The inventive musical genius of Elliot Lawrence has been responsible for a great many new and exciting sounds. ‘Winds On Velvet’ is one of these innovations. Here, Elliot has captured the rich, full-bodied velvet texture of violins and cellos in a lush setting, aided by a sparkling rhythm section and contrasted by the fascinating solo voices of wind instruments – the tenor and alto saxes, clarinet, flute, English horn, oboe – and trombone. The result is unusually fine creations in sound – striking, unique, highly expressive and above all, stimulating listening. The fresh, lively talent includes the free-wheeling tenor of Zoot Sims winding its way through a Gipsy Love Song; the conceptual strength of Hal McKusick’s alto painting a Design For Autumn; Andy Fitzgerald’s sensitive clarinet, inspired by The Shrine Of St. Cecilia; Stan Webb swirling through an Azure Mist and Night Serenade with the captivating tonal colors of the English horn and oboe; the tantalizing, sensuous Trombolero, starring Urbie Green’s trombone; and the frenetic flute of Al Howard caught in the spell of Macumba – each molds his own individual style into these skillful Elliot Lawrence arrangements of ‘Winds On Velvet.’