Painted Echoes is the extraordinary solo piano debut by Tim Glemser. With all of the piano music I listen to and play, it takes quite a bit to stop me in my tracks and make me say, “Wow!” but this one does it! Glemser has created a collection of thirteen original solos that promises to be one of the stand-out albums of 2012. Recorded at Joe Bongiorno’s Piano Haven Studio, Joe’s legendary Kawai RX-7 grand piano is the perfect instrument for this music.

Glemser has always had a great love for the piano and began taking lessons at twelve, continuing his music studies through a BA in Music from Arizona State University. As a student, he enjoyed learning classical music, but really wanted to play music more like that of George Winston, Michael Jones, and David Lanz so he started composing his own. The influence of those artists can be heard in Glemser’s compositions, but his musical voice is very much his own, telling stories and conveying deep emotions with strong melodies and an expressive playing style.

Painted Echoes begins with “The Amber Field,” a warm and gentle piece with a flowing melody that soothes and invites. “Starland” is a dark, spare, and very haunting lullaby - one of my favorites. The light, carefree “Dance of the Dandelion” expresses the graceful movement of flowers swaying in the breeze. The title track is breathtaking in its delicate, passionate beauty. The melody line is simple, but expresses so much, ending with a hymn-like “amen” - another favorite. “Under the Apple Tree” is a summer daydream set to music - relaxed and completely contented. “Cry of Wind” is quite a bit more dramatic, but more poignant than turbulent - a truly moving cry! More of a concept piece, “Sunrise” depicts the colors and feelings of a daily event most of us experience only occasionally - with any awareness, anyway. It opens with hushed tones that have open space between them, gradually developing a more dramatic and colorful palette that becomes morning - peaceful and full of promise. “Dreamwater” is divided into several sections, each related to but quite different from the others, and each depicting a different “mood” of a large body of water - sometimes peaceful and flowing, sometimes rippling and sparkling, sometimes full of power, and sometimes still. Sheet music??? “Innocence” is the most tender of pieces, conveying the sweetness and also the fragility of childhood innocence from the heart of a loving father. “The Kite” is a lovely ode to freedom and movement. The first section of the piece is slow and tentative - possibly depicting trying to get a kite into the air with several “almosts” before it takes off. Once it successfully launches, the kite’s graceful movements are effortless and whimsical until it is gently brought back to the ground.

Painted Echoes is excellent from the first note to the last! It is available from timglemser.com, Amazon, iTunes, and CD Baby. I give it my highest recommendation.