Danielson Famile Album Review:
Paul Winter: Silver Solstice -- in surround sound at 2006-01-01
I was surprised (though I suppose I should not be) by the reviewer who panned this album because he was expecting a video DVD of the concert and only got the music with still photos from the DVD disc. This is probably a symptom of the record industrys failure to market a single surround sound music format that everyone can understand. So, lets make this clear, the bonus DVD with this album is a DVD-AUDIO title that gives you high definition surround sound. And, if you have a surround sound system set up to play it properly, it sounds magnificent. I have heard Paul Winters Winter Solstice concerts in New Yorks Cathedral of St. John the Divine several times over the years. The immense spaces of this cathedral (literally, the worlds largest gothic-style church), combined with Paul Winters inspired use of the acoustics for his music always makes for an impressive experience. While Winter has recorded in the cathedral before (several tracks of the album Canyon, for example), the recordings have always been in regular two channel stereo, which cannot really convey the experience of actually being in the space itself. When I heard that this latest album contained a surround mix, I was eager to see how Paul and his engineer Dixon Van Winkle had coped with the challenges inherent in recording in this huge space. For one thing, a recording is a different experience than a live concert; just trying to duplicate the church acoustics would not likely be satisfactory for someone listening at home, and there are all sorts of decisions to make about balances, tonal quality, how much of the church acoustics to include without smothering the direct sound of the instruments, etc.I am happy to report that Dixon Van Winkle has done a brilliant job on this project; it is simply the best surround sound mix I have yet heard. You have the sense of really being there, but the balances are always close to ideal (something very hard to achieve in a live concert). Interestingly, it is the quiet, subtle moments that seem to benefit most from the surround mix (such as the beginning of Belly of the Whale, where you sense the sea washing around you as the whales are heard singing from behind)--the listener is drawn in to the experience to a degree that ordinary stereo cannot achieve. Ultimately, the success of any music album rises or falls on the music. If you like Paul Winters music, you will like this CD plus DVD-Audio set very much. If you are not familiar with his music but like great surround sound, you could do worse than to check this title out. And if you cant stand Paul Winters music--well, bah, humbug to you too!Highly recommended.
Danielson Famile Album Review:
Grey Solstice-DVD RipOff at 2005-12-27
I was very disappointed in this CD/DVD of the 25th Anniversary Winter Solstice Celebration. The CDs are very good. But the DVD is a HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT. I was expecting to see the concert recording on the DVD, this was not the case. The DVD consisted of music and still life shots of the concert, which I feel was a rip off to fans of Paul Winter Consort. Why couldnt they have added the recording...I purchased this for my Christmas Eve celebration with the expectation of viewing the concert at St John the Divine, instead I got photographs. BIG RIPOFF. HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT. I did not expect this from the Paul Winter Consort group, I thought they were above ripping off their fans, but I guess not.


Danielson Famile Album Editorial:
For the last 25 years Paul Winter has been performing winter solstice shows in the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. By and large this is where he has stretched his music working with virtuoso players from across the musical spectrum but especially world music. Irish piper Davey Spillane and singer Nóirín ní Riain Armenian percussionist Arto Tuncboyaciyan Brazilian guitarist Oscar Castro-Neves and the Russian Dmitri Pokrovsky Singers join the Winter Consort in songs that tap a different spirit in the winter season. The cathedral facilitates an embracing aura so that Spillanes uilleann pipe lament on Dawnwalker segues into Tuncboyaciyans mournful hymn Before Its Too Late as if they were the same piece. Perhaps a lament taps the same spirit in any language or culture be it Irish or Armenian. Besides all the global themes theres quintessential Consort classical-folk-jazz like the Winter-penned Harvest Faire where his soprano dances in the cathedral eaves amidst Spillanes pipes and the Balkan-based rhythms. Most of iSilver Solstice is drawn from the 2004 performance but there are some previously recorded renditions here and several songs had previous incarnations on the limited-edition release of iSolstice Gems. So to longtime Winter fans this may seem like a glorified greatest-hits collection. But that limited-edition release is now out of print making iSilver Solstice the definitive document of this annual event. In addition to the two main discs there is also a DVD-Audio disc with 5.1 surround mixes that puts you in the middle of the cathedral. John Diliberto


Danielson Famile Album Editorial:
Since 1980 the Grammy (R) Award-winning Paul Winter Consort has celebrated the Winter Solstice the seasonal rite of passage with a musical feast from the cornucopia of cultures and creatures of the world at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York. To commemorate their 25th Annual Winter Solstice Celebration Living Music has released a new box-set entitled Silver Solstice featuring the Consort and a host of special guests. Silver Solstice presents the entire performance of the 25th celebration plus 10 tracks from previous years solstice events totaling 142 minutes of music. The package includes 2 stereo CDs and also a Surround Sound option on one bonus DVD-Audio disc - the first time Paul Winters music has been recorded in 5.1 Surround Sound. The goal was to put the listener onstage in the middle of the musicians in the center of the worlds largest Gothic cathedral. Winter says the audiophile recordings may be the best presentation of our music ever. PSilver Solstice embraces the musical traditions of many cultures and includes voices from what Winter calls the greater symphony of the Earth - whale wolf and uirapurú (the musical wren of the Amazon rainforest.) During four decades of travel in 48 countries of the world Winter has evolved an extended community of kindred players and the Solstice Celebration in New York has become their annual reunion. This embrace of diversity is for Winter the hallmark of the solstice tradition. Silver Solstice reflects this eclecticism with special guests including gospel singer Theresa Thomason Brazilian diva Luciana Souza sean nos (old style) Celtic singer Noirin Ni Riain Armenian singer and percussionist Arto Tuncboyaciyan Brazilian guitarist Oscar Castro-Neves Irish Uillean piper Davy Spillane Grateful Dead percussionist Mickey Hart mbira master Chris Berry and the nine-voice Dmitri Pokrovsky Ensemble from Russia.

Danielson Famile Album Review:
Free Your Mind at 2002-11-06
The Danielson Famile provides perhaps the most innovative, unique approach to song-writing and execution in the last 20 years. With the fervor of the Oblivans, they run head-first into songs without the pretense of production or market appeal.Make no mistake, this is religious music in the truest sense.While A Prayer... is the least refined of their recordings, it doesnt lack what makes their music infectious and joyful.Listen once... then promise to listen 10 more times before giving up on them.
Danielson Famile Album Review:
LISTEN AT YOUR OWN RISK! at 2002-10-28
this is DEFINITELY the WEIRDEST band youll EVER hear!!! remember all of those times your mom (who cant hit a decent note to save her life) was being silly and sang in a high pitched mouse voice to make you laugh as a kid? well thats how Dan here sings EVERY song!!!! whoo......the music at times is listenable, other times out of key, and Totally OFF! the music here should be purchased ONLY for fun, and to laugh! You HAVE been warned!! LISTEN AT YOUR OWN RISK!....Its a funny cd, thats why I gave it 2 stars! for some weird reason I like this band and find their music a barrel of laughs!