WHS C-1015 Windham Hill Artists – Windham Hill Records Sampler ’81

Review

Terrific compilation from the first fourteen Windham Hill Releases – or more specifically, nine of the first fourteen. By 1981, the musical direction of the label was crystal clear, with an emphasis on acoustic instrumental music. The blues/R&B party album by Kidd Afrika, the upbeat folk/pop of Linda Waterfall, and the vocal poems from Robbie Basho’s “Visions of the Country” would all remain footnotes from the label’s formation.

What remains is an excellent overview – missing only a track from Ackerman’s just released “Passage” or the essential “Impending Death of the Virgin Spirit.” The preponderance of solo guitar work is balanced by one long solo piano piece on each side – Bill Quist’s “3 Gymnopedies” on the first, and George Winston’s “Moon” on the second. This is also a master class in the subtle differences in styles of finger-picking guitarists, giving the listener a variety of techniques and tones – from the classically-tinged style of David Qualey, through the intensely soulful playing of Robbie Basho to Will Ackerman’s and de Grassi’s developing styles.

Sampler ’81 is well worth picking up; it’s a great overview of the early Windham Hill style, and some of the cuts are from the Qualey, Hecht and Basho albums which are hard to find and often collected only by completists.

Comments

Share your thoughts, memories or experiences with this album using the comments field at the bottom of this post.

Track Listing

Side One

• Bricklayer’s Beautiful Daughter 3:38
• William Ackerman
• It Takes a Year WH 1003
• Windham Hill Music BMI

• Santa Cruz 2:09
• David Qualey
• Soliloquy WH-1011
• Glenwood Music Corp. ASCAP
• Produced by David Qualey

• 3 Gymnopedies 7:46
• Bill Quist
• The Piano Solos of Erik Satie WH-1008
• Composition in Public Domain

• Children’s Dance 2:38
• Alex de Grassi
• Turning: Turning Back WH-1004
• Windham Hill Music BMI

• Variations on Clair De Lune 3:36
• Robbie Basho
• Art of the Steel String Guitar LL-83
• Windham Hill Music BMI

Side Two

• Moon 7:44
• George Winston
• Autumn WH-1012
• Windham Hill Music BMI

• Sleeping Lady 5:17
• Alex de Grassi
• Slow Circle WH-1009
• Windham Hill Music BMI

• Autumn 3:27
• Daniel Hecht
• Willow WH-1013
• Windham Hill Music BMI

• Seattle 3:30
• William Ackerman
• Childhood and Memory WH-1006
• Windham Hill Music BMI

• Produced by William Ackerman Except Where Indicated
• ©(p) Windham Hill Records 1981

Samples

In addition to the original artists’ performances below, you’ll note two excellent cover versions of the de Grassi and Ackerman tracks. De Grassi and Ackerman are good about sharing their tunings, and YouTube hosts dozens of performers who have learned the songs and uploaded their performances. It’s great to see that so many people who are touched by this music learn it and pass it on.

Bricklayer’s Beautiful Daugher – Ackerman

Santa Cruz – Qualey

3 Gymnopedies – Quist/Satie

Children’s Dance – de Grassi (cover version, but masterfully done)

Seattle – Ackerman (cover version)

Credits

• Originally Mastered by David Kulka, LRS, Burbank, CA
• Cover Photo by Frans Lanting
• Design by Anne Ackerman

• Manufactured by Windham Hill Records
• Box 9388, Stanford, CA 94305