Altitude is a wonderful solo piano album by pianist/composer Simon Templeton. The theme of the album is flight, and the eight original tracks range from warm and dreamy to more buoyant and energetic. Born in Canada and raised in Northern Ireland, where he still lives, Simon was encouraged as a student to be open to all genres of music (I LOVE that!), and I'm sure that has had a major influence on his ability to create a distinctive musical style of his own. That doesn't mean his music is really "out there" - I just don't think he sounds like anyone else! Warm and very expressive, Simon's music takes the listener on a journey to places in the imagination that are sometimes bright and vibrant, sometimes quieter and more serene, and sometimes somewhere in between. This isn't Simon's first recording of his original music, but it's the first one I've heard and I am beyond impressed as well as deeply moved by this album.

Altitude begins with "In Flight," a piece that suggests the easy grace of a bird enjoying the wind currents while being carried effortlessly through the air. The changing tempo expresses feelings of freedom as well as of trusting where the wind currents of life will take us - a beautiful beginning that grabbed my attention the first time I heard it. "Imaginings" are often flights of fancy and "what ifs." This gentle piece is played mostly in the upper octaves of the piano, giving it a lightness, while the fluid tempo moves at much the same pace as daydreams. "Distance" is one of the slower, more open pieces, gracefully weaving together a series of related themes and then trailing off at the end. "Cloud Shadows" is a bit darker and more mysterious. As I write this, I'm also watching clouds rolling in from the ocean - slowly and freely yet very determined - and this piece is the perfect soundtrack for what I'm seeing. "Altitude 1" is bright and lively with the right hand dancing joyfully in the upper octaves of the piano while the left hand adds some weight at the lower end. "Altitude 2" is quite different with its easy, playful walking tempo counter-balanced with powerful left hand chords and octaves. "Finite" has more of a ballad style with a strong melody that could support meaningful lyrics, but the piano says more than words ever could. The mood is deeply pensive - something of a wordless soliloquy where someone is being completely open and honest. As much as I like all of the tracks on this album, I think this is my favorite. The album comes to a close with "Butterfly," an expression of the beauty and grace of these delicate creatures. The left hand captures the changing rhythms of a butterfly's wings in flight as well as while perched on a flower or a shrub while the right hand is lighter and more fancy-free.

It's not often that I feel more refreshed after writing a review than I did when I started, but I do with Altitude! What a breath of musical fresh air! Currently, the album is available on Bandcamp only (in the US, anyway). I'll add more links if they become available. There are also several videos of Simon Templeton's music on YouTube - and not just the music from this album. I give Altitude my highest recommendation!