I was at Will Ackerman's Imaginary Road studio last week. What an experience! Brattleboro, the town closest to Will, is the epitome of Quaint - beautifully restored storefronts downtown. Many vibrant little eateries, and cozy, disorganized used bookstores. I met Will in a bright coffee shop. We hadn't seen each other before but we immediately recognized each other. Will is warm and approachable.  He talks just as easily about his good times as he does his bad. I was very surprised at how grounded and positive he is considering the challenges he has lived through. It's clear that out of his pain Will has developed a profound wisdom that allows him to acclimate to whatever life circumstances the wind blows his way. His upbeat, yet realistic life-view was very refreshing. After lunch Will took me back to the famous studio. We drove out of town and straight up the side of a mountain. Up, up, up and then a turn into his driveway and there was a small village of clapboard buildings all built by Will from the towering local trees, which Will also felled himself. The air was still as we approached the studio building, not a human sound apart from Will and I. Once inside the studio the stillness intensified. We were alone, and minus the engineer, producer, musicians the soundproof inner world of the studio was almost sepulchral. Will suggested that I try out the piano, and I happily obliged - although I was quite nervous for the first time under the  discerning gaze of Will the producer. The piano lived up to expectations, and as I started to feel comfortable the instrument and I began working more as a team. After a little improvising my trip was done, and I drove back down the mountain, back into town. Satisfied, excited, nervous. This was the dress rehearsal, and opening night can't come soon enough...