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 19th 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 13th
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.
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