Plastic Tales From The Marshmallow Dimention (Interview with: Annie Haslam & Michael Dunford of Renaissance)
Oct 5, 09:00 PMAudio
Interview with: Annie Haslam & Michael Dunford of Renaissance
English Classical/Progressive Rock band RENAISSANCE celebrated their 40TH Anniversary in 2009. Long time band members Annie Haslam and Michael Dunford lead the band on a very limited 9-City tour seeking to introduce new generations to the lush, orchestral favorites that made them a staple of 1970s progressive rock radio. On Monday October 5th, at 9pm, several days prior to their appearance in New York City at the New York Society for Ethical Culture, Annie & Michael were the very special guests on Plastic Tales From The Marshmallow Dimention.
Renaissance originally rose from the ashes of the Yardbirds, with Haslam and Dunford joining at the dawn of the 1970s to define their work with folk rock and classical fusions, including quotations from and allusions to such composers as Bach, Chopin, Debussy, and Rachmaninoff. It wasn’t long before influential progressive rock FM stations like WNEW (New York), WMMR (Philadelphia) and WHFS (Washington) were turning on America to Renaissance, while the band was thrilling concertgoers on the world’s most distinguished stages, from Carnegie Hall in New York City to the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Joining Haslam and Dunford on tour were keyboardist Rave Tesar and bassist-vocalist David J. Keyes, both of whom were previous members of Renaissance and the Annie Haslam Band, plus keyboardist-vocalist Tom Brislin (Yes, Debbie Harry, Meat Loaf, Francis Dunnery) and drummer-percussionist Frank Pagano (Bruce Springsteen, Smashing Pumpkins, Bette Midler, Barry Manilow). Together, these world class musicians revisited the symphonic textures, stunning vocals and poetic lyrics that embody the band’s hauntingly compelling international themes, with fresh interpretations of their most admired compositions. “Carpet of the Sun,” “Ocean Gypsy,” “Mother Russia,” “Ashes Are Burning,” “Running Hard,” “Prologue,” and “Northern Lights” are central to Renaissance’s most prolific period (1972-78), which produced the albums Prologue, Ashes Are Burning, Turn of the Cards, Novella, Scheherazade and Other Stories, and A Song for All Seasons, as well as ‘Live’ at Carnegie Hall (1976), the deluxe two-disc set recently reissued.
“I’m thrilled to be performing these truly unique masterpieces again,” said Haslam, whose five-octave voice is one of the most legendary in rock history. “These songs are a big part of my life and I will sing my heart out.”
“We’ve wanted to bring these songs to American audiences again and now with these top notch musicians,” adds Michael Dunford, “I’m looking forward to it with great anticipation.”
More Info: http://www.anniehaslam.com, http://www.nlightsweb.com
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