Paul Winter

Callings is one of new age's iconic albums. It's also proof that the animal kingdom's favorite genre is smooth jazz. Winter spent three years traveling the world recording the sounds of whales, seals and dolphins. He then wove the field recordings into a batch of jazzy compositions that also feature sax, guitar, choir, organ and more. Sure, the idea sounds hokey, but Winter's love for these animals is so pure, so heartfelt, it really feels as if he's carrying on a dialog with nature.