Common Ground http://www.fishpond.co.nz/Music/Common-Ground-Paul-Winter-Consort/0075021334427

Artist: Paul Winter Consort

• Personnel: Paul Winter (vocals, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, harmonium); Paul Winter Consort (vocals, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, harmonium); John Guth (vocals, guitar, 12-string guitar, steel guitar); Jim Scott (vocals, guitar); Paul McCandless (vocals, flute, oboe, English horn); Michael Holmes (vocals, Fender Rhodes piano); Janet Johnson , Susan Osborn (vocals, background vocals); Regina Werneck, Ida, Cruz Baca, Paul Berliner (vocals); Oscar Castro-Neves (guitar, classical guitar, Fender Rhodes piano, organ); Robert Chappell (tamboura, organ, Moog synthesizer, drums); David Darling (cello, electric cello); Warren Bernhardt (piano); Bill Cahn (drums, steel drum); Steve Gadd (drums, surdo); Laudir DeOliveira (congas, cowbells, shaker, triangle, wood block, chimes); Michael Blair (cymbals, bells); Steve Horelick (cymbals).
  
• Audio Remixers: David Greene; Dixon Van Winkle.
  
• Liner Note Author: Peter Barry Chowka.
  
• Recording information: A&M Recording Studios, Hollywood CA; Electric Lady Studios, New York NY; Electric Lady Studios, NY, NY; Longview Farms, N. Brookfield; Longview Farms, North Brookfield, MA; Soundmixers, New York NY; Soundmixers, NY, NY; The Village Barn, Meanderland, New England By The Fedco; Village Barn, Meanderland.
  
• Illustrator: Edward Kasper.
  
• Photographer: Tom Huffman.
  
• Translators: Fodeba Keita; Ivan Lins; Michael Holmes; Ronaldo Monteiro de Souza; John Guth; Paul Winter ; Susan Osborn.
  
• Unknown Contributor Roles: David Darling; Steve Horelick; Dixon Van Winkle; Paul Winter ; Steve Gadd .
  
• Arrangers: Jim Scott ; Oscar Castro-Neves; Paul Berliner; Paul McCandless; Paul Winter ; Paul Winter Consort; Ralph Towner.
  
• For this late '80s release, Paul Winter combines nature effects with an assortment of musical styles. There are elements of jazz here; Winter has never fully abandoned his roots, after all. Yet the saxophonist's extensive use of world and folk music casts this release in a different light.
  
• COMMON GROUND uses music to describe the earth's bio-diversity. "Ocean Dream" features whalesong recorded off the coast of Canada. Other tracks such as "Eagle" and "Trio" see Winter using his soprano saxophone to emulate birds and sea mammals respectively. Winter also mimics wolves quite poignantly on the jazzy ballad "Wolf Eyes." These intimate and meditative pieces stand in contrast to the decidedly less cryptic vocal selections. The title track, for example, is a slick pop tune that could be construed as a singalong. The folksy "Midnight (Minuit)" has lilting rhythms and a contagious melody. COMMON GROUND closes with "Trilogy," a composition that mixes whale sounds with howling wolves and Winter's own saxophone. This release encourages a deep spiritual connection (and conversation) between humans, animals, and nature.