There are select albums that you’ll look past only to realise that they’re magnificent and amongst the greatest albums you’ve ever had the pleasure of hearing. George Winston’s Autumn is one such record.

Released in 1980, Autumn is Winston’s second studio album of piano solos inspired, naturally, by the season that adorns the album title. There’s a new age meets ambient feel to the album with a touch of folk mixed in for good measure. The result is an addictively good album that you’ll find yourself playing on repeat for hours on end. 

Despite being reissued in 2001 with a bonus track, the lossless Apple Music stream maintains the core seven-track album sans the song Too Much Between Us. I’m incredibly grateful for this decision as I strongly prefer the original tracking. Don’t get me wrong, some additional tunes are most certainly worthy of listening to, but in most cases, they should be compiled separately. Too Much Between Us, however, is not available to stream at all on Apple Music. Having checked it out on YouTube I can say with certainty that its inclusion would significantly change the flow of Autumn; a shift that very well could limit the album’s appeal. Look, it’s a beautiful tune in its own right, I just don’t feel that it fits with this album or its fluid nature.

Some may lament the basic album artwork but I feel it works well with the music. Seriously, as you listen, consider the artwork in relation to the performance. I’ve no doubt you’ll see the correlation as the beautifully spacious outdoor scene is clearly represented in the soundstage as all notes are crystal clear ensuring this is one of the most beautiful instrumental albums you’re ever likely to hear. While the lossless edition heard on Apple Music is the CD equivalent, from a mastering perspective, it offers a solid reproduction that is thoroughly enjoyable. However, I would love to see a (Hi-Res) Lossless Apple Digital Master of the album become available for I feel there is a little more emotion to be extracted from the original recording as this reproduction can sound a little sterile. Given the album was released in the analog era, I can only imagine how magnificent it would sound on vinyl. While it hasn’t been reissued in decades, if I come across a good quality second-hand version, at an appropriate price, I may just have to pick it up. Until then, however, the Apple Music stream is more than adequate, with a tad of equalisation applied for subjective taste.

Colors / Dance is beautifully subtle, setting the tone for the entire album. While the album’s title foretells the imagery one can expect on this release, Winston’s playing and spacing between notes reflect a slower, yet still playful, pace that could be associated with the transition of the season. It’s simply magnificent!

Woods is one of those compositions that make you sit up and take notice. With two distinct styles contained within a single piece, Woods becomes the sum of its parts. I mention that as it isn’t often that an artist can combine and cross-pollinate a concept with such smoothness. Subsequently, this is one of my favourite songs from Autumn.

Longing / Love is a bit of a slow burn, but as the introduction fades to memory, Longing / Love quickly becomes the greatest song on the album. It is the fluidity that grips me every time I hear it for I am in no way a Pianist, but like the air guitar influences in rock and roll tunes, Winston’s playing allows me to pretend I too could play this piece. It is this connection to the music that is where the composer, performer, and listener intertwine in what can only be classed as an experience.

Road has a lovely slow waltz about it. For me, it resembles the long road of seasonal change; if we’re sticking to the theme of the album that is! Whichever way you choose to interpret Road, you’ll find it to be a lovely piano solo. 

Moon is simply stunning. It’s compositions such as this that make me wonder why I don’t appreciate more piano-based works and I can only suggest that it is the player, not the instrument, that is the differentiator. Subsequently, it takes a master musician to meet that expectation and Winston certainly falls into that category.

Sea is perilous, yet uplifting and again is subjectively interpretable. I can only imagine that everyone will listen to Sea, and the entire album, with a different perspective and while in some ways I wish to know what those interpretations are, I also don’t wish for it to cloud my own. A double-edged sword, certainly, but one that we have to deal with when we choose to share our musical experiences.

Stars is a gorgeous contemplative closer. You’ll be able to picture the night sky of autumn within the music but most importantly you’ll feel compelled to play the album again for regardless of season, Autumn is an experience in and of itself.

While some people adore the piano, my enjoyment as the listener is attained via the pianist. Some are precise, beyond a fault, but are unlistenable for the instrument can often come across as being too shrill. Thankfully, Winston makes the piano sing as only he can, ensuring his delicate and precise playing reaches into my soul and doesn’t let go for the entire runtime of Autumn.