New Interview: The Life of a Solo Piano Artist
Hello to all my followers and subscribers!
In this days, I've done a new interview, a written interview with Mary Susan for PianoPlan Magazine. Enjoy!
If you'd like to interview me (for free) for your blog, podcast or publication, just send an Interview Request to me at jameslazzeroni@gmail.com
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INTERVIEW:
The Life of a Solo Piano Artist
James, tell me about your new album "Solo Piano Christmas", available from November 11 on Spotify and all digital stores...
The Christmas holidays have always been my favorite time of year. Each Christmas I am brought back to warm childhood memories, of family, friends and people all over the world being a little kinder to each other. The first song I remember listening was 'O Come All Ye Faithful' by Bing Crosby. I was 7 years old. Bing Crosby's Christmas record being listened over and over again in our house throughout the holidays. On November, 2000, thanks to my mom, I played the first keys. I didn’t choose the piano; it was the piano that has chosen me. I’ve always loved music but… I didn’t have any thoughts of playing the piano. On November, 2025, with my "Solo Piano Christmas" album, I celebrate the anniversary of 25th years at the piano. 12 tracks in all, this new album is a collection of your traditional Christmas favorites. Contains eight Christmas songs in new solo piano arrangements, and includes four of my originals. Great solo piano music for Christmas. If you need a solo piano music for Christmas, this album is for you! I hope when you listen to this record it makes you smile and that it gives you as much joy to listen to as it did me to make. From October 11, on Apple Music, will be available the album pre-order. Apple Music BONUS! If you pre-order the album on Apple Music, you'll be able to immediately download the track "Jingle Bells"!
When I listen to your solo piano music it feels very much like poetry in the music itself. I have listened much to your compositions to get in the right mood. How does it feel for you to now that your compositions have travelled all over the world and inspired people?
It’s wonderful, and I am so happy to hear my solo piano music is providing some inspiration for your writing! I have had painters, sculptors, authors and blog writers contact me to share how my music inspires or accompanies them as they work on their artwork and writings. I love it, and I am so very grateful that you discovered my piano music!
You have some really good titles for your piano compositions on your records like ”Tomorrow”, "Emotions” and ”Wind”and it feels like titles like those embrace your music in a lovely way. How much work do you put down to get the right titles for your compositions? How important are those few words as completeness for your solo piano music?
I do exactly the same thing with my song titles. They are part of the art… and I deliberately design the song titles to set the scene and the tone of the song in the very same way. Sometimes it takes me a VERY long time to come up with a title. I’ll pick one, let it sit for awhile, and usually after a day or two I won’t like it anymore or I will feel it just isn’t *quite* what I am trying to convey. Eventually, I find a title that sticks and when I do… I know it… I feel like… YES, THAT is what this song is.
The record I have listen to most of your music on Spotify to get inspired is "Grace: solo piano for prayer" from 2025. Can you tell me what this record means for you and the story behind it?
The meaning and the story behind the album is multi-layered. You’ll find the complete story behind the album on this page. Just scroll down and you’ll see the ”Note from the Album” Check that out…
What inspires you to write piano music?
Everyday life experiences, travel, my walk in faith and prayer. My emotions. I am a pretty emotional person. I would normally think I am too much so, but since deep emotion contributes to my ability to do what I do and drives my need to express, I just consider my strong emotions a gift from God. They are part of what makes me who I am as an artist.
You have said that most of your recorded music is very composed as opposed to improvised. Once they are finished, do you play your pieces pretty-much the same each time, or do they evolve?
I play some my piano songs quite a bit different than I did a few years ago, and would love to release the new version. They might be a little bit different in terms of phrasing and pacing, or sometimes my mood will affect how I play or perform a piece. The nature of an event where I’m performing can also affect the playing of a piece. When they change, I think to myself, “Oh man, I recorded the song before I was really finished with it!”
And about your concerts...
While waiting for my new album "Solo Piano Christmas", I'm ACTIVELY BOOKING solo piano concerts for 2026! States where I have firm plans of traveling to (or through) include California, Georgia, Missouri, Alabama, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. If you live in any of these states (or nearby), and would like to help put together a concert, please get in touch with me. I would LOVE the chance to come and play a concert for your church, event, benefit, or even a HOUSE CONCERT if you have a decent piano. Imagine how great it would be to invite all your family and friends for an intimate piano concert at your home!
For details on what's involved, read the info and then email me at jameslazzeroni@gmail.com
If you live ELSEWHERE, but you'd really like to have me put on a concert for you, please still feel free to contact me. We'll see what we can fit into the calendar.
Do you have any words of advice for young people who are studying music now?
In terms of playing the piano, do what you like to do. Go for whatever excites you musically. If classical music doesn’t excite you, what does? What do YOU want to learn to play? Get the CD, sit down at your piano, and see if you can pick out the song. Find the melody, figure out the chords and song structure, and be determined to learn it. Next, be willing to compromise. Once you’re working on songs that you actually WANT to learn, take some time out every day to work on your music theory, even if you dread doing it. In the end, the music theory that you learn will give you the understanding you need to better play the songs you really want to play. I never had a chance at becoming a serious piano player until I understood basic music theory. In fact, it was the point at which I began to understand that my musical ability really took off.
