AmbientMusicGuide.com - William Ackerman

essential releases:
In Search Of The Turtle's Navel (1976, Windham Hill)
Past Light (1983, Windham Hill)
Imaginary Roads (1990, Windham Hill)
A Windham Hill Retrospective (1993, Windham Hill)
Returning (2004, Decca)

Guitarist William Ackerman was the founder of iconic alternative label Windham Hill, a label devoted to mainly new acoustic music. Under his guidance Windham Hill became a heavyweight in the adult alternative music market in the 80’s and 90's, although the quality of its releases blanded out under the ownership of corporate music giant BMG after Ackerman sold his share of the label in 1992.

In its heyday Windham Hill was persistently tagged as new age, but the appeal of Ackerman's best peak period recordings (1976-1990) goes far beyond its undeniable prettiness. It exhibits intelligence and grace and Ackerman’s best music ranks among the finest "new acoustic" music of its era. Along with Leo Kottke, he’s heir to a rich tradition of impressionistic folk guitar instrumentals popularised by American musician John Fahey and you can hear Fahey’s influence everywhere on these records, albeit with consistently better sound quality than much of Fahey's back catalogue.

The debut album In Search Of The Turtle's Navel is a purely solo guitar record and still a favourite among fans. Past Light and Imaginary Roads are his best ensemble albums and feature support on some tracks from various sidemen and Windham Hill stable mates like trumpeter/synthesist Mark Isham and guitarist Michael Hedges. Ackerman’s frequent use of alternative tunings and his clean, chiming guitar sound make his music very distinctive and his instinct for beauty (“A Region Of Clouds” from Imaginary Roads, for instance) can be breathtaking.

The two compilation albums listed above are also excellent; Retrospective offers some of his best pieces in their originally-recorded form, while Returning is a tasteful collection of new recordings of selected older pieces.

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