Louis Landon

Composer and pianist

USA

Author

About

Louis Landon is a composer, Steinway artist, and Pianist for Peace. Formerly of New York and currently living in Sedona, Arizona, Louis has dedicated his life to music. His career has taken him around the world playing a variety of styles with some of the most recognized names in the entertainment industry. He toured nationally and internationally, playing classical music for Mikhail Baryshnikov; jazz fusion with The John Payne Band; Latin music with "Pucho and his Latin Soul Brothers”; pop music with Rupert "Pina Colada Song" Holmes; rock & roll with John Hall, opening for "Little Feat”.

Louis began playing the piano by ear at 4 years old and began lessons at 5. As a teenager, he played guitar and keyboard in bands and went on to study music at Stony Brook University, Boston Conservatory and Berklee College of Music.

For the past 29 years, through his production company, Landon Music Company, Louis has written and produced music for film, video, and commercials. He recorded his first original piano album, Love Songs & Jazz, in 1994 and has since released 28 CDs on the LCI record label, his latest entitled Solo Piano Fantasies was released on July 4, 2018. His music is licensed for television and motion pictures by Oovra Music.

Videos

Sheets

Interview

What does music mean to you personally? 

Music one of the biggest components of my life. I have been playing piano for 62 years; professionally for 52 years. It is connected to my peace mission. It is also related to my missions of healing and inspiring people to live joyously and passionately.

Do you agree that music is all about fantasy?

No. Although my latest album happens to be called Solo Piano Fantasies, most of my music is about reality. It is about truth, integrity and emotions.

If you were not a professional musician, what would you have been? 

Lost… Seriously? I would have been a photographer.

The classical music audience is getting old, are you worried about the future? 

I am not really a classical musician or composer although some of my music can be perceived as “classical.” I have no worries in general. Worries are fear based. I believe everything is Divine Order in spite of seeing so much greed, hatred and violence in our country and in the world today. Why can’t we learn to get along and realize that we are all connected?

What do you envision the role of music to be in the 21st century? Do you see that there is a transformation of this role? 

Music has incredible powers to heal, to transform, to enlighten, to uplift and to relax people. It also can be destructive and negative. I feel that it is more important than ever to “accentuate the positive.”

Do you think that the musician today needs to be more creative? What is the role of creativity in the musical process for you? 

I am all about creativity. My focus is on composing, recording and performing music. Putting myself in the right state of being to receive gifts from The Creator. I am also very much an improviser, creating music in the present moment.

Do you think we as musicians can do something to attract the younger generation to music concerts? How would you do this? 

I don’t think that doing something to attract younger audiences is a good use of energy. If one creates music from the highest place, the right people will be attracted to the music. It doesn’t matter how old they are.

Tell us about your creative process. What is your favorite piece (written by you) and how did you start working on it? 

My favorite piece is called “Walking the Plains.” It was inspired by the younger sister of one of my best friends. She was looking for something to inspire the next phase of her life so she went to walk El Camino de Santiago in Spain. She told me of her journey and I really took her journey into my heart. I took those feelings and put them into the music. I believe I captured the feeling of her journey.

Can you give some advice for young people who want to discover classical music for themselves? 

No. It is not my area of expertise.

Do you think about the audience when composing?

No. In fact, I try not to think about anything at all. I move into the present moment and go into my heart, not my head. It is from that place that my music is created. I don’t even feel like I am doing it. I feel like I am open to receive the music and it appears effortlessly.

What projects are coming up? Do you experiment in your projects? 

I continue to compose and record. I released 5 albums of music last year and I am on track for at least 4 albums this year. It’s what I love to do so I do it as much as possible. I also do healing work through Healing Piano of Sedona. My music is now licensed for television and film by Oovra Music in Los Angeles. I am excited about the idea of my music being used in that way. I also am currently working with a jazz trio and will be featured next month on a jazz weekend in Sedona, AZ