February 28, 2026 — Listening To Liz Story
- Lucian@going2paris.net
- Feb 28
- 1 min read
Today I’ve been listening to pianist Liz Story. Very Zen. Similar to George Winston. Which led me to asking Google for a comparison:
Liz Story and George Winston, both iconic Windham Hill Recordspianists from the 1980s new-age era, are frequently compared for their solo piano styles. Story is recognized for a more technical, jazz-influenced, and structured approach, while Winston is renowned for a folksy, impressionistic, and melodic style.
Key Comparisons:
Musical Style: Liz Story blends jazz (inspired by Bill Evans) with classical influences, creating dense, structured, and "elevated" pieces. George Winston is known for a simpler"folksy", and nature-inspired melodic approach.
Technique: Critics often consider Story’s work more technically accomplished, with a "scrupulous sense of compositional unity". Winston’s style is more impressionistic and atmospheric.
Background & Career: Story, signed by William Ackerman in 1983, released ten albums including jazz standards. Winston achieved massive success with albums like December.
Similarities: Both are pillars of the New Age/Windham Hill genre, focusing on melodic piano solos that evoke specific moods or seasons.
While some listeners might prefer the melodic simplicity of Winston, others might lean toward the, at times, more complex, jazz-based compositions of Story.
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