Customer Reviews

Songs From an English Garden

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Let me preface this by saying that I teach David Lanz's piano music more than that of any other composer, so I know most of his music inside and out. I have seen him in concert five or six times, have interviewed him by phone three times, and was acknowledged in the credits of his instructional video, so my deep love for David's music, performing style, and humanity has a long history. I was looking forward to the release of his new album with great anticipation until I learned it was going to be a compilation of 60's British hits. I love David's previous covers of "Nights In White Satin", "A Day in the Life", and "A Whiter Shade of Pale", but a whole album? This on the heels of the four quickly-released CDs of covers by another hero of mine, Wayne Gratz (also a Narada artist), left me feeling more than a little queasy. This definitely isn't David's best work, but I had the opportunity to talk to him about the album in the course of a recent interview. This was David's final album for Narada, and he wanted the album to be very light, commercially appealing for more radio play, and fun. It is getting more airplay than his previous albums (sad!), so this marketing plan is working. David wanted this album to be a tribute to some of his musical roots and to attract new fans with the use of familiar music. David has moved to the Philips label, and promises that his future releases will be original compositions with a lot more substance.

The two original pieces on "Songs From an English Garden" are "Sitting in an English Garden" and "London Blue". Both are classic David Lanz, but "London Blue", a melancholy piano solo, is much truer to David's very personal piano style; I think it's the best cut on the album. "Sitting in an English Garden" is a little too pop - but then, this is a pop album, right? Accompanied by a varied assortment of musicians including Herb Alpert(!), Roy Bittan, and Matthew Fisher, some of these arrangements of 60's hits work better than others. "Conquistador", "Girl", "Strawberry Fields Forever", and the medley of "As Tears Go By" and "Ruby Tuesday" are the most memorable. I like the bouncy rhythm on "Bus Stop", and the bittersweet flavor comes through without any lyrics on "I'll Follow the Sun"; some of the others are just too light. The album as a whole is fun and entertaining, and it's a kick to hear David's take on some old moldy favorites, but .... I'm not sure how to finish that sentence, but maybe it's better to leave it hanging and see what's next!

I too have a critical ear and have attended all his performances when he has come to town. Admittably, this CD was bought by my wife for me. She did so by the artist, not the content. I was disappointed by the contents initially and had high expectations of a new David Lanz CD. Only the first track is an original and it does stand out as the Lanz that I expect. David does a great job of transforming these songs to a solo piano format. No one else could have done this to these songs nearly as well. That aspect of it is enjoyable. This CD should be purchased with that in mind. Do not expect Skyline Firedance, but do add this to your collection.

While I will readily agree with the other reviewers that David Lanz has done better work--on solo recordings--than "English Garden," this album still works for me. Sure it borders on Muzak, but here David has proven that the music our parents complained about--in the 60s--really did have some fine melodies. Lanz builds on the foundation of these familiar tunes from the "British Invasion" with rich--dare I say jazzy?--chord structures and subtle rhythms.

I frequently play "English Garden" in the background at the school library where I work, and more often than not some teacher or parent will comment on it or write down the title. For those of us who spent countless hours with our ears glued to the hi-fi speakers listening to Beatles, Stones, Hollies, Kinks, Moody Blues, Chad and Jeremy, or Gerry and the Pacemakers back then, Lanz has created a pleasant and relaxing instrumental journey down memory lane.

By far my favorite cut--and the one truest to David Lanz's ethereal solo piano form--is his exquisite rendition of "Strawberry Fields Forever." While this album may not be for everyone, I think it hits the mark for aging Baby Boomers.

"Songs from an English Garden".Not one of Lanz's better offerings.
I have been a big fan of David Lanz sinse I first heard him on"Art of Landscape" on British Television in the late Eighties,with Natural States and Desert Vision.
Apart from the brilliant "Nights in White Satin" and "Whiter Shade of Pale" arrangments I think this album does not bring out the best of his own creative style which were so spellbinding in early works such as the album's he created with
Paul Speer.
This is by far the weakest album I have heard by David,but having said that It will appeal to those fans who like his arrangments of other artists masterpieces.

If,as a previous reviewer mentioned he has left Narada for another record company,hopefully we may have more of his own compositions in the earlier style that is so familier to us all.

I am a Lanz fan anyway so I am not hard to please when it comes to his music. However, this one was exceptionally good. I really liked his rendition of some of the old 60's & 70's British rock songs played in Lanz's inimitable style.

The selection of songs that David chose for this CD is marvelous, as are his arrangements of them. The addition of two of his own compositions, Sitting in an English Garden, and London Blue, complete the "menu" to perfection. It's just the ticket for a rainy Sunday afternoon, sitting snuggly in an overstuffed chair, a steaming latte at hand, and your favorite romance novel waiting to be re-read. Just relax and enjoy -- thoroughly.

I have many of David Lanz's Cd's and I am used to getting peaceful, relaxing music, PIANO music. Not piano music clouded up with a multitude of other, intrusive instruments. I was disappointed in this Cd because he has lost sight of what normally makes his music so simplistic and stunning. He tries to be everyman in this Cd and I don't like jazz elements,synthesizers and his attempt to sound like David Arkenstone with big production numbers. I don't mind him reworking other's tunes but I want to hear these songs played on the piano and nothing more. Who can ever forget his haunting version of a "Whiter Shade Of Pale". It was exquisite. This is not his best. He should stick to pure piano. Branching out didn't work for him on this album.

I heard one of the songs from this album on Pandora. I was quite impressed and I purchased the album. But turns out that only few songs are piano only. I don't like the songs that are recorded with synthesizer and drums in the background. But I really like and enjoy the songs that are piano only. Those are excellent.

In addition to being an excellent composer of original music, I've always been impressed by David Lanz's skill in creating instrumental renditions of songs that are even more pleasant to listen to than the original. The "Songs from an English Garden" CD is a great example, as are his rendition of Procol Harum's "A Whiter Shader of Pale" in the "Cristofori's Dream" CD, and of the Moody Blues "Nights in White Satin" in the "Skyline Firedance" CD.

The music in "Songs from an English Garden" has an energetic beat that makes you tap along when listening to it, mixed with beautiful melodies. I find that the tunes keep coming back to me later which makes me play the CD again and again.

This is absolutely one of the best CD's I have ever listened to. He is truly one of the most talented people in New Age music. Hope he soon brings us more.