It's not uncommon to find transients and other tragic figures camping out over the illustrious names on the tarnished Walk of Fame, and tabloid journalism has made sure we understand that our favorite movie stars are just as normal and dysfunctional as the rest of us. This sets the stage for a journey into the soul of the tinsel town he remembers, from the lights of Western Avenue to the castles of Laurel Canyon, from the Hollywood Hills to Sunset Boulevard. It's rare to find a vocal stylist so willing to forgo the traditional love songs and focus on an autobiographical landscape of the images that matter most, but Winkler's daring leads to his most dazzling musical achievement to date. It's basically an exploration of my childhood growing up in and around Hollywood. I wanted to do something that was all me, a little atypical, taking the listener through the twisted path of the eight neighborhoods I lived in while growing up, trying to understand myself while creating a feel for the city anyone can relate to.
Every song follows a theme, a piece and part of a large musical map.
Hollywood is a real place, but it is also a place in your mind, and I know all about the good and bad. I tried to focus on the good I remember. While Winkler's poetic verbal images paint those wondrous scenarios, and his phrasing has never been sharper, Tales From Hollywood would simply be great literature without the stunning collaborations with some of contemporary jazz's brightest lights. Solos by Freddie Ravel and Sam Riney are also key ingredients in this attractive array. I've felt good about, and other things I haven't felt so comfortable with.