Renaissance: Nice to hear again

When I heard Annie Haslam beautiful voice and Renaissance music on the 1978 album A Song For All Seasons, then I realized I was a proghead. Now many years later the band has released Symphonic Journey. This is a 2 CD and DVD live album by Renaissance.

This recording captures in sound and vision a very special concert staged at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside PA, USA on 27th October 2017. Renaissance performed with live orchestral musicians for the first time since the 1970s. Annie Haslam was an amazing vocalist but she was 70 years old during the concert. Of course, she does not have the same voice splendor, but it’s nice to hear the Renaissance again.

There were two groups under the banner of Renaissance. The first group included Keith and Jane Relf (vocals) and came from the Yardbirds ashes. The second and better known incarnation produced some very good music. Annie Haslam’s five octave range fit perfectly with the classical/orchestral rock (lot of piano playing & full symphony orchestra backup) created by the other members. The quick description I usually give is they are sort of like the old Moody Blues with an incredible female vocalist. The soprano voice of Annie Haslam and the piano virtuosity of John Tout allied to the beauty and refreshing melodies, the refinement of the arrangements gave their music its magnificent splendor.

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