IF YOU GOWhat: Whisperings concert featuring David Lanz, Michael Dulin and Joseph Akins.When: 2 p.m. Sunday.Where: Lindsay Street Hall, 901 Lindsay St.Admission: $22 adults, $12 children under 18 through Saturday; $25 adults, $15 children under 18 day of show.Phone: 755-9111.Website: www.davidlanz.com.
David Lanz said he never imagined a solo career as a pianist when he was playing keyboards for rock bands. But there were moments in private when he played a "little bittersweet kind of music" and moments in concert where he'd do a little improvisation.
Steve Halpern's "inner peace" music sparked his desire for a sound with a similar mood and tone but with a firmer melody and, in his late 20s, Lanz started composing instrumental pieces he called Zen pop. Later, hearing a record by George Winston made him realize success was possible for a contemporary solo pianist.
More than 30 years later, Lanz, 62, will bring that career to Chattanooga's Lindsay Street Hall on Sunday for a concert with Birmingham, Ala.-area native Michael Dulin and Chattanooga native Joseph Akins.
The Grammy-nominated musician will play an overview of his work, including newly reimagined "Cristofori's Dream," released in 1988, a medley of Beatles tunes that he rewrote and reharmonized in two recent releases, and perhaps even a piece or two from his upcoming Christmas release.
Although his work often is classified as New Age, Lanz said it does have a classical feel "that is not from the dead guys."
His "classical," he said, "is for the modern-day attention span." He learned from the modern masters, he said, how to create a pop song with a good introduction and two verses.
Among those modern masters were The Beatles. Their influence led him to produce "Liverpool: Re-Imagining the Beatles" and "Here Comes the Sun" four years ago.
"Cristofori's Dream" was No. 1 for 27 weeks on Billboard's first adult alternative/New Age chart in 1988. The original release had other musicians in addition to his piano, but his 25th anniversary re-release is done with a solo piano.
"It's still easily recognizable," he said, "but it's a little more personal, a little more intimate. After 25 years, I've played a lot of these pieces a lot. I have allowed myself to have a little deeper experience with the music."
A meet-and-greet will follow the concert.