Some musicians have the ability to transform your very being with the
gifts of their artistry. Master pianist and composer, David Lanz, is that kind
of force. A wizard at painting a lush
tapestry of cascading melodies that simmer into graceful refrains, and meld
rhythmically fueled dancing harmonies that climax into wistful variations, Lanz
has made a career of permeating the hearts, minds and souls of audiences around
the globe for over three decades.
Ahead of
his time, the visionary Grammy-nominated and chart-topping pianist has remained
a pioneer in the genre of New Age music. The witty pianist has coined his own
phrase for his music, ‘Heavy Mellow,’ a cute play on the term Heavy Metal. “I
always like to point out in my performances that the term New Age is not really
a musical term so for fun I coined the term ‘Heavy Mellow.’ If you happen to
like this style of music then I guess you would have to be referred to as a
‘Heavy Mellow-head!’” An all-around journeyman with roots in rock, jazz and
classical, Lanz’s music is a delicate balance between technical prowess and
passionate grace that serves a higher purpose. “My spiritual path is all about
creating music, communicating with sound, and allowing beauty to be expressed
in my work,” declared the pianist.
October
8, 2013, Shanachie Entertainment will release David Lanz’s 41st recording,
Movements Of The Heart, a sublime collection of original compositions that
transport you on a glorious and emotive journey. “I draw from my source, the
same source we all have access to...God if you will...and this source has an
inexhaustible supply of inspiration just waiting for each of us to tap into it.
This and my life experience is where I go for my inspiration.” Shanachie
Entertainment’s VP of Jazz A&R Danny Weiss states, “Though tranquil and
restful on the surface, the spirituality that lies within is the reason that
David Lanz’s music resonates worldwide. He’s the real thing.”
Movements
Of the Heart is David Lanz’s first recording of all new original piano works
since 2008’s Painting the Sun. Each note that emanates from Lanz’s majestic and
commanding touch on Movements Of The Heart, marries thirteen sublime
compositions that unfold like an epic romantic drama. This new recording
beautifully captures the spontaneity of a live performance and the pristine
polish of a studio session. “Most of the music was written and then recorded
during a major change in my personal life and reflects the relationship and the
new love I have found,” confides Lanz. “The title refers to the romantic
notions of the heart as well as to the movements found in music.” David Lanz is
a master at sculpting unforgettable melodies that etch themselves into one’s
memory. His mission is simple, “I really try and focus on the melody as I
develop each piece. The melody is the heart of the song and my goal is to
connect with the listener heart to heart-so to speak.”
Highlights
on Movements Of The Heart include the dreamy “Love’s Return,” which Lanz hails
as the most romantic love song he has ever written. He was even inspired to pen
lyrics for the song which he hopes to share in the future. His compositions
“Midnight Adagio” and “La Luna dell'
Amante” (The Lover’s Moon) were both composed during a full moon either at or
near midnight. He explains, “These pieces represent the passion and the
spiritual feelings wrapped up in the reflections of love and longing felt when
you are apart from your true love.”
Movements
Of The Heart also showcases “In Moonlight,” which pays homage to Ludwig Van
Beethoven and references his seminal work “Moonlight Sonata.” “I never studied
classically, but have grown to appreciate the master’s work,” says Lanz. He
continues with a smile, “When I wrote ‘In Moonlight,’ I imagine it were played
by Ludwig himself as if he was very relaxed and meditating.”
David
Lanz is a consummate artist, and the intention of his art and every aspect of
how it is delivered to the listener is well thought out. In fact, the piano
tuning heard on Movements Of The Heart has been slightly altered from the
standard A-440 tuning. A-440 refers to the cycles per second of the note ‘A’
below middle ‘C’ on the piano and is the standard by which all western
instruments are tuned. Lanz explains, “In a twist of psycho-acoustics, sacred
geometry, and a quest for an enhanced sonic experience, the piano heard on the
CD is tuned and recorded in A-444, just a little bit higher than the
traditional A-440. A subtle difference, but none the less a
positive result!” Lanz was encouraged to explore this idea by his brother and
co-producer, Gary Lanz, and their friend, mathematician, New York Times best
selling author, and an ex-monk, Gary Hardin. They looked at the numbers and
came to the conclusion that A- 444 would have very positive effects on the
listener. Lanz adds, "444 is sometimes referred to as an angelic number. I
have to admit it does sound much better than in the original A-440
tuning."
