Philip Aaberg
Philip Aaberg | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 8, 1949 Havre, Montana, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Pianist, composer |
| Years active | 1963–present |
| Known for | Solo piano recordings on Windham Hill Records, chamber jazz performances |
Philip Aaberg (born April 8, 1949) is a distinguished American pianist and composer who achieved global acclaim through his acclaimed piano recordings released by Windham Hill Records. With a foundation in classical training, Aaberg integrates elements of classical, jazz, bluegrass, rock, and contemporary music within his compositions. Although predominantly recognized for his solo piano performances, he is also highly regarded in the chamber jazz arena, celebrated for his precise technique, eclectic inspirations, and vibrant musical expression.
Early life
Aaberg was born in Havre, Montana and grew up in Chester, Montana, where he began performing publicly by the age of 14. He was awarded a Leonard Bernstein Scholarship to pursue music studies at Harvard University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. Following his education, he relocated to Oakland, California, where he played in blues venues and toured with Elvin Bishop's Group during its height of success. Notably, Aaberg co-authored the title track of their 1976 album Struttin' My Stuff, which featured Bishop’s hit single "Fooled Around and Fell in Love," with Aaberg performing on piano.
Windham Hill years
In 1985, Aaberg joined Windham Hill Records and launched his solo career with the album High Plains. He subsequently released seven additional albums including Out of the Frame (1988), Upright (1989), and Cinema (1992). Over two decades, he was a frequent contributor to Windham Hill Sampler compilations and participated in various collaborative projects.
His performance credits include appearances with the Boston Pops Orchestra and participation at the Marlboro Chamber Music Festival. As a guest musician, he has contributed to over 200 recordings and appeared on PBS's All-American Jazz series, which garnered him an Emmy Award nomination. His touring experience includes collaborations with artists such as Peter Gabriel and Tom Johnston of the Doobie Brothers.
Sweetgrass Music years
In 2000, Aaberg and his wife Patty established Sweetgrass Music, a label dedicated to creating music that bridges audiences worldwide with the Western American landscape. Among the notable albums released are Field Notes (2000), the Grammy-nominated Live from Montana (2000), Christmas (2002), Blue West (2005), and High Plains Christmas (2013). His compositions consistently evoke Montana’s agricultural heritage, ranching lifestyle, and indigenous traditions through a unique keyboard approach.
Beyond recording, Aaberg produces the public radio series "Of the West: Creativity and Sense of Place." He has been honored with the Montana Governor's Award for the Arts as well as the Montana Arts Council Innovator Award in 2011. His musical score for "Class C: The Only Game in Town" earned a regional Emmy nomination. Together with his wife, he manages Sweetgrass Music alongside operating the Great Northern Bed and Breakfast, the Westland Suite, and The Bin recording studio.
Discography
Solo recordings
- 1985 High Plains
- 1988 Out of the Frame
- 1989 Upright
- 1992 Cinema
- 2000 Field Notes
- 2000 Live from Montana
- 2002 Christmas
- 2005 Blue West
- 2013 High Plains Christmas
- 2015 From the Ground Up
- 2017 Versatile
Collaborations
- 1986 The Shape of the Land (with Michael Hedges and William Ackerman)
- 1987 Morning Walk (with Metamora)
- 1990 Meridian (with Bernie Krause)
- 1998 A Christmas Heritage (with New Grange)
- 1999 New Grange (with New Grange)
- 2001 Tasting the Wine Country (with the Mike Marshall Quintet)
- 2008 CrossTime (with Darol Anger)
- 2009 Three Part Invention (with Tracy Silverman and Eugene Friesen)
- 2010 Raven (with Kristina Stykos)
- 2012 Tuli Wamu with Kinobe
- 2013 Montana Wild Cats with Jack Walrath and
- 2014 Tone Poems Live with Steve Hunter
Guest appearances
- Numerous contributions to Windham Hill compilations and special projects from 1985 through 2015, including seasonal collections, piano anthologies, meditation albums, and anniversary editions.
See also
External links
- Official website
- Philip Aaberg Performance featured on the 11th and Grant series by Montana PBS
- Interview conducted by Fred Pfeiffer (YouTube)
- Short description with empty Wikidata description
- Articles without Wikidata item
- 1949 births
- Living people
- Chamber jazz pianists
- Harvard College alumni
- Musicians from Montana
- New-age pianists
- Windham Hill Records artists
- People from Havre, Montana
- People from Chester, Montana
- 20th-century American pianists
- 21st-century American pianists
- 20th-century American male musicians
- 21st-century American male musicians
- Favored Nations artists
- American male jazz pianists