Kold9.com - Music for your soul

One of the most popular artists in the solo instrumental and adult-alternative spheres, Lanz played in several rock bands during his teens, then began developing his style as a solo pianist in a small Seattle nightclub. He introduced some of his originals into the bar's required mix of standards and pop tunes, receiving such a positive response from patrons that, before long, he was playing his own material almost exclusively. His early albums of solo piano works are still among the Narada label's best-sellers. His two collaborative efforts with guitarist Paul Speer also hit the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart; yet as Lanz's national popularity grew, he began to experiment with works for larger and larger ensembles, culminating in full orchestral accompaniments on Skyline Firedance (1990). With 1991's Return to the Heart, he journeyed back to his solo piano roots, and made his vocal debut on 1993's Bridge of Dreams. Lanz remained prolific throughout the decade, resurfacing in 1994 with Christmas Eve; Sacred Road followed in 1996, and two years later he returned with Songs from an English Garden. Next was An Evening with David Lanz, issued in 1999; East of the Moon appeared a year later.

Living Temples DVD

“Living Temples is an unparalleled visual and musical celebration of our cherished natural environment. Phenomenal cinematography exquisitely blended with a soul-moving musical soundscape reflects an extraordinary level of creative artistic expression that progressively evolves into transcendent healing experience.” - Barry Bittman, MD, neurologist, researcher and CEO of the Yamaha Music & Wellness Institute.


“Living Temples” is an incredible collaboration from filmmaker Jan Nickman and composer David Lanz. The first in a series of such projects, this film features breathtaking footage of the American Southwest that includes sacred grounds, oceans of sand, the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde, time-lapse photography of the sky during the day and at night, and stunning natural land formations. “Living Temples” works seamlessly because of the way it was created. Rather than doing all of the filming and then setting it to music or composing all of the music and making the visuals fit, the artists exchanged rough cuts of their respective work as it progressed, developing the project together rather than independently of each other. The film concludes with an original dance choreographed and performed by Caroline Richardson, former First Soloist with the National Ballet of Canada, and includes optional (the vocal track can be turned on or off) spoken words by Academy Award winning actress Linda Hunt.

It is very interesting to note that David Lanz and Jan Nickman worked together at the Seattle-based record and video company, Miramar, in the 1980’s. Two of their landmark music videos were the enormously popular “Natural States” and “Desert Vision” (with Paul Speer), which launched their careers in film and music. Some twenty years later, Lanz and Nickman reunited as experienced masters of their arts, equipped with a whole new set of “toys.”

The music of “Living Temples” is some of David Lanz’s most beautiful work yet. His distinctive piano and keyboard stylings run throughout the soundtrack and provide the soul and heartbeat of the film. Flutist Gary Stroutsos plays a variety of Native American flutes and light percussion and composed additional music. His flutes are haunting and provide a reminder of which culture was first to explore and inhabit The Southwest. (The soundtrack is available separately and is magnificent with or without the visuals.) The spoken words by Linda Hunt are interesting, but perhaps a bit distracting. I turned them off the second time I watched the film, and found it much easier to be enveloped by the sounds and sights without the words. The dance segment was shot over several months in various locations. Caroline Richardson danced to the music played at twice its actual speed, and then the film was slowed back down to normal, giving a slightly altered, dreamy effect.

Plans are in the works for “Living Temples” to be shown on various PBS stations. “Living Temples” is truly awesome, and I give it my highest recommendation.

Kathy Parsons
MainlyPiano.com