Prog Keyboard Maestro Tim Morse Releases Long-Awaited Second Album ‘Faithscience’ Featuring David Ragsdale of Kansas

Prog music aficionados across the planet are beaming with excitement over the second CD release by keyboard master Tim Morse. ‘Faithscience’ is the long awaited follow-up to Tim’s debut album ‘Transformation’, featuring a guest appearance by legendary David Ragsdale of Kansas. Tim spent two years working with different musicians (including Ragsdale), writing, arranging, and recording until he’d conjured up what he’d been hearing in his head. The music on ‘Faithscience’ is in keeping with the grand tradition of progressive rock, painting a large musical landscape to express universal lyrical ideas.

Says Tim, “’Faithscience’ started out as a concept album based on the life of Charles Lindbergh. I’d read A. Scott Berg’s book on him and was fascinated by the arc of his life. He was not simply a pilot who managed to make the first solo crossing of the Atlantic. It seemed that I could write about the things I wanted to say using that as the template. However, as I worked on the project it started to drift away from the initial vision, but the listener could certainly find the threads of it if they wished. The song ‘Voyager’ is the one piece that is still definitely about Lindbergh and his voyage. The finished album is a less specific statement, reflecting someone who was rooted in science, but over the course of his lifetime and a series of events becomes transformed into a spiritual seeker.”

Tim Morse began his formal musical training at an early age and started composing immediately upon picking up the guitar. He later moved onto the piano and studied as a music composition major, writing extended pieces such as a string quartet and two piano sonatas. Through the years Tim has performed with various rock and fusion bands and played on many recording sessions. He has also collaborated on some music with YES vocal legend Jon Anderson. Tim is also a published author and his book ‘Yesstories’ has sold over 20,000 copies worldwide. His latest book ‘Classic Rock Stories’ was published by the St. Martin’s Press and was recently featured on the Howard Stern show. Tim continues to write for music magazines such as Mix, Guitar World, Vintage Guitar, Keyboard and Bass Player. Tim’s musical influences are diverse, yet one artist in particular has made an significant impact on him, keyboard legend David Sancious. Others include the likes of YES, Genesis, Kate Bush, Weather Report, Bjork, Jethro Tull, The Beatles, XTC, Pat Metheny, Keith Jarrett and Kevin Gilbert.

Tim’s first album of original music titled ‘Transformation’ garnered rave reviews and critical acclaim worldwide. To realize his vision Tim enlisted Mark Dean to co-write and produce the project to completion. Mark proved to be an ideal choice as he performed many of the instruments in his virtuosic style. ‘Transformation’ was recognized as an original voice, in the tradition of bands such as YES and Genesis, yet recorded and performed with a modern edge.

Which leads us to Tim’s latest release ‘Faithscience’ on AEP records. The music on ‘Faithscience’ continues where ‘Transformation’ left off, exploring the best of progressive rock. As the producer of the project Tim was able to get some of his favorite musicians to participate including Jerry Jennings on guitar and David Ragsdale on violin. Tim explains how he enlisted David Ragsdale to the project, “I had written the song ‘Rome’ – about our collective poor stewardship of this world and how we’ve seen the high water mark of the empire – and I knew I wanted a violin solo at the end. However, I didn’t know of a local violinist who could pull it off (the solo in 13/4). Right around that time a friend and I went to see the band Kansas perform and I was blown away by David Ragsdale – I thought, There’s the kind of player I need for ‘Rome’. So I found his website the next day, inquired about the fee and got him to do the session. He asked me if I had any directions for him and I told him, ‘No, just play whatever you like.’ Of course he played a brilliant solo on the song, it’s definitely one of my favorite moments on the album.”

Tim adds, “’Faithscience’ has been an enormous project to complete, especially as I was the producer and the artist on this album. It was recorded in four separate studios with a cast of musicians over a long period of time. When it comes to arranging I’m hearing very specific things in my head, but I always give the musicians room to put their stamp on the music as well. Most of my composing comes out of improvisation, I’ll be playing away at the piano and something will come out of that – it is always a lovely, magical moment. I find that lyric writing can sometimes be similar, where the words flow out in a stream of consciousness style and then again sometimes you have to wrestle with them a bit to finish a song.”

Here’s what the press have been raving about Tim Morse’s ‘Faithscience’:

“’Faithscience’ is a brilliant record that exudes musical and lyrical quality from beginning to end. Tim Morse deserves to make it into the mainstream, as he is surely one of the greats of the genre.” – John Bollenberg, IO Pages

“Those looking for something that will satisfy their craving for classic prog, but also deliver it in a modern manner would be well advised to seek this CD out.” – Peter Pardo, Sea Of Tranquility

“For a summery of Morse’s instrumental and compositional talents, check out the whimsically playful ‘The Last Wave’, a 10-minute crazy quilt of shifting styles and tempos dominated by powerful blasts of symphonic prog.” – John Collinge, Progression Magazine

“A progressive rock tour-de-force of a record worthy of your attention.” – Anil Prasad, Innerviews

In addition to the release of ‘Faithscience’, Tim continues to perform with Parallels (YES tribute), After The Beatles and the Jerry Jennings band. He is in the process of putting together a new band with Bret Bingham to perform original music. Plans are currently in the works for a new album release, and some live performances by the new ensemble later this year!

To purchase Tim Morse ‘Faithscience’ CD:
CD Baby: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/timmorse
Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Faithscience-Tim-Morse/dp/B0097RESJG/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1364666423&sr=1-1&keywords=tim+morse

Source: www.timmorse.com