin, lyricon, and oboe or English horn (can't remember which at the moment). I've played all these albums or CDs for a number of people and I haven't met anyone who didn't like them. Most people ask me for a list of records to go look for! I hope this listing helps some of you find something good to listen to. I would appreciate mail from anyone who's heard the CD versions of these albums. 'December' by Winston sounds very good on CD with less tape hiss than you'd expect coming from an analog master. I wish I could say the same about the 'Windham Hill Live' recording on CD. dave at cwruecmp!bourne
dcoleman@vlnvax.DEC (10/12/84)
<one more time> WINDHAM HILL RECORDS - "The identification that our label has is really unprecedented; people know what Windham Hill record sounds like." The "sound" is that of the impressionistic compositions of guitarists Alex de Grassi, Michael Hedges, and Ackerman himself, plus such artists as pianist George Winston and violinist Darol Anger. "Briefly, my first record [The Search For The Turtle's Navel] was intended to be a single effort; but the response was so amazing that it engendered other projects. "Our first criterion is that the music has to connect to the heart. Technique is important, sure, but what comes first is pure heart. It doesn't hurt if an act is touring, but we don't insist on it. My own first performance, ever, was after Turtle's Navel came out, opening for Harry Chapin; and my second was at the Seattle Opera House! "Owning a studio is a good way to lose your shirt, and I don't intend to own one. We do however, have digital equipment we bring into studios that we use in the Stanford area. "A&M Records distributes our product, but they have no equity in our company, and we have complete say in quality control and production. We've gotten expert advice on production; the company that developed Quiex vinyl has created a special compound exclusively for our records. They make it easier for us to do what we always wanted to do in production and promotion, and it's being done better. I couldn't be happier with the arrangement." - From an April '84 FRETS magazine interview with Windham Hill founder William Ackerman. - Dave Coleman "sometimes the songs that we hear are just songs of our own"
cuccia@ucbvax.ARPA (Nick Cuccia) (10/17/84)
There has been a mailing group for Windham Hill fans and fans of
other types of music in the same vein (Mannheim Steamroller,
Kitaro, Keith Jarrett, etc.) at UCB for about six months now.
Persons interested in joining us should send me a letter; I read
net.{audio, music} only about once every other week.
--From the birthplace of FSM (1964--1984),
--Nick Cuccia
--ucbvax!cuccia
PS: the group is an Email group. Just wanted to make that clear.hash@whuxl.UUCP (HASHIZUME) (10/22/84)
>>><<<
There is a special symbol after the copyright symbol on the Windham Hill
album covers. It is the letter "p" with a circle around it, just like
the copyright symbol but with the letter "p." Can anyone tell me what
that means?
Mark Hashizume ..!houxm!whuxl!hash
--
..!whuxl!hash (Mark Hashizume @ AT&T Bell Labs, Whippany, NJ)ron@brl-tgr.ARPA (Ron Natalie <ron>) (10/22/84)
> There has been a mailing group for Windham Hill fans and fans of > other types of music in the same vein (Mannheim Steamroller, > Kitaro, Keith Jarrett, etc.) at UCB for about six months now. This is getting too bizarre. Keith Jarrett and most of whats on Windham Hill is boring. Why do people push this in with Mannheim Steamroller? -Ron
ag4@pucc-h (Uncle Jeffer) (10/24/84)
> > There has been a mailing group for Windham Hill fans and fans of > > other types of music in the same vein (Mannheim Steamroller, > > Kitaro, Keith Jarrett, etc.) at UCB for about six months now. > This is getting too bizarre. Keith Jarrett and most of whats on > Windham Hill is boring. Why do people push this in with Mannheim > Steamroller? > -Ron Why no :-), Ron. O.k., so you don't like Windham Hill, at least let other people discuss it. Forgoten where your 'n' key is? I've never flamed before, but while I'm at it, I might as well do it right: Yeah, well Mannheim Steamroller is just as boring as anything Keith Jarret has ever done! So there. -- "Will you stay with me through the cold night, or are you afraid of the Ice?" Jeff Lewis vvvvvvvvvvvv {decvax|ucbvax|allegra|seismo|harpo|teklabs|ihnp4}!pur-ee!lewie ^^^^^^^^^^^^ P.S. I happen to like both Mannheim and Jarret, but don't tell anyone or they'll point out that my previous statement doesn't say anything!
rlr@pyuxd.UUCP (Rich Rosen) (10/26/84)
>>> There has been a mailing group for Windham Hill fans and fans of >>> other types of music in the same vein (Mannheim Steamroller, >>> Kitaro, Keith Jarrett, etc.) at UCB for about six months now. [???] >> This is getting too bizarre. Keith Jarrett and most of whats on Windham Hill >> is boring. Why do people push this in with Mannheim Steamroller? -- ------ [RON NATALIE] > O.k., so you don't like Windham Hill, at least let > other people discuss it. Forgoten where your 'n' key is? I've never > flamed before, but while I'm at it, I might as well do it right: > > Yeah, well Mannheim Steamroller is just as boring as anything Keith > Jarret has ever done! So there. [JEFF LEWIS] And people accuse ME of pontificating????? (No offense, Jeff, I understand the spirit in which you intended your article.) -- BRIAN: "No, you've got it all wrong! You don't have to follow me! You don't have to follow ANYONE! You've got to think for yourselves! You are all individuals!" CROWD: "YES, WE ARE ALL INDIVIDUALS!" Rich Rosen pyuxd!rlr
jsmcginn@uok.UUCP (10/29/84)
I used to work in a print shop and we always used the 'p' as a short for 'published'. It's mainly used when copyrighted material is published at a later date (e.g. >c< 1983, >p< 1984); however, some publishers will use both 'p' and 'c' even if both the dates are the same. j