Sapphire Dreams
Mars Lasar on grand piano with deft touches of his keyboard genius. Mars offers a stunning musical portrait evoking whispers of a time when elegance and grace could coax the heart to open with delight. An invitation to a place where love and beauty dance to the night. Come, take pleasure in an interlude of Sapphire Dreams.
A note from Mars:
In my earlier years as a pianist, I spent many hours sketching and composing themes to ease me through the days. This was a great inspirational tool and for some time I have extracted melodies and harmonies from my improvisations. This album is a collection of compositional sketches inspired by the complexity of life and the simplicity of the one resonance that connects us all.
As a teenager, I was frequently asked to play peoples pianos for them. Most pianos sit patiently and wait to be played. I also worked on a cruise boat playing cocktail piano, so I knew all the old classics. However, I mostly just drifted into my own improvisations and listeners would often come to me and say "...you know that song you played yesterday? can you play that again?" So, I'd improvise and they would give me their approval (and a good tip). To be honest, I never remembered what I'd played that day so would write something new. So I had already been making a living from my compositions from a young age. In my years of intense classical training, I spent relentless hours learning Chopin, Bach & Beethoven concertos and was pleasantly rewarded in many ways. But, even after I'd worn the edges of my black keys down I still went back to my own compositions.
This was a challenge... no computers!! This had to be recorded live with the inevitable restrictions. So I miked up my piano one night and recorded the entire album from head to toe. I already knew what the album was going to sound like, I just needed to get there. I put the tape on record and let the fingers go to work, and the mind do the translating. Mind you, if you make a mistake you have to start the entire song again. The biggest complication in my case was the small matter of remembering the song again. Often the second time around would be a different song altogether.
After I had the source material I put it into my computer and orchestrated it (this took weeks). And like magic, it all came to its glorious completion.
Pick up Sapphire Dreams
Sheet Music Here!
Customer Reviews
5 out of 5 stars *****
Quiet Music, November 24, 2005
By Paul B. Stott
This review is from Sapphire Dreams: A Romantic Interlude (Audio CD)
Hearing this CD for the first time, after hearing and owning Mars' Olympus, was like the experience I had with David Lanz's Cristofori's Dream after hearing and owning the Natural States and Desert Vision. Sapphire Dreams came from deep within Mars; his romantic side. It is quiet, beautiful, emotional and moving. I never get tired of listening to it. If you enjoy listening to great music while you read or want to relax, this is it. The tracks are consistent and complement each other.
5 out of 5 stars *****
From Wind and Wire, February 27, 2001
Reviewer: Kathy Parsons from Hercules, CA, USA
"Sapphire Dreams" was quite a lovely surprise for me. I have been familiar with Mars Lasar's name for quite some time, but this is the first of his albums that I have heard from beginning to end. Gentle and ethereal throughout, Lasar mixes solo piano with synth - all played by himself. Despite the dreamy theme and feel to most of the album, this is far from a fluff piece. The pieces are beautifully developed and, while very accessible, hold up to many listenings. Classical roots are obvious, but this album is very much in the present, mixing the wonders of the grand piano with the technology of synthesized sounds. What is so remarkable is the emotional content. So many albums that mix piano and synth end up sounding a little thin and flat. The gentle, sweet emotions of each of these pieces come through, and only a couple of the cuts failed to grab me and beg me to listen without any distractions.
5 out of 5 stars *****
Music to fall asleep to, June 7, 2002
Reviewer: Mitchell Carradine from Chicago, Illinois
I have been a fan of Lasar for almost a decade now. The Eleventh Hour is an intense powerful album. Sapphire Dreams is totally opposite to The Eleventh Hour. Where that album has very intense almost disturbing tracks this album is the perfect music to fall asleep. The synthesizers all take a back seat for now and Mars pulls in a grand piano and creates a surprisingly dreamy album of perfect nighttime instrumentals. No Corroboree, Great Beast Of Wisdom, or Your Eyes here, just perfect bedtime music to fall asleep to. I often play this to counteract nightmares I sometimes have. This CD is one worthy of having. Fans of The Eleventh Hour might enjoy this one too. You can't go wrong with this one.
"Belongings" opens the album with a wash of strings, and then the piano enters with a simple, charming melody; as the piece builds, it is easy to imagine it behind a great movie. "Garden of Eden" is both gently melodic and stirring - simple, but ever so elegant. The sound of windchimes opens the title song - a haunting, mysterious piece that builds ever so gently, inviting us to pause to share the dream. "Fear and Tenderness" seems to be much more about tenderness than fear, and is so achingly beautiful it can invoke tears. "Amy's Lullaby" begins with the sound of a toy piano, but evolves into piano and synth - a sweet lullaby to a much-loved child. "The Haunted" is a mysterious little piece - possibly to accompany a child's ghost story. "Oasis" shimmers - a much more ambient and free-floating piece for solo piano. "A Hurricane Named Desire" is much gentler than the title implies - passionate but tender. "10 Thousand Miles Between Us" is a musical love letter needing no words.
