Paul Cardall loves life. That, he says, is the focus of his latest album. The two-disc set, titled "Living for Eden," is very autobiographical, he says, and it's all about the things he loves in life.
"I can look at each period of my life and the music I've done, and it's like a journal. I listen to it and it takes me back to that time."
Although he considers himself mostly a new age pianist, his music has spanned a lot of genres and has gathered him a host of fans around the world. His first big breakthrough came with a CD of music inspired by "The Christmas Box" book and movie. But he's done solo piano, vocals, orchestral pieces, jazz, pop, LDS hymns and Christian rock.
A recent CD of LDS hymns actually went to No. 4 on the Billboard New Age charts, he says. "It's probably the first time 'Joseph Smith's First Prayer' hit the Billboard charts. A lot of my fans didn't know exactly what they were getting, but they just liked the music."
But this latest CD is a little different. "I've never done a whole CD that is so personal. Music, to me, has always been a means to an end, a way to share emotion." This one does a bit more — on several levels.
For one thing, Eden is the name of his daughter. For another, music is his Eden-place; the way he finds his own peace and comfort.
Music, Cardall says, has always been there for him. "I was born with a congenital heart defect, so growing up, I couldn't do sports. I turned to music. In high school, a close friend of mine died. Music was healing. Performing my music at that time was an experience that shaped me."
There have been other challenges: a 1986 staph infection in his heart that resulted in open-heart surgery; miscarriages by his wife; the normal ups and downs of life.
And now comes one more. "I had just finished up the work on this latest album when my health and heart started to decline. I'm now on the list for a heart transplant. I carry my pager with me and know that any minute the call could come."
He is absolutely certain that things are going to go well. "It's not been fun for those around me. But I see it as a gift. Every day I get a blessing. I look at the moon at night and the stars, and everything is so much more beautiful."
People have been so generous, he says. "My wife has been amazing. And I've had countless letters and e-mails from people in similar circumstances."
He takes comfort in the fact that "Utah has one of the best heart transplant teams in the nation. I have a lot of confidence in them. At times I think about the sacrifice involved, and I know it will be a sacrifice for someone. The closest thing I can think about is adoption — the sacrifice of allowing someone else to raise your child."
There is a cycle to life, he says, "and I can accept whatever comes. But I'm not planning on going anywhere. There's plenty of music in me for the next chapter of life."
At the time he started "Living for Eden," he had no idea how poignant the title would become. He had hooked up with local musician Ryan Tilby. "He has starting producing. I basically hired him for four months and we sat around and did the album. We did most of it here at the house. When we started, I had reached my 35th birthday, which seemed like a time for some real reflection."
The first CD of the set is "more fun, more of a celebration of life. It's drive-the-road upbeat, happy. It reflects the love every parent has. It reflects my joy in marriage, having a daughter, extended family — all the things that make life so rewarding."
The second CD is "more reflective, more peaceful." Sometimes he takes the same melodies on the first disc and gives them a different treatment. Others are new pieces. "I like to do contrasts," he says.
Looking back at the past year, Cardall says, "in some ways it has been one of the most difficult years. But in others it has been the most meaningful and rewarding."
Not only is he pleased with how "Living for Eden" turned out, but he's been working with other artists who record on his Stone Angel Music label, including cellist Steven Sharp Nelson and guitarist Jake White. "We live in such a great state. This is the undiscovered capital of great music. It's because they do it from the soul. They do it because they love music."
And Cardall feels strongly about the power of music. "When I have a bad day, I put on the Mormon Tabernacle Choir — if ever you want to feel good, they are amazing. I also love David Tolk's peaceful approach."
It is gratifying for him to know that others have turned to his music. "I've had e-mails from people who say, 'You don't know me, but your music helped me through this difficult time.' I can't think of a greater compliment a musician can receive than knowing your music served in some poignant moment."
As he faces his own poignant moments, Cardall has no idea of his timetable. He is providing periodic updates for his fans on his blog on his Web site, www.paulcardall .com. But he also wants them to know of his faith in the future and his deep love of life.
"It's easy to get philosophical at times like these. But everybody's going through something," he says. The strength and comfort come in knowing that you can pull through. "The trial ends, and you've made it. You've become stronger. If you don't have trials, there's no point to life."
Everyone, he says, is in their own way "Living for Eden."
E-mail: carma@desnews.com