I'm heartbroken. He was such a lovely and giving person. Last time I spoke on the phone with him was over a year ago... we talked for almost an hour, and he told me many stories and anecdotes about working with Jerry Goldsmith (and other great film composers), many of which I have sadly forgotten (I didn't record the phone call). He was interested in doing a formal interview for The Goldsmith Odyssey too, and we always planned to do it, but alas it never came to pass. He never mentioned that he was ill. RIP to a great musician and a great person.
Oh my God, good heaven's, no! I knew Mike Lang's name as a (jazz) pianist before I read his name as a session pianist on film scores like The Russia House. Always enjoyed his performances, no matter where his name was on.
Of all the Clint Eastwood films, The Bridges of Madison County is truly lovely Composing by Lennie Neuhaus…while truly low and soft mostly through, it was Mike Lang’s Beautiful work that I still listen today. Sometimes Clint misses the mark on Understanding Film Composing and Placement. But The Bridges of Madison County, got it all right.
And Looking at Mike Lang’s body of work is truly amazing and not just film music. Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, and John Barry’s Works, and John Williams..The Towering Inferno. I remember Mike Lang on the Legacy of John Williams…Great Program.
It would be nice to see what everyone's favorite recordings of his are--I know there are tons.
I didn't even know it was Mike Lang playing on HOOK, which of course has some excellent piano parts. He played piano on a lot of high-profile productions.
I was playing Intrada's album of Rozsa suites, "The Man in Half Moon Street" today, and Mike Lang's solo performance of the Love Theme (Track 6) came as a brief-but-timely tribute.
The Williams HOOK piece is so "Dave Grusin" sounding as has been acknowledged many times on this board. Does anyone know if Lang worked on any Dave Grusin scores or soundtracks?
I remember that Lang wrote some pieces for Grusin's album HARLEQUIN, and I know they were both credited on the "Moment by Moment" soundtrack. I'm pretty sure that's not all, but those I can recall off-hand. Of course, Grusin is an accomplished jazz pianist himself.