Listeners who enjoy a gentle album with plenty of substance will thoroughly enjoy "Sapphire Dreams".
5 out of 5 stars *****
Great music for newborns, November 30, 1999
Reviewer: A music fan from Mt. Lebanon PA
This is a great CD for soothing baby-while feeding or trying to get baby to sleep.
5 out of 5 stars *****
Inspirational music of the modern era, November 9, 1999
Reviewer: Dr P K Thibault A/C from Newcastle, Australia
This album is an excellent example of Mars Lasar's composing ability. I rank him as a modern-day version of Eric Satie and his music will become ageless.
Mars is amazing!!!!! *****
by DustyLylac - Jan 28, 2009
Mars honestly is one of the most talented artists out there. I have been listening to his music since I was born (parents were BIG fans one would say). Sapphire Dreams, although sad sounding, is astonishingly beautiful! I would recommend buying this as a gift for anyone, especially during these hard economic times. We all need some peace of mind, and Mars'd music can give this to us.
Cheers! ;)
-A Big Fan.
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I Love this album... *****
by Withafoxinherbox - May 12, 2016
I've never been one to write a review. Of the hundreds of albums I have purchased just over the past 20 years (on CDs and now from iTunes), Mars Lasar has become, by far, my favorite artist - and Sapphire Dreams is my favourite of his amazing albums. To me, each song on this collection magically brings back its own wonderful memories.
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Wow! *****
by carkur - Jan 19, 2009
I've never liked this kind of music so much. I'm a teenager and this is the last kind of music that anyone would expect me to enjoy. Sapphire Dreams (The song) is my favorite.... so beautiful!!! I'm looking forward to more!
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BEST ever. *****
by kogome8 - Mar 30, 2012
This album is one that I have listened to over and over for months and I never get tired of it. I am unable to find another album like this out there, but I'm looking! Every song is relaxing and beautiful. Each song has it's own sound. It is a unique album that speaks to my heart... which is unusual.
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Mars Lasar Website Customer Reviews
Hearing this CD for the first time, after hearing and owning Mars' Olympus, was like the experience I had with David Lanz's Cristofori's Dream after hearing and owning the Natural States and Desert Vision. Sapphire Dreams came from deep within Mars; his romantic side. It is quiet, beautiful, emotional and moving. I never get tired of listening to it. If you enjoy listening to great music while you read or want to relax, this is it. The tracks are consistent and complement each other.
Posted on 2005-11-25
I have been a fan of Lasar for almost a decade now. The Eleventh Hour is an intense powerful album. Sapphire Dreams is totally opposite to the Eleventh Hour. Where that album has very intense almost disturbing tracks this album is the perfect music to fall asleep. The synthesizers all take a back seat for now and Mars pulls in a grand piano and creates a surprisingly dreamy album of perfect nighttime instrumentals. No Corroboree, Great Beast Of Wisdom, or Your Eyes here, just perfect bedtime music to fall asleep to. I often play this to counteract nightmares I sometimes have. This CD is one worthy of having. Fans of the Eleventh Hour might enjoy this one too. You can't go wrong with this one.
Posted on 2002-06-08
"Sapphire Dreams" was quite a lovely surprise for me. I have been familiar with Mars Lasar's name for quite some time, but this is the first of his albums that I have heard from beginning to end. Gentle and ethereal throughout, Lasar mixes solo piano with synth - all played by himself. Despite the dreamy theme and feel to most of the album, this is far from a fluff piece. The pieces are beautifully developed and, while very accessible, hold up to many listenings. Classical roots are obvious, but this album is very much in the present, mixing the wonders of the grand piano with the technology of synthesized sounds. What is so remarkable is the emotional content. So many albums that mix piano and synth end up sounding a little thin and flat. The gentle, sweet emotions of each of these pieces come through, and only a couple of the cuts failed to grab me and beg me to listen without any distractions.
"Belongings" opens the album with a wash of strings, and then the piano enters with a simple, charming melody; as the piece builds, it is easy to imagine it behind a great movie. "Garden of Eden" is both gently melodic and stirring - simple, but ever so elegant. The sound of windchimes opens the title song - a haunting, mysterious piece that builds ever so gently, inviting us to pause to share the dream. "Fear and Tenderness" seems to be much more about tenderness than fear, and is so achingly beautiful it can invoke tears. "Amy's Lullaby" begins with the sound of a toy piano, but evolves into piano and synth - a sweet lullaby to a much-loved child. "The Haunted" is a mysterious little piece - possibly to accompany a child's ghost story. "Oasis" shimmers - a much more ambient and free-floating piece for solo piano. "A Hurricane Named Desire" is much gentler than the title implies - passionate but tender. "10 Thousand Miles Between Us" is a musical love letter needing no words.
I love your music Mars. I purchased your album Sapphire Dreams 6 years ago to see what that music was about and I used to play it everyday when I got married to my wife. Beautiful songs.
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Garden of Eden is one of my most favorite melodies, committed to memory.