Lawyers of Oregon

Winter Light

Reviews

Rating: 1 / 5
Date: 2009-08-05
Summary: "Disgusting Horride Despicable Sound Quality"

$40 for an import Japanese Jazz disk that is unlistenable, a total rip off. This is a loudness war victim (google 'loudness war' if you don't know what it is). There is an inordinate amount of distortion and clipping, and nearly zero dynamics in parts. This is totally unacceptable for a jazz disk, let alone a $40 jazz disk. The imprint is "Another Side of Jazz" from MSI Music Distribution, so they are the ones to blame for this fiasco. Avoid this disk, I know I wish I would have.

EDIT: I just noticed they put this review in the 1990 cd edition. It is only meant for the 2003 Japanese import remaster. The 1990 cd edition sounds very good, and I would give that version 4.5 stars. There is no distortion or clipping, and it is suitable for critical listening.

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Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2008-01-26
Summary: "Transport to a Better Place"

This is Oregon at their best. An exquisite, almost perfect album of brilliantly played instrumental music, including the best cover ever of Jim Pepper's Witchi-Tai-To. Is it jazz? classical? ambient? It transcends all categories and reaches into the stuff inside that makes you you. Even the cover art is moving and evocative. A classic, iconic, beautiful album.

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Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2007-05-28
Summary: "Oregon at their Best"

This recording from 1974 from the original core band members is just wonderful and flawless. The pieces are risky melodically, beautifully performed by all member's at the peak of their musicianship. The band members communicate flluently with each other. Oregon, at this point in time, was an acoustic instrument only intramental band. They play with the influences from Ravi Shankar to The Modern Jazz Quartet as well as being ahead of their time. This is New Age music before New Age music existed!
A bit darker than most of the band's releases (Distant Hills, Music of Another Present Era), this is the record I always come back to. Excellent spin!

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Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2005-11-25
Summary: "Oh...Come on..can't believe this hasn't been reviewed!"

OK.....I first heard this album ( not the CD) in the 1970"s when a great guitar making and playing friend in Chicago bought it for me. ( Hi Ed!) The first track hooks you and the rest follows suit. The sound is jazz-like but no big band or quartet tight ensemble here. Flute w guitar, wonderful soft but present percussion ( much more than I am able to describe ), synchopated and unsynchopated rhythm, that creates a sound native to no country. If you have a long commute, this music will stimulate yet relax the spirit and sharpen the mind. Enjoy ! Enjoy !

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Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2005-03-28
Summary: "Desert Island Album"

I first bought this album, on vinyl, in late 1975 or early 1976 - because I liked the cover. Knew nothing about the music. From the first spin, it was magic - and is no less so over the years. The music has a depth and complexity that rewards repeated listening with new revelations each time. 30 years of repeated listening. It has all the ineffable mystery, natural spirit, and grace of the Northwest coast. If I were stranded on a desert island, and could take only one record with me, Winter Light is it.