The music of environmentalist / musician Paul Winter and his five-member Paul Winter Consort has often been referred to as unique; the Altoona native features recorded animal voices ranging from whales and timberwolves in his group's albums.

At 8 p.m. Thursday in Eisenhower Auditorium the Paul Winter Consort will perform compositions from albums Earth Beat, Canyon, Whales Alive, and the soon-to-be released, Earth, Voices of a Planet.

"Most people would tell you it's very New Age and less jazz," said Dan Yoder, associate professor in the music department. "It's a mixture of jazz and New Age. It's relaxing and enjoyable."

Winter's use of animal sounds is effective in creating that atmosphere, Yoder said. There are not many groups quite like the Paul Winter Consort, he added.

Winter, an active environmentalist who supports organizations like Greenpeace, has dedicated his music to spreading the word about environmental issues. He recently returned from Australia, where he performed a series of concerts to benefit diminishing rain forests.

The Paul Winter Consort has performed throughout the United States, Latin America and Japan. The Apollo 15 mission took Winter's music to the moon and named two craters after songs from the album Road.

Winter has been writing and performing his unique style of music for more than 25 years. He performs on the vernal and autumnal equinoxes, and for his album Canyon, he traveled along the Grand Canyon, recording in various natural "amphitheaters." The making of that album was featured in a televised documentary.

Winter has also been featured in People Weekly and Smithsonian magazines, and was nominated for a Grammy in 1988.

Dan Armstrong, associate professor in the music department, played with Paul Winter about 15 years ago. He said Winter is a "very open and patient musician."

"He didn't get into the kind of music he plays to become a commercial success," Armstrong said. His music has an "enduring quality." Armstrong said Winter was well known in the jazz world of the '60s and was invited to play at the White House.

The members of the Paul Winter Consort are Paul Halley, who plays piano and pipe organ; cellist Eugene Friesen, percussionist Glen Velez; award-winning flutist Rhonda Larson and Winter, who plays the soprano saxophone.

Velez is known for his tambourine playing, Armstrong said. "He'll play it in ways you never thought of."

The Consort recorded Earth, Voices of a Planet in honor of the 20th anniversary of Earth Day, April 22.

Jazz musician and University psychology professor Julian Thayer will present a discussion of Winter's music in the Greenroom in Eisenhower at 7 p.m. Thursday.