Windham Hill Records is the story of a music company that began as a labor of love on a shoestring budget and soon evolved into one of the world's most distinctive record labels. In anticipation of its 30th anniversary in 2006, the label will be releasing a four CD collection, A Quiet Revolution: 30 Years of Windham Hill. Housed inside the evocative package is an overview of a historic musical movement brought alive by a colorful roster of innovative musicians. Each disc on the Sony Legacy collection titled Elements, Peace, Artistry and Excursions respectively, showcases classic compositions by stalwarts Will Ackerman, George Winston, Liz Story and Michael Hedges, as well as songs from newer members of the Windham family such as Jim Brickman, Janis Ian, Snuffy Walden and Cesaria Evora. A Quiet Revolution: 30 Years of Windham Hill is released on November 8th.
The set kicks off with Will Ackerman's The Bricklayer's Beautiful Daughter - the first track from the first Windham Hill release from 1976, In Search of the Turtle's Navel. Subsequent releases expanded upon the musical "statement" and it soon became clear that Windham Hill had introduced a "new" and cohesive musical sensibility. Windham Hill artists created aural compositions that effectively weaved together the sound of acoustic, instrumental, folk, pop and jazz music. Maverick musicians such as Will Ackerman, George Winston, Michael Hedges, Liz Story and Philip Aaberg became indelibly associated with the sound of the new age - a sound characterized by pastoral ambiences introspective melodies and immaculate song craft.
30 years on, Windham Hill remains the reference standard for a genre of music. The label's new motto for this banner year and beyond is "Windham Hill-In Tune With Your Life" - a sentiment that pays tribute to the label's legacy and carries its spirit into the future. Windham Hill will steadfastly continue to release projects by respected and innovative artists.
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