Product Description This collection of piano compositions and improvisations is the first release on Sweetgrass Music by former Windham Hill pianist, Philip Aaberg. From intimate reflections on the writings of Barry Lopez (National Book Award Winner) to the brilliant and emotional interpretation of the folk tune "Sweet Betsy From Pike", this recording is a kaleidoscope of contemporary pianism, with nods to the musical worlds of bluegrass, Keith Jarrett, and John Adams, but with Aabergs very personal and unmistakable imprint. With the exception of the virtuosic and cinematic "Dont Stop Now" (showcased in a 2002 PBS filming of the huge annual Montana Summer Symphony performance), and the heart-breaking "Forgiveness", these are all new pieces. About the Artist A 2002 Grammy Nominee, world-class composer and pianist Philip Aaberg is a musician with incredible range and a boundless, distinctive style. His performances have consistently drawn standing ovations, leaving crowds dazzled by his dynamic, emotional range and captivated by his stunning compositions and between-song repartee. He finds devoted listeners among rock, country, blues, jazz, new age, and classical music fans, and his range of performances includes everything from solo piano concertos with the Boston Pops Orchestra and Latvian National Symphony to appearances with luminaries like Peter Gabriel, Elvin Bishop, John Hiatt, and slide guitar innovator Roy Rogers. Phil has been a guest on over two hundred albums, from multi-million selling pop and country to experimental jazz with bassoonist Paul Hanson. In addition, he was the 1995 recipient of the Governors Award for the Arts, State of Montana, and his performance on PBSs "All-American Jazz" was nominated for an Emmy. He tours with modern bluegrass supergroup NewGrange, and in duos with fiddler Darol Anger and guitarist Roy Rogers. His most recent albums on Sweetgrass Music include "Live From Montana", "Field Notes", "Christmas" and "The Big Open" (to be released).
M**E
all excellent!
We have many Aaberg albums, all excellent!
K**S
from MainlyPiano.com
After several years without a new recording, Philip Aaberg released three new CDs in 2000, with a fourth on the way. The first release of the four is "Field Notes", which has been in the works for many years. Most of the pieces on this album are improvised and quite short - sketches, if you will. They are grouped into three suites called "Field Notes Suite", "To Kill a Mockingbird Suite", and "Big Sky Spinning Suite". It is great to see Phil back in action! One of the best pianists on the planet, "Field Notes" is both a step back to his roots and a step forward with artistic growth as well as the freedom and control of being an independent artist. Complex and challenging, this is not an album that reveals itself the first few times you listen to it. Great music evolves in the listener's mind and soul and this takes time as well as a little patience, but it is always more than worth the effort to make the journey. In this pop, jingle-driven musical world we are currently experiencing, it is such a blessing to find an artist who refuses to budge from his uniqueness and very personal form of expression. This album is a joy, and is one of my favorite albums of 2000.
G**O
Not like earlier Aaberg music
I really enjoyed Aaberg's earlier albums, High Plains and Out of the Frame. High Plains consisted of 12 tracks of solo piano music. Out of the Frame was 12 tracks of similar music accompanied by other instruments. The new age music from both albums seemed to have a folk feel. Some pieces were jovial, others were haunting. Some pieces were powerful, others were quiet. Many of them are reminiscent of the Northern Montana landscape (which is where the artist is from). All of the pieces were great songs.Field Notes, however, falls short compared to those older albums. While the style of the performance is still the same, the musical pieces are much less distinct. The music flows indistinctly from one track to the next, and the powerful feelings that were present in the earlier albums seem blurred together. In the end, the music from this album seems to be a continuous stream of indistinct Aaberg piano music with no single piece standing out.In conclusion, I would recommend fans of new age piano music to try High Plains or Out of the Frame first before trying Field Notes.
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