This year marks the 50th anniversary of since the release of guitarist Will Ackerman‘s first record, In Search of the Turtle’s Navel, and the beginning of the now legendary Windham Hill Records label. Having just release a new album called Home, Will shares that he can hardly believe that he is still making music a half a century later, and whether you’ve been along the ride from the beginning or a latecomer to his charmingly oneiric musical world, you will no doubt agree it is a joyful occasion.
True to the title, all the pieces on Home are rooted in the landscape around Ackerman’s home in Vermont and in the people, places and memories that have shaped his life there over the years. Central to all of the songs are his trademark open tunings and resonant, mellifluous guitar work which is complemented by an array of guest musicians including Windam Hill alumni such as Michael Manring, Eugene Friesen, and Charlie Bisharat as well collaborators from more recent decades including Tom Eaton, who also produced the record, Jeff Oster, Noah Wilding, Jeff Haynes, and Premik Russell Tubbs. The result is an album that sounds refreshingly uplifting and endearingly nostalgic at the same time.
Listeners can enjoy all of the music of Home immediately now that it has been released but according to Will, they can also look forward to learning some of the backstory behind each song over the coming weeks such as the lovely piece “The Five Sisters” featured here. More information can be found on his website and YouTube channel.
Just down the slope of our back yard was a venerable giant of a white pine tree consisting of 5 individual trunks we had named The Five Sisters. Hurricane Irene came roaring through here at about midnight on August 20, 2011. We stood frozen inside the house surrounded by the terrifying sounds of many trees crashing down around us. Lightning flashing every few seconds made it look eerily like an early black and white movie. As all grew quiet again, we peered out the windows through the pouring rain and through a flash of lightning saw that all that was left of the Five sisters was a massive, jagged stump.
Will Ackerman on “The Five Sisters”
Home was released August 18, 2026. The album was produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by Tom Eaton and features cover photography by Anthony St. James.
Links: Listen/Buy | ‘Home’ on Bandcamp | Will Ackerman website
