Will Ackerman (Windham Hill) Exclusively Debuts 'Flow' with Billboard

Legendary Windham Hill Records founder and producer Will Ackerman has combined with a group of extraordinary instrumentalists to create a new quartet: FLOW. The group's self-titled debut album will be released on all formats via LMB Music on October 6, 2017. The first track Free Ascent premieres today with Billboard.

FLOW has emerged from Imaginary Road Studios, the longtime creative home base of maverick businessman, Grammy® winning producer and acoustic guitarist Will Ackerman. An arbiter of acoustic excellence for the past 25 years, Ackerman has produced more than 25 Gold and Platinum selling records.

Musicians come to Imaginary Road Studios to absent themselves from modern life while they're creating and to partake in the legacy of Windham Hill Records.
Ackerman founded the iconic new age label in the late '70s. The music produced from Windham Hill defined a powerful yet peaceful sonic aesthetic that continues to influence decades after its launch.

That influence extends into a truly new age with FLOW - a new four-piece ensemble comprised of Ackerman and Australian pianist/vocalist Fiona Joy, acoustic guitarist Lawrence Blatt and flugelhorn virtuoso Jeff Oster.

Born out of long term friendships with a history of playing together, FLOW is not only an unusual anagram of their names (Fiona, Lawrence, Oster, Will) but also reflects the foursome's seamless organic vibe, and the graceful ease with which each of the album's eleven tracks streams into the next.

It was Lawrence's passion for jazz fusion that actually sparked the idea of an ensemble. "The inspiration comes from Chick Corea's classic 70's all-star band Return To Forever with Stanley Clarke and Al Di Meola, who joined forces, wrote music and produced a sound that was more powerful than any of their individual works," he says. "That was the idea, bringing great musicians together with this kind of concept," Blatt adds. "When I started thinking about who it might be, my thoughts turned naturally to Jeff and Fiona. We got together at my place in San Francisco,....We knew pretty quickly that this was going to develop into something. We talked with Will and previewed some of the ideas we were working on. His involvement as a producer and then, when invited as a full-fledged member was a natural outgrowth of the process we started in my home."

Fiona Joy adds, "Music has its own power. It can touch people, give solace, heal. All we can do is offer the music to our audience and hope there is something positive they can take from it."

No one would argue that modern life today is more stressful than ever. Despite all the conveniences and luxuries available to many, actual quality of life and relationships have not evolved as swiftly. Speaking to this point, Oster commented, "Certainly, now more than ever, peaceful breathing and listening is deeply important. It's not only New Age music, it is EVERY AGE music! Timeless in that it speaks to something we all desire. Ease. A deep breath. A smile. Happiness. A bottle of wine, some cheese, a blanket, all with your love, a quiet night in the darkness listening. That is what this music is, those places are where it lives and belongs. New Age music for ALL ages."

The pure acoustic sounds of FLOW can be a balm that soothes the spirit and restores the soul. FLOW offers a moment to relax and reflect, express gratitude and acknowledge grace.

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