Renaissance at The Strand April 13th 2013 -- A Review

Adversity has a way of revealing character.  Few bands have been tested the way Renaissance has of late.  Fewer still have met their challenges with such flying colors.  In late November of last year Michael Dunford, the lead acoustic guitarist and guiding spirit of the band, passed away unexpectedly of a brain hemorrhage .  The group had just completed work on Grandine il Vento, its first studio album in more than a decade, but their tour schedule was hampered by lead vocalist Annie Haslam’s fractured spine and Hurricane Sandy.  Nevertheless, the group was vibrant and impressive when I heard them at the Ridgefield Playhouse (CT) on Oct 19^th 2012.  Tragically, it was one of the last opportunities to hear Michael’s tasteful acoustic work live.

The spirit of Michael Dunford was very much in evidence as a regrouped Renaissance took the stage at the historic Strand Theatre April 13^th 2013 in Lakewood NJ.  The band has a new guitarist, Ryche Chlanda, a Jersey native, who did a commendable job conjuring up Michael’s inimitable tapestry-like fretwork.  Likewise, percussionist Joe Goldberger was energetic and rock solid behind the drums.  And the rest of the band, which includes David Keyes (bass and vocals), Rave Tesar (piano), and Jason Hart (keyboards and vocals), was fresh and impressive on even the most ambitious material, which included an epic rendition of The Tales of Scheherazade.

The highlight of the evening, however, may have been the two songs from the new album, Cry to the, World and Grandine il Vento, which were performed during the encore.  The music had a special poignancy given the circumstance, but to my ears this was some best music Renaissance has ever done.   Annie’s voice remains as wondrous and attractive as ever, but her performance was also infused with the kind of passion and artistry that made the concert a fitting tribute to Michael Dunford.  If you have a chance to see Renaissance on tour, then don’t miss them.  You’d be hard pressed to find better live music anywhere.

Review Yes at The Beacon Theatre April 9th 2013

Thirty years ago, Yes was being compared to dinosaurs.  Today, as Yes celebrates its 45^th anniversary, the group is still trudging the musical landscape and showing no sign that they are near extinction.   They released their most successful album in decades last year (Fly From Here), they are embarked on an extensive tour this year, and another new album and world tour appear to be in works for 2014.  On Tuesday April 9^th the group performed at the famed Beacon Theatre in NYC to a sold out and decidedly enthusiastic crowd.  Both the set list and the musical performance came the closest in years to recapturing the Yes magic of yore.

In recent years, some fans have grumbled about slowing tempos, patchy vocals, and the absence of founding lead singer Jon Anderson.   There was little to gripe about on Tuesday night, however, as Yes delved into some of its most complex and ambitious extended works – most notably Close to the Edge and Awaken – with precision and gusto.  The set list included some of their most challenging material, but the band sounded energetic, cohesive, and near the top of their game.

Guitarist Steve Howe was his usual dexterous and inventive self.  Often switching between three or more guitars in a single song, Mr. Howe has a gift for avoiding the obvious and making each solo sound fresh and seemingly off the cuff.  His fretwork on the climatic portion of Siberian Khatru and a show-stopping solo in Awaken showed why he is one of the most admired guitarists around.

Highlights of the evening also included rarely performed tracks such as A Venture and Turn of the Century.  The former is a whimsical, off-beat tune with a jazzy keyboard coda; the latter a gentle ballad featuring exceptionally tasteful Spanish guitar and lilting piano.  In the both instances the interplay between keyboardist Geoff Downes and Mr. Howe was impressive and satisfying.

Indeed, tracks like Wondrous Stories showed just how good the musical interchange is between the various band members.  Here, Jon Davison light, ethereal voice came close to duplicating the magic of the inimitable Jon Anderson.   Drummer Alan White was in fine form throughout the night too.

Chris Squire’s unique bass and fine supporting vocals should be noted too.  Mr. Squire is the only remaining member of the group he helped found 45 years ago.  With his large frame and thunderous bass, Mr. Squire could easily be mistaken for some musical Tyrannosaurus Rex.  But it is in no small measure to his credit that Yes is outlasting the critics and detractors who insisted the days of Yes music were numbered.