Philip Aaberg (born April 8, 1949) is an American

pianist A pianist ( , ) is an individual musician who plays the piano. Since most forms of Western music can make use of the piano, pianists have a wide repertoire and a wide variety of styles to choose from, among them traditional classical music, ja ...

and

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Defi ...

. He gained international recognition through a series of successful piano recordings released on Windham Hill Records. Although classically trained, Aaberg incorporates classical,

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

, bluegrass, rock, and new music elements into his compositions and musical structures.. 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."

Early life

Aaberg was born in Havre, Montana, in 1949 and raised in

Chester, Montana Chester is a town in and the county seat of Liberty County, Montana, United States. The population was 847 at the time of both the 2010 and 2020 U.S. Census. History The name “Chester” was chosen by the first telegraph operator here and name ...

. By the age of 14, he was performing with local bands at dances.Ackerman, Will. ''Upright'' by Philip Aaberg. Liner Notes. After receiving his

Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four years ...

degree in music from

Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...

, he moved to

Oakland, California Oakland is the largest city and the county seat of Alameda County, California, United States. A major West Coast of the United States, West Coast port, Oakland is the largest city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, the third ...

and played in blues clubs for several years.Kohanov He also toured and recorded as a member of

Elvin Bishop Elvin Richard Bishop (born October 21, 1942) is an American blues and rock music singer, guitarist, bandleader, and songwriter. An original member of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a membe ...

's Group at the time of its greatest popularity, and co-wrote the title song of the band's 1976 ''Struttin' My Stuff'' release, an album which also included Bishop's biggest hit, "Fooled Around and Fell in Love," featuring Aaberg on piano.

Windham Hill years

In 1985, Aaberg signed a recording contract with Windham Hill Records and released a solo album titled ''High Plains''. He followed this up with seven more solo albums:'' Out of the Frame'' (1988), ''Upright ''(1989), ''Cinema'' (1992). Aaberg also appeared regularly on the Windham Hill Sampler albums over the past 20 years and has had success in various collaborations and ensemble projects. Aaberg has performed with the Boston Pops Orchestra 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 The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...

nomination. He has appeared with

Peter Gabriel Peter Brian Gabriel (born 13 February 1950) is an English musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and activist. He rose to fame as the original lead singer of the progressive rock band Genesis. After leaving Genesis in 1975, he launched ...

and Tom Johnston of the

Doobie Brothers The Doobie Brothers are an American rock band formed in 1970 in San Jose, California, known for their flexibility in performing across numerous genres and their vocal harmonies. Active for five decades, with their greatest success in the 1970s, ...

in concert.

Sweetgrass Music years

In 2000, Aaberg began his own record label with his wife Patty, Sweetgrass Music, through which he has since endeavored to produce music that "connects a global audience to the sweeping landscape of the West." Releases include ''Field Notes'' (2000), ''Live from Montana'' (2000), which received a Grammy nomination, ''Christmas'' (2002), ''Blue West'' (2005), ''High Plains Christmas'' (2013). 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." Philip also produces a public radio program "Of the West: Creativity and Sense of Place". He received a Montana Governor's Award for the Arts and in 2011, received a Montana Arts Council Innovator Award. His score for "Class C: The Only Game in Town" was nominated for a regional Emmy. Philip and his wife, Patty, run Sweetgrass Music, the Great Northern Bed and Breakfast, the Westland Suite, and The Bin (recording studio).

Discography

Solo recordings * 198
Plains''
*198
of the Frame''
* 198
''Upright''
*199
''Cinema''
* 200
Notes''
* 200
''Live from Montana''
* 200

* 200
''Blue West''
*201
Plains Christmas''
* 2015 ''From the Ground Up'' * 201
''Versatile''
Collaborations * 198
Shape-Of-The-Land''The Shape of the Land''
with Michael Hedges and William Ackerman) * 198
Walk''
(with Metamora) * 199
''Meridian''
(with Bernie Krause) *199
Christmas Heritage''
with New Grange) * 199
-NewGrange ''New Grange''
with New Grange) * 200
Tasting-The-Wine-Country''Tasting the Wine Country''
(with the Mike Marshall Quintet) * 200
(with Darol Anger)
* 200
''Three Part Invention'' (with Tracy Silverman and Eugene Friesen)
* 2010 ''Raven'' (with Kristina Stykos) * 201
''Tuli Wamu'' with Kinobe
* 201
Wild Cats''with Jack Walrath and Kelly Roberti
* 2014 ''Tone Poems Live'' with Steve Hunter Guest appearances * 1985 ''Windham Hill Sampler '86'' *198
Autumn-Portrait-''Windham Hill: Autumn Portrait''
*198
Winter's Solstice, Vol. 1''
*198
Solstice-II''A Winter's Solstice, Vol. 2''
*198
Sampler-89 ''Windham Hill Sampler'89''
* 199
''Restore the Shore''
* 199
''Windham Hill: The First Ten Years''
* 199
''Windham Hill Sampler '92''
* 199
''The Impressionists: A Windham Hill Sampler''
* 199
Winter's Solstice, Vol. 4''
(also: co-producer, Track 1) * 199
''Windham Hill Piano Sampler 2''
* 199
''A Winter's Solstice, Vol. 5''
* 199
''Windham Hill: The Romantics''
* 199
''Different Mozart''
* 199
''Redbook Relaxation: Tranquility''
* 199
Relaxers: Daybreak'' * 199
''Redbook Relaxers: Dreamscape''
* 199
''Redbook Relaxers: Romance'' * 199
''Redbook Relaxers: Twilight''
* 199
''Sanctuary: 20 Years of Windham Hill''
* 199
''Candlelight Moments: Meditative Moments''
* 199
''Candlelight Moments: Moonlight Reflections''
* 199
''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) * 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'' * 1999 ''Moonlight Moments'' * 1999 ''Sun Dance: Summer Solstice, Vol. 3'' * 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'' * 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'' * 2002 ''Ansel Adams: Original Soundtrack Recording from the Film by Ric Burns'' * 2002 ''Meditation: Relax'' * 2002 ''Peace of Mind'' (Windham Hill) * 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'' * 2004 ''Relaxation'' (Windham Hill) * 2004 ''Windham Hill America '' * 2004 ''Windham Hill Christmas: I'll Be Home for Christmas'' * 2004 ''Windham Hill Sampler: Winter Wonderland'' * 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'' * 2006 ''Sundown: A Windham Hill Piano Collection'' * 2007 ''True'' * 2008 ''Blue Dreams'' * 2008 ''Meditations'' * 2012 ''The Manhattan Blues Project
'' (Steve Hunter) * 2015 ''Next''

References

External links