Acoustic Pianist George Winston at SOPAC

Master pianist, George Winston is performing at the South Orange Performing Arts Center on December 2 at 8:00 p.m.

Self-described "rural folk piano" player George Winston was among the earliest and most successful advocates of contemporary instrumental music later dubbed New Age. Since 1980, Winston has released ten solo piano albums. In 2001, Winston released a six song CD of piano and harmonica solos, Remembrance - A Memorial Benefit to benefit those affected by 9/11.

Inspired by the seasons and topographies, George Winston's concerts feature a variety of styles including melodic folk piano, New Orleans R&B piano, and stride piano. This concert will feature his Winter Show, which will include melodic fall and winter type songs, some of Vince Guaraldi's Peanuts pieces, pieces inspired by the New Orleans piano and the stride piano traditions, and songs from his most recent albums.

George Winston mainly grew up in Montana but also spent his later formative years in Mississippi and Florida, gaining a sense of Southern soul and sound. Inspired by R&B, Jazz, Blues and Rock, Winston began playing organ in 1967. In 1971, he switched to acoustic piano after hearing recordings from the 1920s and the 1930s by the legendary stride pianists Thomas "Fats" Waller and Teddy Wilson.

George Winston conceived his own style of melodic instrumental music on solo piano, called folk piano. Since 1972, Winston has released thirteen solo piano albums, and his latest releases are Love Will Come -The Music Of Vince Guaraldi Vol 2 (2010), Gulf Coast Blues & Impressions 2 - A Louisiana Wetlands Benefit (2012), and Spring Carousel - A Cancer Research Benefit (2015).

Don't miss this remarkable performance by George Winston at SOPAC DEC 2 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $28-$38 and can be purchased online at SOPACnow.org, or by calling the box office at (973) 313-2787.

Please join George Winston and SOPAC in support of a local food bank by bringing a donation of canned food to the concert. There will be collection baskets in the SOPAC lobby the evening of the performance.

SOPAC programs are made possible in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

The South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) is a 501(c)(3)charitable organization.
SOPAC received funding through a grant from the NJ Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism, visitnj.org.

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