Pianist Phil Cook is a quietly pivotal figure in modern American music, known for his subtle yet transformative contributions to some of the past decade’s most vital folk, indie, and gospel records. Whether it is the spirited piano solo on Hiss Golden Messenger’s Day O Day, the inclusive melody of Bon Iver’s AUTAC, or his work with artists like The War on Drugs, The Blind Boys of Alabama, and the Indigo Girls, Cook has shaped the sound of countless artists with his soulful, understated touch.In early 2020, Cook paused his relentless touring duties with others, intent on focusing on how all his experiences and erudition could fit into his own songs. He found a cabin in the North Carolina mountains, began leaving his windowsill slightly cracked each night, and recorded tangled bird songs. With the sun finally high, Cook would listen to the day’s recordings and improvise in real time on the instrument that remains the first and most steadfast love of his musical life: the piano.
In his new album Appalachia Borealis—a deeply poignant and personal set of 11 piano meditations inspired by his windowsill improvisations—Cook reflects not only the turmoil and sadness of a fraught time, but also the hope, light, and joy of looking for the other side. You can sometimes still hear the birds whose tune and time helped to inspire so many of these songs.
Even when they are not within earshot, their essence remains: that is, to rise and meet the day best you can, no matter how uncertain and strange the moment may seem.
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501 E 9th St, Little Rock, AR, United States, Arkansas 72202
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