The 2 Styles of New Age Piano Playing

The first style made popular by George Winstonsound is different.
introduces a more percussive "hard" sound. CreatedAs an example, look at the piece "Rainforest." It is a
mostly be a left-hand ostinato, this style is verypercussive piece made up of a left-hand ostinato
chord-oriented and paints a background of texturespattern. Now the piece "Ocean Dreams" is softer
while the right-hand is free to improvise a melody.with the melody actually taking center stage.
The reason that I say this style is a hard soundingIt's a good idea to familiarize yourself with both
one is that when compared with someone like Davidstyles. When I first started playing, I identified mostly
Lanz, the difference is readily apparent.with the "Winston" style but find myself leaning more
Lanz goes for a softer, more melodic approach. Thistowards a softer style now. I really like the pianist
isn't to say that either of these artists has neverJohn Herberman off of the Solitude's label. His playing
played in different ways, it's just that their signatureis exquisite and very emotional.