Bozeman Magazine

Renowned pianist George Winston will perform a benefit concert in support of Hopa Mountain. This solo piano benefit concert will feature melodic folk piano songs from his recordings, Vince Guaraldi’s “Peanuts” pieces, and songs inspired by the New Orleans R&B piano tradition and the Harlem stride piano tradition. George Winston grew up mainly in Montana and spent his later formative years in Mississippi and Florida. During this time, his favorite music was instrumental rock and instrumental R&B, including Floyd Cramer, the Ventures, Booker T & The MG’s, Jimmy Smith, and many more. In 1971 he switched to the acoustic piano after hearing recordings from the 1920s and the 1930s by the legendary stride pianists Thomas “Fats” Waller and the late Teddy Wilson. In addition to working on stride piano, he also at this time came up with his own style of melodic instrumental music on solo piano, called folk piano. Tickets are $24 per person. They can be purchased in advance at Cactus Records (online and in the store) and at the door. George Winston will also be holding a food drive for the Gallatin Valley Food Bank before the concert. Non-perishable food will be collected at the door. All tickets will be sold through Cactus Records until the day of the concert. Hopa Mountain invests in rural and tribal citizen leaders who are improving education, ecological health, and economic development (www.hopamountain.org).