Phil Aaberg obit

Montana pianist Phil Aaberg dies after being hospitalized for pneumonia

 He was not on the list.

MISSOULA, Mont. — Nationally renowned pianist Phil Aaberg has died at the age of 77 years old.

Aaberg's family confirmed his death on social media, saying he passed away Saturday evening surrounded by loved ones.

The Montana musician had been admitted to the ICU in Minneapolis due to health complications related to pneumonia and chemotherapy treatments.

He was born and raised in the small town of Chester.

Aaberg was a Grammy and Emmy-nominated composer as well as a producer.

He gained international recognition through a series of successful piano recordings released on Windham Hill Records. Although classically trained, Aaberg incorporates classical, jazz, bluegrass, rock, and new music elements into his compositions and musical structures. Although best known for his solo piano work, he is most at home in the chamber jazz genre. His compositions are noted for their "rigorous keyboard technique, diverse influences, and colorful compositional style.

Aaberg was born in Havre, Montana, in 1949, and raised in Chester, Montana. By the age of 14, he was performing with local bands at dances. Aaberg won a Leonard Bernstein Scholarship to study music at Harvard. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in music from Harvard, he moved to Oakland, California and played in blues clubs for several years. He also toured and recorded as a member of Elvin Bishop's Group at the time of its greatest popularity, and co-wrote the title song of the band's 1976 Struttin' My Stuff release, an album which also included Bishop's biggest hit, "Fooled Around and Fell in Love," featuring Aaberg on piano.

In 1985, Aaberg signed a recording contract with Windham Hill Records and released a solo album titled High Plains. He followed this up with three more solo albums: Out of the Frame (1988), Upright (1989), Cinema (1992). Aaberg also appeared regularly on the Windham Hill Sampler albums over the past 20 years and has had success in various collaborations and ensemble projects.

Aaberg has performed with the Boston Pops Orchestra and has appeared at the Marlboro Chamber Music Festival. As a guest artist, he has performed on over 200 albums and on PBS's All-American Jazz program, which earned him an Emmy Award nomination. He has appeared with Peter Gabriel and Tom Johnston of the Doobie Brothers in concert.