My first opportunity to see David Lanz in concert was in 1995 at a solo benefit concert for the National Coalition for the Homeless held at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. It was an incredible evening of some of the most beautiful music I have ever heard.

I had been introduced to David's music a few months prior to the concert by my best friend, Debbie, who was at the concert with me. David walked on stage in a purple jacket with a beautiful smile on his face and something about his warm demeanor told me that this was going to be an evening I'd never forget.

In an effort to make fun of the category "new-age music", David refers to himself as a SNAG (his acronym for a "Sensitive New Age Guy"). Although David's music tends to be lumped into this category, I prefer contemporary instrumental, as to me new-age conjures up a lot of images of which David's music is not a part.

What makes David different is his ability to connect with the audience. He pauses between each song with little jokes and anecdotes and is quite a good storyteller. He also shares the inspiration behind his music and what prompted him to write certain pieces. It is these moments where the audience shares not only his music, but an intimate part of his life. Although I was in a theatre in Lincoln Center, it was almost as if we were in David's living room sitting and listening to him talk.

For me the most poignant moment of the evening was when David told the story behind the song "Return to the Heart". David explained that many years before he met his wife Alicia, she had given birth to a daughter whom she had to give up for adoption. Twenty one years later, her daughter contacted her and wanted to meet her. Alicia was thrilled since she had been searching for years also. David went on to explain that the meeting was very emotional and that there was such an energy in the house that he went off to another room to put these emotions into music, as there are times when words are just not enough. Out of this came "Return to the Heart". I don't think I have to tell anyone that when David played this piece, there was not a dry eye in the theatre.

David's music is very much like that for me. I often lie on the bed and close my eyes to listen to it. I find it calming and let it take me to places outside myself. It invokes images of both places I have been and places I'd love to go to someday; emotions I've felt and some I hope to someday feel.