Pianist, composer and educator Eddie Gripper's album, Americana, is shaped by a six-week hitchhiking journey from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, the northernmost town in the United States, to Los Angeles, California.

Featuring Patrick Barrett-Donlon (drums) and Clem Saynor (double bass), the album brings together seven original compositions and a single cover, Paul Simon's 'American Tune'. In summer 2022, armed with a tent and manuscript paper, Gripper and his childhood friend Henry travelled more than 8,000 kilometres down the west coast of North America, from the Arctic Circle through Alaska and Canada to the western United States. Along the way, Gripper sketched over thirty musical fragments, fleeting impressions and fully formed compositions that became the foundation of the album.

The opening track, 'Third Beach', captures rare stillness after weeks in the wilderness, while 'So Long, Oregon' reflects a near- missed reunion with a close friend. 'Dana' conveys the awe and vulnerability of standing high in Yosemite and 'One for the Road' honours loved ones whose memory accompanied the journey. 'Terminus' evokes the quiet melancholy of returning home. The closing 'American Tune' serves as a reflective summation of hope and disillusionment.