(August 2024) Episode 594 is WILLIAM ACKERMAN. As the founder of the Windham Hill label, Ackerman played a big role in popularizing New Age music (the pastoral side of it). As I mentioned in the George Winston episode, I had a Windham Hill phase in the 1980s, which included Ackerman’s guitar offerings, but hadn’t visited the stuff in decades. Ackerman’s work embodies the duality of New Age music: it can be beautiful and relax and transport you, but it can also be cloying and vapid. As an example of the former, his song “Visiting” takes me to a happy place as it reminds me of the High Sierra backcountry hikes I did as a youth. Ackerman’s earlier recordings are more spare, showing his guitar skills. The later works add lushness and layers of instrumentation more typical of what you’d expect from a New Age playlist.
Favorite album: Childhood and Memory
Favorite song: Visiting
Compared to expectations: same
Recommendation: As an acoustic guitar guy, I enjoyed returning to his work more than to Winston. I recommend the first 5 or so albums, for the reason mentioned above.
Opus Project 