ETTORE SALATI

This month's Artist in Spotlight is Ettore Salati from Italy. Ettore is a sought after session guitarist by many prog musicians not just in Italy but all around the world. He started playing piano at a very young age (mostly classical music) but when he became a teenager and discovered the world of Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Genesis and 70's rock in general, he was immediately fascinated by guitar... more

New Grass Revival / On The Boulevard

New Grass Revival are one of the pioneers of progressive bluegrass. Formed in 1971 by Sam Bush (mandolin/vocals), Curtis Burch (guitar), Ebo Walker (bass) and Courtney Johnson (banjo), they immediately got the attention from the industry both in a good and bad way. First of all, they were often told that their music was not bluegrass, and they knew it wasn’t “bluegrass” in its traditional sense, and it wasn’t what they were trying to achieve anyways. They were blending rock, soul and blues rhythms with the traditional bluegrass music. They were not wearing suites, but instead they had a more casual style along with long hair... more

KANSAS / Leftoverture

Leftoverture features the classic lineup of:

This cleverly titled release was the band’s fourth since forming in 1971 and reached #5 on the American Billboard charts. Although Kansas is not a band that would fit neatly under the “progressive” label for many, they are nonetheless worth noting in this context. Leftoverture is the perfect example of an exceptionally talented band fusing a commercial sound with true art.

By the time Kansas released Leftoverture, popular rock music was mostly formulaic and the vast majority of bands who were exhibiting progressive elements were mostly doing so at the expense of pop music sensibilities. But there was a turn in the tide with many such bands (Genesis and Supertramp being good examples). With Leftoverture, Kansas showed their audience that they could write with pop sensibilities like beautiful melody lines, and solidly arranged verses and refrains-and do it best.

But the Kansas-style of rock was deceiving. The well-crafted, classic melody lines and the effortlessly timeless vocals of both Robbie Steinhardt and Steve Walsh do a wonderful job of bringing the casual listener into songs that are supported by non-commercial and progressive musical interludes. All this to say that, with Leftoverture, Kansas was able to accomplish two seemingly contradictory things (and I’m guessing without meaning to): 1) classically meld a paragon of pop-rock writing sensibility with ingenious progressive passages (for the most part, replacing the standard rock guitar solo) and 2) boldly (and truly) challenge the meaning of labels such as “progressive” and “commercial” in their time.

Guitarist Kerry Livgren shines on Leftoverture having written half of it by himself and co-written the other half mostly with vocalist/keyboardist Steve Walsh. With so much of this release having been conceived by one man, it is easy to hear the dramatic stamp he places on his songs. Lyrically speaking none of these songs, however, are psychologically overbearing but are offered forth to the listener as identifiable spiritual adventures. Livgren is a rare gift to the music world, being so capable on so many instruments and in the lyric department as well.

The production on Leftoverture is top notch for its time. Thirty years this gives the listener the opportunity to enjoy things like the intricacies of the how the acoustic guitars and keyboards (each in their turn) flow tightly over the bass lines. Phil Ehart’s drumming is spot on here on Leftoverture, truly giving the music it’s pace. Ehart is a true percussionist and timekeeper, knowing when to let the general rhythm of a song wander within the beat and when to bring it back in line.

In Leftoverture, one hears precursors of the Spock’s Beard school of magically blending verse/chorus with out-and-out jamming. In fact, listening to Leftoverture back-to-back with Spock’s Beard’s Day For Night (1999) will reveal that Kansas has most certainly made an impression on subsequent generations of musicians.

Their music may be all they have to share but it’s more than enough for me. Thanks guys. You may have had your difficulties while you were together, but you left us with some timeless magic. Leftoverture being among one of the best rock albums ever released. Cheers.

Nelson Lee