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One of the most popular artists in the solo instrumental and adult alternative spheres, David 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 he 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. In the 21st century, he recorded prolifically, including many original albums, tributes, the live album Liverpool Trio: Live in Seoul, and several compilations. ~ Linda Kohanov

A musician with a variety of musical influences, from Afro-Cuban to jazz, Gary Stroutsos is most at home playing cedar flutes in the Native American tradition. Dedicated to Native American culture and environmentalism, his music has been featured in several Native American showcases and he performed for the televised Earth Day celebration in British Columbia, Caretakers of the Earth. In 2000, he teamed up with Jonn Serrie to release the new age fusion album Hidden World. A solo effort, entitled Pacific Moon, followed in early 2001. A year later he delivered two albums: Echoes of Canyon de Chelly, a collaboration with Paul Thompson, and also Oru: The Natural Order, a collaboration with vocalists Lazaro Galarraga and Elaine Hernandez. ~ Stacia Proefrock