Philip Aaberg

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Philip Aaberg

Background information
Born 1949 (age 58–59)
Origin Montana, USA
Genre(s) Jazz
Instrumental music
Occupation(s) composer, musician
Instrument(s) piano
Years active 1979–present
Associated acts Will Ackerman, Darol Anger, Michael Hedges

Philip Aaberg is an American jazz keyboardist and composer who gained international recognition through a series of successful piano recordings released on Windham Hill Records. Although classically trained, Aaberg incorporates classical, jazz, blues, bluegrass, rock, and new music elements into his compositions and musical structures.[1] Although best known for his solo piano work, he is most at home in the chamber jazz genre. His compositions are noted for their "rigorous keyboard technique, diverse influences, and colorful compositional style."[2]

Aaberg was born in northern Montana in 1949 and raised in Chester, Montana. By the age of 14 he was performing with local bands at dances in Chester.[3] Aaberg studied music at Harvard University on a Leonard Bernstein scholarship. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in music, he moved to San Francisco and played in blues clubs for several years.[4]

In 1985, Aaberg signed a recording contract with Windham Hill Records and released the highly acclaimed solo album High Plains that showcased his eclectic musical background. He followed this up with five solo albums: Cinema (1992), Field Notes (2000), Live from Montana (2000), which received a Grammy nomination, Christmas (2002), and Blue West (2005). Aaberg also appeared regularly on the popular Windham Hill Sampler albums over the past 20 years and has had success in various collaborations and ensemble projects.[5]

Aaberg has performed with the Boston Pops and has appeared at the Marlboro Chamber Music Festival. As a guest artist, he has performed on over 200 albums and on PBS's All-American Jazz program, which earned him an Emmy Award nomination. He has appeared with Peter Gabriel, Elvin Bishop, and the Doobie Brothers in concert.[6]

In 2000, Aaberg began his own record label, Sweetgrass Music, through which he has since endeavored to produce music that "connects a global audience to the sweeping landscape of the West." Throughout his career, Aaberg has produced music that consistently translated Montana's farms, ranches, and native cultures into "musical concepts" and has "forged a unique keyboard style that paints an audible portrait of his home state."[7]

[edit] Discography

Solo recordings

  • 2005 Blue West
  • 2002 Christmas
  • 2000 Live from Montana
  • 2000 Field Notes
  • 1992 Cinema
  • 1985 High Plains
  • 1980 Upright
  • 1979 Out of the Frame

Collaborations

  • 2001 Tasting The Wine Country (with the Mike Marshall Quintet)
  • 1999 New Grange (with New Grange)
  • 1998 A Christmas Heritage (with New Grange)
  • 1995 A Wild Christmas (with Bernie Krause)
  • 1990 Meridian (with Bernie Krause)
  • 1987 Morning Walk (with Metamora)
  • 1986 The Shape Of The Land (with Michael Hedges and William Ackerman)

Guest appearances

  • 2007 True
  • 2006 Sundown: A Windham Hill Piano Collection
  • 2005 A Quiet Revolution: 30 Years of Windham Hill
  • 2005 A Windham Hill Christmas: The Night Before Christmas
  • 2005 Cinema: A Windham Hill Collection
  • 2005 Essential Winter's Solstice
  • 2005 Heritage
  • 2005 Released
  • 2004 Relaxation (Windham Hill)
  • 2004 Windham Hill America
  • 2004 Windham Hill Christmas: I'll Be Home for Christmas
  • 2004 Windham Hill Sampler: Winter Wonderland
  • 2003 A Windham Hill Christmas, Vol. 2
  • 2003 Adagio: A Windham Hill Collection
  • 2003 Prayer: A Windham Hill Collection
  • 2003 Windham Hill Chill: Ambient Acoustic
  • 2002 Meditation: Relax
  • 2002 Peace of Mind (Windham Hill)
  • 2002 Ansel Adams: Original Soundtrack Recording from the Film by Ric Burns
  • 2001 A Winter's Solstice, Vol. 1: Silver Anniversary Edition
  • 2001 Meditation: Relax Restore and Revive
  • 2001 New Age Moods [BMG Special Products]
  • 2001 Windham Hill Classics: Matters of the Heart
  • 2001 Windows: Windham Hill 25 Years of Piano
  • 2000 Healing Harmony
  • 2000 New Age Christmas [BMG Greeting Card CD]
  • 2000 Redbook: Daybreak
  • 2000 Redbook: Dinner Party
  • 2000 Redbook: Lullabies
  • 2000 Redbook: Piano Reflections
  • 2000 Redbook: Romance
  • 2000 Redbook: Tranquility
  • 2000 Redbook: Twilight
  • 2000 Windham Hill Classics: Harvest
  • 2000 Windham Hill Classics: Journeys
  • 2000 Windham Hill Classics: Persuasion
  • 2000 Windham Hill Classics: Reflections
  • 1999 Moonlight Moments
  • 1999 Sun Dance: Summer Solstice, Vol. 3
  • 1998 Best of New Age (Columbia River)
  • 1998 Moonlight Reflections (BMG Special Products)
  • 1998 Quiet Moods: Meditative Moments
  • 1998 Quiet Moods: Romantic Reflections
  • 1998 Thanksgiving: A Windham Hill Collection
  • 1998 Tones of Christmas
  • 1998 Yoga Zone: Music for Yoga Practice
  • 1997 Candlelight Moments: Meditative Moments
  • 1997 Candlelight Moments: Moonlight Reflections
  • 1997 Candlelight Moments: Serene Sounds
  • 1997 Heritage
  • 1997 Meditation: Restore
  • 1997 Redbook Relaxation: Piano Reflections
  • 1997 Redbook Relaxers: Dinner Party
  • 1997 Redbook Relaxers: Lullabies
  • 1997 Summer Solstice: A Windham Hill Collection
  • 1997 Twilight Jazz (BMG Special Products)
  • 1996 Different Mozart
  • 1996 Redbook Relaxation: Tranquility
  • 1996 Redbook Relaxers: Daybreak
  • 1996 Redbook Relaxers: Dreamscape
  • 1996 Redbook Relaxers: Romance
  • 1996 Redbook Relaxers: Twilight
  • 1996 Sanctuary: 20 Years of Windham Hill
  • 1995 Windham Hill: The Romantics
  • 1995 A Winter's Solstice, Vol. 5
  • 1994 Windham Hill Piano Sampler 2
  • 1994 Windham Hill Sampler '94
  • 1992 The Impressionists: A Windham Hill Sampler
  • 1991 Windham Hill Sampler '92
  • 1990 A Winter's Solstice, Vol. 3
  • 1990 Restore the Shore
  • 1990 Windham Hill: The First Ten Years
  • 1989 Winter's Solstice, Vol. 1
  • 1986 Winter's Solstice, Vol. 2
  • 1985 Windham Hill Sampler '86
  • 1985 Windham Hill Sampler '89
  • 1985 Windham Hill: Autumn Portrait

[edit] References

  1. ^ Sweetgrass Music.
  2. ^ Kohanov, Linda. All Music Guide.
  3. ^ Ackerman, Will. Upright by Phillip Aaberg. Liner Notes.
  4. ^ Kohanov
  5. ^ Kohanov
  6. ^ Kohanov
  7. ^ Sweetgrass Music.

[edit] External links


Persondata
NAME Aaberg, Philip
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Pianist
DATE OF BIRTH 1953
PLACE OF BIRTH Montana, United States
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH
Languages