His process will transfix and awe.

Arner is an intense, introspective pianist who methodically constructs sound portraits of shattering dimensions

[on Live from the Center].  He submerges himself into four lengthy pieces, the first of which begins with the aid of piano string musings, space and silence and then rumbles to hurricane strength as he uses an accelerated delivery and the pedals to sustain the moment.  He is a demonstrative player, alternating between a delicate touch and highly percussive attack to establish mood shifts that swerve at right angles without notice.  Arner’s penchant for changing the tempo and vibrato of his improvisations stamps his playing.  He pauses to contemplate a pastoral thought and then thunders ahead in bullish fashion to transform the ambiance back and forth between quiet to overpowering.

The performance was captured live and is an instantly-composed example of an artist baring his soul through his excitable execution.  He gives the impression of being an extremely deep thinker who projects his vibrant emotions in surges of energy offset by a retreat into an inner world of pensive solitude.  Inspiration comes in waves of light where he creates a sober scenario or a heavy, sunless sky filled with threatening rain clouds.  As the free improvisations segue through his complex mind maze, his sound images are emphatically implanted in mesmerizing fashion.  The closing “Opus 52” features staccato stabs that rise to high energy levels with single notes clustered together in jabbing segments of vitality.  Arner is a discerning musician who retreats inwardly to project his obsessions externally.  His process will transfix and awe.

Frank Rubolino, reprinted with permission, ©Cadence Magazine March 2006