Returning CD

As the founder of Windham Hill Records, Will Ackerman has--in his activities as a producer and businessman--been one of the key figures in the enormous commercial success of New Age music (though Ackerman himself reportedly despises the term). Ackerman started out as a guitarist, however, and though his recordings have been somewhat overshadowed by Windham Hill superstars like George Winston, he has been releasing albums of richly textured acoustic guitar music since the early 1970s.

RETURNING is a compilation that gives a broad overview of Ackerman's musical journey, gathering select compositions written between 1970 and 2004. Interestingly, Ackerman has re-recorded many of the previously released songs, so the album is unified in its crisp, contemporary production. An instrumentalist of wonderful sensitivity, Ackerman's highly evocative compositions float between major and minor keys, between spare, ambient coloring and deft melodic passages. While soothing and beautiful, Ackerman's music is never dull, and his smart writing and strong attack keep the whole thing from becoming flowery or sentimental. RETURNING is an excellent place to start exploring the musical contributions of a man who has influenced the direction of contemporary music in so many ways.Dirty Linen (p.46) - "[Ackerman] composes beautiful music of timeless character."