LANZ-SCAPE
Pianist David Lanz Takes Heavy Mellow East of the Moon
Carol Wright, Barnes and Noble, February 2nd, 2000

David Lanz is the kind of guy who can go with the flow. He cut his musical teeth in rock clubs and smoky jazz bars, but the softer side of life beckoned. In the early 1980s, he wrote music for a seminar illustrating the flow of the charkas, and the result was HEARTSOUNDS. It wasn't long before Lanz's heartfelt solo piano music - more romantic than George Winston's -- came to define the New Age solo instrumental style. With guitarist Paul Speer, Lanz created evocative soundtracks for bestselling nature music videos, including the hit single "Behind the Waterfall". CRISTOFORI'S DREAM, an ambitious tribute to the inventor of the piano, was No. 1 on Billboard's New Age chart for 27 consecutive weeks. Lanz's latest album marks his first release for Decca. Recorded with a 35-piece orchestra and some of England's top studio musicians, EAST OF THE MOON toys playfully with mythological themes and addresses the promise of a world at peace. Lanz talked about his music with B&N's new age editor Carol Wright.

B&N: You're known for your solo piano music, but EAST OF THE MOON features top studio musicians and an orchestra, recorded in England, no less.

David Lanz: I am a total Anglophile, always have been, ever since I listened to The Beatles. I've even recorded a tribute to the English music scene on SONGS FROM AN ENGLISH GARDEN. After my move to the Decca label, my manager talked to the legendary English producer Hugh Padgham, who said he was interested in producing my next album. Hugh has produced albums by the likes of Sting and Melissa Etheridge, but he had never produced an all-instrumental album. He was intrigued with my piano demo, and I saw the opportunity to record in London. Hugh enlisted Sting's longtime guitarist, Dominic Miller, and together, they filled out the band with their favorite musicians. I started out playing rock 'n' roll, so it was like heaven to play with those guys.

For "World at Peace," Hugh pulled together a 35-piece orchestra and insisted we record live instead of recording track by track. It was this really amazing experience, and the whole thing -- recording, overdubbing, and mixing -- was done in only three weeks.

B&N: You seem to live the humanitarian and spiritual sentiments of your music.

DL: It's amazing the kind of effect you have when you choose simply to be yourself. A musician will absorb a lot of musical styles and genres, and I was always trying to write the great American pop hit. As soon as I let that go, and decided to do something that was more healing, everything changed for me. I've been very happy to associate myself with The National Coalition for the Homeless, and for the CD, RETURN TO THE HEART, I wrote a piece to benefit the Coalition entitled "Dream of the Forgotten Child," about what it might be like to be a homeless child.

On EAST OF THE MOON, the six-part orchestral suite titled "World at Peace" was inspired by the vintage black and white documentary series called "The World at War." My music is the antithesis of that. What if some day all our leaders signed a declaration of world peace? What might it be like if we could transfer our energy from defending ourselves to healing our social systems and our environment? I don't think this vision is that far from reality: Many people are becoming aware of how we can create peace.

B&N: Your music is uplifting, but it's not overly sweet. You certainly haven't "overstayed" your style.

DL: In the early days of new age music, I listened to Steven Halpern's SPECTRUM SUITE while I did yoga. By the end of the session, I'd be all zoned out. Halpern created this rhythm-free, ethereal space without using a melody line. I thought I could create this atmosphere for healing or stress reduction, but I could put a more popular hook in it. I've played a lot of musical styles, so besides being "heavy mellow," I have a good sense of rhythm. (The pulse kind of keeps those pesky lower charkas in line, y'know?) And if I communicate my music from a centered place, then maybe the listener will have the opportunity to take an inner trip as well.

Of course, what sets my live concerts apart from those of other New Age pianists is my sense of humor. I'm a huge fan of Victor Borge, and one of my goals is to take what he does to classical music and parody myself as a SNAG.

B&N: SNAG?

DL: Sensitive New Age Guy.