THE WAIT OF GLORY

CD: As a huge fan of the early Kansas and the powerful, very distinctive guitar play by Kerry Livgren, I was very curious to this CD/DVD set. Well, after a first session I was very impressed, what a professional band and what a splendid music! Most of the twelve compositions sound swinging and dynamic featuring fluent shifting moods, good vocals, great interplay and strong soli on guitar, keyboards, saoxphone and flute. The focus is on Kerry his excellent guitar work, delivering many fiery and biting solo and powerful guitar riffs. But the keyboards are also outstanding, from mellow organ waves to bombastic synthesizer flights. Some tracks sound more mellow or dreamy (acoustic guitar, piano, romantic vocals) and one song even reminds me of early Madness featuring a cheerful rhythm and catchy interplay between organ and saxophone. At some moments the music evokes early Kansas (interplay between bombastic organ and fiery electric guitar) but also, how chauvinistic, Dutch band Alquin because of the swinging and powerful climates, the saxophones and the vocals.

The DVD was recorded live at the Progressive Legends Showcase in 2006, it has a running time of almost twenty minutes and contains 3 songs: 1. The Occasion of Your Honest Dreaming (6:12): It starts with a distorted guitar solo by Kerry, then a swinging rhythm with strong interplay and soli on flute and guitar, the music rocks! 2. Words of Honor (4:20): This is a wonderful ballad that alternates between dreamy (piano, vocals) and bombastic (organ, electric guitar), very compelling but also a bit polished. 3. Skont (8:01): The highlight on this short DVD! Kerry plays this time not on his black Fender Stratocaster but on an oddly shaped, Gibson-like guitar, he delivers two great, often biting soli. The strong interplay between the saxophone and rhythm-section evokes early King Crimson. But the focus is on the keyboard player with a mindblowing solo on his digital Hammond organ, strongly build-up and supported by Kerry's heavy guitar riffs, FANTASTIC! The visuals on this DVD are at the level of functional (some wonderful blue spot lights) but the band plays outstanding, if you get the chance to buy this box set instead of only the CD, take your chance!