Album Review: Excursions from Adam Glaser

Album: Excursions
Artist: Adam Glaser
Label: Self-Released
Website: www.adamglaser.com

Audiences have become accustomed to attending virtual meetings.  However, few are acquainted with music being composed virtually.  Pianist-bandleader Adam Glaser's new recording Excursions encapsulates 15 instrumentals, all composed, performed, programmed, and recorded entirely by Glaser using virtual instruments.  His mix of synth-driven electronica, funk-pop, blues, jazz, R&B, and orchestral embellishments make for an upbeat listening experience.

"Con Artist" has an R&B orientation with electrified instrumentation adorned in spiked guitar chords and pulsating synths breathing contemporary idioms.  The exotic chimes accenting "Who Wants Lentil Soup?" are honed into a playful melody that delights the aural senses.  Glaser's manifestations, whether intentional or not, are clad in pleasing aesthetics ignited by the blazing horns tooling "A Little Bit of Your Love" and the serene swells of the piano score tinting "Lay Low."

"Blues for Planet 9" turns the recording to a smooth bluesy shading. fitted with a funky rhythm and canopied in synth-like glitters.  "It Snowed Last Night" is looped in ethereal vibrations twirled in willowy guitar-toned strings and tenderly stroked piano keys.  The dotted notes scrolled by the synths are splayed across "Pursuit No. 1," layered in bright shimmers and jangling beats, creating a dynamic collage. Adding to his diverse repertoire, Glaser partners orchestral trimmings with funky grooves along "Moonshine," negotiating a modern intonation with classic features.

Though the recording is entirely composed using virtual instruments, Glaser's music is tactile, affecting the aural senses instantly.  His versatility to crossover musical styles, fuse them, and negotiate their innate contrasts stirs the listener's attention.  An esteemed leader and composer, Glaser’s works have been performed by over 30 orchestras throughout the U.S. and Canada.  Committed to arts education and community engagement, Glaser is the creator and host of The Composer’s Paintbrush, a series in which he leads audiences through an exploration of the creative techniques behind musical masterworks.  Endowed with the analytical mind of a scientist and the creative impulses of a jazz improviser, Glaser has talent abound.

Musicians:
Adam Glaser - piano