Night Divides the Day: The Music of the Doors

Full Title: Night Divides The Day: The Music Of The Doors.
This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.
Solo Performer: George Winston (piano).
Producers: George Winston, Howard Johnston, Cathy Econom.
Includes liner notes by George Winston.
NIGHT DIVIDES THE DAY was nominated for the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album.
It may come as something of a surprise to those who think of pianist George Winston only as the doyen of acoustic, meditative New Age music, but this chill-out pioneer started out as a rabid Doors fan. As a youth in the '60s, Winston was struck by the musical sophistication of the group's work. Keyboardist Ray Manzarek particularly intrigued the young organ enthusiast. So 35-odd years later, Winston temporarily laid aside his contemplative mood pieces to record this tribute to the band that influenced him so deeply.
There are no radical changes (other than the absence of a band) made to the songs. Winston has too much respect for these tunes to turn them into muzak wallpaper. He simply plays them on piano pretty much as they were written, sometimes even mimicking Manzarek's solos. The songs tackled here are a mixture of well-known classics ("Love Me Two Times," "Light My Fire") and less iconic but equally fine selections ("My Wild Love," "Spanish Caravan").