Biography
NEWS: PETER RELEASES HIS NEW CD TESTAMENT
THE PRESS ARE SAYING:
"Testament is beautifully recorded,capturing
every nuance of Lang's peerless playing."
DIRTY LINEN
"Testament is a revelatory piece of work."
BLUES REVUE
"Lang may be known as one of the world's
preeminent solo instrumentalists, but as his new
CD Testament reveals, his approach can also
propel a mean blues jam."
GUITAR PLAYER MAGAZINE
"Testament (is) a masterful exploration of early
blues full of the assurance and insight of
a career definer." CITY PAGES
"Another offering that I can only call perfect."
CHORD MAGAZINE
"Testament is kind of a PBS special for CD."
TWIN CITIES DAILY PLANET
(To Preview Cuts From The Album Click The Audio Button Above)
"PETER LANG IS ONE OF THE WORLDS PREEMINENT 6 AND 12 STRING FINGER-PICKING GUITAR PLAYERS...He cites the work of such country bluesmen as Blind Boy Fuller, Blind Blake, Rev. Gary Davis, and Mississippi John Hurt as the principal influences on his dizzying finger-picking. His newest CD explores and revels in the DNA of American music. He has returned in the new century with magnificent playing that mines the roots of his original inspiration. Peter talks about the music, saying: 'Historians say blues was full blown by 1890 with centuries of African-American oral history behind it the whole world loves it and the lyrics seem ageless -- sex and power, betrayal and redemption. It was the southern working man's pop music, what made Elvis and Dylan and Springsteen possible, also made Tupac and Nirvana, for that matter.' Chuckling, he adds, 'the incredible musicians who'll be with me at the Dakota know early blues was serious red-hot pop.' The band will include Bad Plus and Happy Apple drum great, Dave King. . . "/ THE DAKOTA JAZZ CLUB April 2008
PETER LANG along with the other Takoma guitarists are considered to be founders of modern American Finger-style Guitar. Lang was part of a handful of guitarists who would bring the instrument to the stage and redefine it as a serious concert instrument.
Like his labelmates at Takoma, John Fahey and Leo Kottke, Peter Lang used the techniques and vocabulary of country blues guitarists to create his own compositions in a variety of alternate tunings. Lang made a name as a guitarist and composer of exceptional ability and originality. His bright sound, driving rhythm, and whimsical compositional sense were already well-defined by the time of his first record, which was made in 1972.
Lang toured, and recorded as one of the top acoustic players of his day. In the 70's he was in good company, having recorded or performed with Ry Cooder, John Fahey, Jerry Garcia, Chet Atkins, John Hartford, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Emmylou Harris, Leo Kottke, Freddie King, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, John Hammond, Keith Jarrett, Phoebe Snow, Maria Muldaur, The Yellowjackets, Robben Ford, and host of others.
Peter is back touring after a twenty year hiatus.
WHAT THE PRESS HAVE SAID:
A TRUE MASTER- Lang is one of the finest acoustic finger-style players in the nation. . .His songs are complex, mercurial, lyrical, and fluid. THE VILLAGE VOICE
FLAT OUT GORGEOUS AND POWERFULLY EVOCATIVE-
His reemergence has come with not a hint of rust.TIME OUT NEW YORK
FRAGILE FINGER-PICKING, VICIOUS SLIDE WORK, AND AN UNCANNY ABILITY TO MIX HIS VIRTUOSIC TECHNIQUE WITH TENDERNESS AND SOUL - GUITAR PLALYER MAGAZINE
SIMPLY GENIUS AT WORK- SING OUT
ABSOLUTELY GROUNDBREAKING- One of a handful of acoustic guitarists who defined new American styles in the 1960s and '70s. Poetic, elegant, and deeply moving. . .To say that Lang's Guitar is literate is to far understate the case. This is guitar music that matters because it is played not only with technical acumen and a sense of history, but with an aesthetic that celebrates and pushes the tradition in new directions." ALL MUSIC GUIDE / Critics Pick
Lang's credits include: * Fourteen record albums (including one with Leo Kottke and John Fahey). * Grammy Nomination, 1975 (Lycurgus) * Guitar Player Magazine 1974 - Readers Poll, " Best New Guitarist" category * Minnesota Music Awards, "Best Guitarist" 1981, 1982, 1988 * Co-author of the book 20th Century Masters of Finger-Style Guitar, 1982, Stropes Editions, Ltd.
In the links below you will find videos and additional recorded music of Peter Lang. YouTube.com has many videos which give a depth and breadth of Lang's work. Explore, and enjoy!
Contact Info:612-929-2363
Instrumentation
Six and Twelve String Guitar,National Steel Guitar, Mandolin, and Dobro
Discography
Thing at the Nursery Room Window, Takoma Records 1972
Fahey Lang Kottke , Takoma Records , 1974
Lycurgus, Flying Fish, 1976
Prime Cuts, Waterhouse Records, 1977
Back to the Wall, Waterhouse Records,1978
American Stock,Aspen Records, 1985
Dharma Blues, Horus Records, 2002
Lycurgus (Re-release w/ 5 bonus tracks) 2003 Hourus Records
Prime Cuts(Re-release w/ 4 bonus tracks)2003 Horus Records
Peter Lang / Guitar 2004 Horus Records
John Fahey and Friends. / 2 tracks 2006 Slackertone
The Revenge of Blind Joe Death/The John Fahey Tribute Album 2006
Live at Charlotte's Web (2Cd and DVD) 2007
Testament, Horus Records,2008
Links
| http://www.peterlang.org |
| Peter's MYSPACE page |
| Music Videos at Youtube.com |
| Additional Music and information |