Windham Hill Founder Will Ackerman's Songs of Reflection: The Echoes Interview
In the beginning, there was Will Ackerman. The guitarist and founder of Windham Hill Records launched a movement in 1976. He created a new wave in music that brought new acoustic instrumental music into the mainstream. It was 50 years ago that he founded Windham Hill Records with his debut album. We profiled Will and Windham Hill earlier this year. Today, I talk to will about his new album, Home, and a state of mind where the end is much closer than the beginning.
Will Ackerman: I feel the clock ticking, you know. I mean I’m not gonna be here forever. and it’s not as if I need to pour something out, but if I’m utterly connected to it, if I feel that I’m really expressing whatever is in my heart, then I’m doing what I’m supposed to do.
John Diliberto talks to him about this Autumnal recording on Echoes from PRX.
Hear our 50th Anniversary Feature on Windham Hill Records & Will Ackerman
| Start Time | Running Time | Artist | Song Title | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday, Oct 12, 2026 – Program 2641A | ||||
| First Half Hour | ||||
| 0:01:00 | 5:27 | Will Ackerman | The Five Sisters | Home |
| 0:06:00 | 7:02 | Ulrich Schnauss | A Forgotten Birthday | A Long Way To Fall |
| 0:12:33 | 4:45 | Francis Mann | Rain | Aquarius |
| 0:17:05 | 2:59 | Beck | Disappearing Act | Ride Lonesome |
| 0:19:57 | 4:12 | Tim Farrell | Ray of Sunshine | Hidden Treasure |
| 0:23:57 | 4:26 | Perfume Genius | Natural High | Natural High (Single) |
| 0:29:30 | :30 | Michael Hewett | Gold (Live on Echoes) (excerpt) | Victoria Place – Echoes Live 23 |
| Second Half Hour | ||||
| 0:30:00 | 14:00 | Interview: Will Ackerman | ||
| 0:44:54 | 6:51 | Will Ackerman | Snow’s Stone | Home |
| 0:51:18 | 5:54 | Agnes Obel | Blood so Red | The Meaning of Flowers |
| 0:59:00 | 1:00 | Felsman & Tiley | Seeker (excerpt) | Protomensch |
| Third Half Hour | ||||
| 1:01:00 | 6:00 | Michael Rother | Quiet Dancing | Dreaming |
| 1:06:00 | 2:13 | Joanne Shenandoah | Kahawi’Tha | Matriarch_ Iroquois Women’s Songs |
| 1:08:37 | 3:14 | Hammock | On the Tips of a Thousand Grasses | Across The Horizon Vol. 2 |
| 1:11:41 | 5:17 | Rena Jones | Photosynthesis (Youth’s Iridescent Syntheserya Ambient remix) | Photosynthesis (EP) |
| 1:16:53 | 2:45 | Sherry Finzer | Within the Mossy Shroud | Clear Blue Sky – Solo Flute Soundscapes Vol 1 |
| 1:19:13 | 4:52 | Mark Isham | A More Beautiful Question | At the Carousel Club |
| 1:23:56 | 4:54 | Locust | White Light (feat. Olive Kimoto) | Spectral+ |
| 1:29:30 | 0:30 | Jim Kimo West & Michael Whalen | Malibu Breeze (excerpt) | Two Shores |
| Fourth Half Hour | ||||
| 1:30:00 | 4:57 | Encounters & Bluetech | Whisper (Air Mix) | Whisper (Single) |
| 1:34:43 | 3:27 | Bonobo | Shokoufeh | Distance in Static |
| 1:37:55 | 3:51 | Shekina Rose | Angelic Soul Calling | Angelic Soul Calling (Single) |
| 1:41:35 | 3:55 | Agnes Obel | The Meaning of Flowers | The Meaning of Flowers |
| 1:45:25 | 0:45 | break | ||
| 1:46:09 | 2:59 | Deepspace | Atlas Minor – ORMENOS V | The Atlas Sector |
| 1:49:02 | 3:25 | Bill Nelson | Thoughts Sail South On Silver Strings | Magical Thinking |
| 1:52:16 | 3:47 | Kaskade & BUNT | Comes Back Around | Origin |
| 1:55:47 | 1:37 | Michael Nyman | The Heart Asks Pleasure First | The Piano |