Perhaps it is called "Summer" because it is George Winston's warmest collection of songs. Whatever the reason, it is also his best. Combining teriffic cover material like "Corrina Corrina" with some of his best ever original songs, "Summer" is the best place to start for the new fan and a must own for long time fans. Like most Winston albums, this one mostly features just George and his piano. And few play it better than him. Right from the catchy opening track "Living in the Country," it will get under your skin. An outstanding album for anyone who likes new age music.

Of the well known new age pianists, George Winston is master of the solo piano. He claims Fats Waller and Teddy Wilson as his major influences, but I also hear Meade Lux Lewis, George Shearing, and Floyd Cramer influences. This is music to sit back and relax by. Outstanding in my mind were:

1: A Day in the Country...a Pete Seeger song
2&3: Loreta and Desiree's Bouquet--Parts 1&2...
4: Fragrant Fields...I notice Winston has composed several soundtracks for adaptations of children's stories...this is from one of them.
5: The Garden...interpretation of music from the original THE OUTER LIMITS episode, "The Guests".
7: Lullaby
9: Hummingbird...effective evocation of the hummingbird's fluttering wings and darting movements.
13: Corrina, Corrina...fun filled and spritely traditional song.

In the early 1980's Winston recordings came in such a high quality batch-- "Autumn", "December" and "Winter into Spring" all appeared within a few years of each other-- that I allowed myself to wonder (and wish?) if Winston would prove to be an endless source of thoughtful, moving, and unbelievably atmospheric solo piano music for years and years to come. As it turns out, he didn't. The 1998 "All the Seasons" compilation is a "miss" for longtime fans as very little that is new appears on the disc and for new listeners as well due to the edited (always shortened) nature of the tracks. In not a single case is the shortened version better than the original appearance. Likewise, 1994's "Forest" clocked in at under 46:00 and, surprisingly for its length but not for its heavy use of other composer's material, wasn't as tightly bound and focussed as any of the wonderful breakthroughs of the early 1980's and left far less of an overall impression. In between the glorious start of the early 1980's and the unwinding of recent years was 1991's "Summer". Count me among the Winston listeners (and fans!) who feel as if "Summer" is the disc where everything fell into absolutely perfect place. Top to bottom the songlist is exceptionally solid. The arranged "covers" are very well chosen and cohesively presented and among Winston's own offerings "Loreta and Desiree's Bouquet", "Hummingbird", and "Where Are You Now" are easily among his very best and most beautiful. At over 57:00 this is not only a near hour's worth of the best efforts of George Winston but of ANY musician in the "New Age" genre. Actually, you can forget for a moment the tag "New Age" and simply recognize that this recording can stand admirably on its own independent of any label. If you are new to George Winston and looking to these posts to determine which discs to pick up first my sincere recommendation would be to buy "December" as soon as you can if it is the holiday season and "Summer" immediately-- regardless of the time of year. Good luck!

What beautiful solo piano music! I find myself always giving George Winston reviews five stars, but they are honestly and well deservingly earned. Summer is no exception! I have most all of Winson's albums, but Summer and December are my favorites (I agree with another reviewer). It provokes such heart warming thoughts of summertime for me and is very stirring in emotion. I love that Winston allows the listener the freedom to interject his/her own feelings with each song. The entire cd is wonderful, but my favorites are:

#1Living in the Country - great way to start the cd off. Lively.

#2 and #3 Loreta & Desiree's Bouquet- Parts 1 & 2 is absolutely beautiful,

#7 Lullaby is really beautiful (makes me think of my nephew and all the summer fun that awaits us as he grows),

#10 Early Morning Range has a sentimentality attached for me,

#13 Corrina, Corrina is upbeat, fun and really makes you wanna air play piano and,

#15 Where Are You Now is very thought provoking and remenisicent of bygone summer days.

You'll not regret purchasing this cd! As with all of G W's music, I enjoy this year round. Of course, I do look forward to summer with this particular cd. The music can draw you into a very meditative state. It is very relaxing and fills my heart with the joys of summer......morning coffee with the rising of the summer sun, afternoons in the hammock reading , lemonade under the backyard shadetree, flower & vegetable gardening, picnics, lightning bugs, and late night dips in the pool. Ahh, what a great way to listen to summer!

Just received this in the mail today, and I am so glad I ordered it. I was looking for relaxing music, and what I got was so much more. The Black Stallion track was a wonderful suprise! I am a huge fan of the movie, and was delighted to hear that beautiful song again. (It's the song that plays at the end of the movie during the credits). If you have a passion for music, and need something to help you relax, this is a fabulous cd. It is calming, uplifting, and moving. Everything I was looking for!!!!!!