Keyboardist Couchenour releases a collection of solo piano songs

‘Quiet Canvas’ is designed to inspire listeners’ creativity, Jim Couchenour said.

THE VINDICATOR

YOUNGSTOWN — Jim Couchenour has released his second solo CD, “Quiet Canvas,” a mostly instrumental collection of solo piano songs that he penned. Couchenour, who is also the keyboardist for Youngstown-based jazz-fusion band SounDoctrine, adds his own vocals on two of the 19 songs.

Couchenour said he conceived “Quiet Canvas” with a twofold purpose. One was to offer listeners a stream of music that would encourage them to explore their own creativity. The other was to provide a recording that would provide a subtle ambience for day-to-day activities.

“I’ve had these songs in my ‘vault’ for a long time, and it’s great to finally make them available,” said the Columbiana native. “I really hope this music encourages people to pursue and develop their God-given gifts and talents. We’re all endowed in one way or another.”

Couchenour will play selections from the new album, as well as songs from his previous release, Friday evening at Borders Bookstore in Niles.

The project, which took six months, was recorded in Couchenour’s basement studio. Jere B of SounDoctrine was co-producer and released the CD on the band’s Niayana Recordings label.

The hardest part of making the album was whittling it down to a workable number of songs. Couchenour had a whopping 80 songs on the table.

“Jere B and I had quite a few discussions about which songs and how many to include on this recording,” said Couchenour. “In the end he persuaded me to include these 19 songs that seem to flow together very well as you listen from the beginning to the end. But there’s no doubt, we’ll create a Volume II to create a consistent brand.”

Many of the songs were written early in the morning — the time of day when Couchenour feels most inspired.

One title, “6:03 AM,” was composed at that exact time.

“KC Moonbeam” was written in honor of his daughter Jamie, who was born near Kansas City in 1986.

The country-tinged “Come on Home” was co-written by Couchenour and his wife, Lynette. “We watched the movie ‘The Notebook,’ and it really spoke to us about the love relationship between a husband and wife,” said Couchenour. “We both brought our ideas and concepts together and ended up with this composition. We wanted to capture the heart and emotions of a husband recalling the special times his wife would say ‘come on home.’”

Jere B said he will promote this song to Nashville artists while marketing most of “Quiet Canvas” to movie producers looking for emotionally based music.

“Quiet Canvas” is available at Heaven on Earth Bookstore in Boardman, Barnes & Noble, Borders Books & Music and online at CD Baby.com. A Web site is in development at quietcanvas.com.