Customer Reviews

Evening With David Lanz

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After doing an extensive interview with David Lanz last fall and exchanging a few emails early this year, it came as a real shock to see a new "live" album in record stores. Narada released it rather than Philips (David's new label), so I was really puzzled. By then, David was in England recording his upcoming "East of the Moon" CD, so I had to wait to ask him about what was going on. In the meantime, I received a copy of the CD for review. Looking at the list of the songs should have been a tip-off, but the current photo on the cover yielded no clues. I read the liner notes, and down on the lower corner of the third page, it said the concert was recorded in Houston in 1989! A 10-year-old concert? When David returned, we exchanged a few more emails, and he said that he, too, was completely surprised by the CD, and had no input on it whatsoever. He is pleased with the recording overall, and since Narada owns the rights to the music, they can legally do whatever they choose.

For someone looking for an "early greatest hits" album, this is a really good bet. Many old favorites are included such as "Cristofori's Dream", "Leaves on the Seine", "Dark Horse", and "A Whiter Shade of Pale" (a total of fourteen songs), but those who have most of David's earlier releases might want to wait until the new one comes out later this year. "Evening" is a lot of fun to listen to, but there are no surprises for longtime fans. I've seen David perform many times, and live, his humor and gentle stories are almost as important as the music - at the very least, they add a new dimension to it. There are no spoken words on this CD, so I don't feel it truly represents David's live performance. The selection is great, and the quality of the performance is excellent, but it seems somewhat deceptive to release a concert album ten years after the concert took place without putting a date on the cover.

This man will make your heart dance! He's been blessed
with the ability to heal souls!

My favorite CD is "An Evening With David Lanz".
"Skyline Firedance" is also wonderful as is "Nightfall!
I tend to prefer him solo - without other instruments
to distract from his beautiful music!

He's had quite a career and I hope he will continue to
share his gift with the world!

Being a big fan of David Lanz, I was eager to hear this CD. I first heard of it through the website, The Romantic Piano, (members.xoom.com/sims_music/piano/). I was not overly impressed with the CD though. It is straight cuts from his concerts. The album does not contain any of the commentary that make his concerts so unique. For anyone looking for classic Lanz this is it.

I have really enjoyed listening to the twelve tracks on this disc. This "live" album was actually recorded in 1989 and has surfaced a decade or so later. As it features David Lanz's earlier work for Narada, it is, in effect, a "Best Of" collection showcasing his most memorable melodies and his most beautiful original pieces. The piano is the sole instrument, and it is a true reflection of Lanz's ability that he makes a solo piano CD so exciting to listen to, absolutely brimming with vitality and vivaciousness.

Listening to these pieces makes one realise what an achievement it was to perform the dozen tracks live. His compositions are quite complex and, I would imagine, are very demanding to play at the same tempo that Lanz performs them. As the CD progresses, the audience's applause becomes more sustained, suggesting that the spectacle was an enjoyable one.

All twelve tracks are enjoyable, but I particularly enjoyed hearing the solo-piano version of "Behind the Waterfall". The Skyline Firedance Suite is also excellent, and ends the CD with a bang.

At around 75 minutes in length, the CD is outstandingly good value for money. I do agree, however, that a more conspicuous mention should have been made by Narada that the 1999 CD actually features music performed a decade earlier. It is not at all obvious that this is the case. As for a lack of commentary from David Lanz, I would rather hear the music, but it is something of a shame that photographs were not included within the CD insert to mark the occasion. The packaging does not have a feel of a live CD at all.

If you are new to Lanz's piano work, this is an outstanding collection which showcases Lanz at his peak. For customers who own all of Lanz's CDs, most of the tracks differ very little from the original recordings, so caution is recommended.

An excellent CD, featuring a very talented musician and a dozen memorable piano works.

Cristofori's Dream was one of the most requested songs during the last decade and here it is again on this new recording made in a concert performance along with more of our favorites by David Lanz. Discuss David Lanz on the New Age Music Discussion Group page...