Hailing
from Seattle, WA, and recently relocated to the east coast, David Lanz has
enjoyed a career longevity that is rare in the music business. For over thirty
years, the visionary recordings and live performances of David Lanz have served
to heal, to inspire, to provide spiritual nourishment to diverse audiences
around the globe. “My music has been used for years by traditional and
alternative healers,” states Lanz. “I would never claim that it had healing
effects, however, I do believe that music can set the stage and create the
atmosphere and the inner feeling and attitude needed for the listener to tap
into their own healing abilities, which I believe we all possess.” Early on
inspired by the roots of Rock and Roll, Lanz’s vast cauldron of musician
influences include some of jazz’s most revered pianists like Dave Brubeck, Bill
Evans and McCoy Tyner, as well as classical icons Mozart, Bach, Beethoven,
Ravel, Rachmaninoff, and Debussy.
Many
have tried to define David Lanz style, but that would be too simple. David Lanz
plays David Lanz music. As both composer and interpreter, his approach to music
is often larger than life, breathtaking in its breadth, yet accessible and
down-to-earth as well. Through his music, Lanz connects in an intimate manner
with his audience by tapping into emotions, thoughts and dreams like an old
friend.
Early in
Lanz’s career, he took gigs playing rock, funk and disco. Then he had an
epiphany: “I had been doing yoga and meditating and getting into Eastern
philosophy,” says Lanz, “and slowly I started thinking about how music could
help. With music, you could get people to dance or you could get people to
meditate or to march off to war. I was aware of a few other musicians who were
doing light, ambient music and I was always into what the classical East Indian
musicians were doing, creating trance states. By the early ‘80s I was really
into the idea that this kind of music would be an interesting path to take.”
In 1983,
Lanz made his recording debut, Heartsounds, on Narada. It was received
favorably and Lanz was off, pursuing his new direction and exploring the
various ways he might touch an emerging listenership. During the next five
years he released six new albums and landed a major commercial breakthough with
1988’s Cristofori’s Dream. The album consisted of six originals, including the
opening title track, which has become a classic, and a cover of Procol Harum’s
1967 rock hit “A Whiter Shade of Pale.” Cristofori’s Dream topped Billboard
Magazine’s first Adult Alternative/New Age chart and remained for an impressive
27 weeks.
1990
brought about the release of Skyline Firedance, which joined Lanz with an
80-piece orchestra. He continued to record for Narada, issuing several more
titles including 1998’s Songs From an English Garden, his first to tap into the
British Invasion repertoire of the ’60s. In 2000, he changed recording homes to
Decca Records where he scored a Grammy nomination for East Of the Moon. Lanz
continued to record and tour relentlessly, releasing eleven titles between 2001
and 2007. In 2008, he made his Shanachie debut, Painting In the Sun, and in
2012 he paid homage to The Beatles with Here Comes The Sun and Liverpool
Re-Imagining The Beatles.
Beginning
in 2012, David Lanz celebrated the 25th anniversary of his landmark release
Cristofori's Dream Re-Envisioned, marking a return to the music that launched
him as an international phenomenon a quarter-century ago. Cristofori’s Dream
was a million-selling musical thank you note to Bartolomeo Cristofori, the man
who invented the piano in the 18th century. The title track remains hugely
popular today—countless piano students have purchased the sheet music to learn
how to play the piece. In addition, Lanz’s interpretation of Procol Harum’s
classic, “A Whiter Shade of Pale” on the original album is considered one of
the most popular of the countless covers of the song.
Truly a
renaissance man, David Lanz is always heading into the unknown in order to expand
his artistry and share what he’s found with the world. His musical offering is
a welcomed retreat back into music with heart, soul, courage, adventure,
humanity and purpose. With the release of Movements Of The Heart, the journey
continues and David Lanz concludes, “I always want my listeners to really enjoy
the music, but if it connects to their deeper levels of emotion and allows them
to really feel the stirrings in their own hearts...all the better!”
David
Lanz Tour
Dates
10/12 -
Pittsford, NY (House Concert)
10/19 -
Aranda de Duero, Spain @ Auditorio Caja Burgos
11/02 -
Pittsford, NY (House Concert)
11/07-11/10
- East Vancouver, WA @ David Lanz Workshop
David
Lanz - Movements
of the Heart
1.
Love's Return
2. La
Luna dell' Amante
3. On
Rainbow Way
4. To
Touch The Sky
5.
Rainlight
6. I
Hear You In A Song
7. The
Way Home
8.
Movements of the Heart
9. White
Horse
10. In
Moonlight
11.
Midnight Adagio
12. Here
And Now
13. I
See You In The Stars
