TURN OF THE CARDS & SCHEHERAZADE AND OTHER STORIES - LIVE IN CONCERT

I thank Haslam and Dunford for bringing Renaissance back. Anyone who owns the albums covered in this concert will be delighted to watch it. But at the same time this show was a little bit depressing: shots of the audience show that only old farts like myself bother to go to a Renaissance gig. Apart from one or two young folks all we can see is bald heads, grey mustaches and overweight wives (well, this is an American audience so the weight is larger than in other parts of the globe).

And the concert itself? Well, it's a delightful experience to see that Haslam's voice is still there after all these years. Dunford is there too with his acoustic guitar, doing what he always did in the good old days, that is, standing in the shadow on the stage (what is not a big concern in the past since the male leader of the gigs was the amazing Jon Camp). The band is technically competent and plays very well. Even if I have my issues with the sound of non-vintage keyboards in old prog this is not a trouble, at least here (differently as with Wakeman or ELP nowadays). So what prevents me of giving a 5 star-rate to this release?

Part of the answer is intrinsically subjective, part is more objective. As mentioned above I miss Camp. I don't know and don't care about the reasons that lead to their personal split but since the first "reunion" (with the terrible Tuscany and the - just ok - live release in Japan) his absence is surely felt. The bass was the lead instrument in this band apart the keys but the fellow still had a gorgeous voice (Kiev anyone?) and stage presence. So it was with frustration that I receive the news that he wasn't involved - again - in this reunion. He said in his site that there were conversations and the thing almost happened what makes me more depressed. Did I miss Tout? Absolutely, I love him and his style but his situation is different since it appears that since the incidents that lead to his quiting of the band in the early 80's he wasn't the same anymore. Sullivan? It would be ok too although the Renaissant album was a mistake from his part. So the essential piece would be Camp and his absence was deeply felt in my home.

So if someone (who?) asks me if he should buy this DVD my answer would be something like "only if you still owns the Scheherazed live DVD from the 70's and the bootleg from the Novella Tour on the BBC and can stand Camp's absence". If the person at least could understand what I mean he would prove himself a true Renaissance fan.

Final comment: love you guys but I don't think it's really necessary to release a new album specially if The mystic and the muse is a taste of the things to come. It' s derivative and almost self-parodical. Keep playing the old stuff alive and selling the shows and please, make your fans happy by bringing back Jon Camp. If Tout could be there too would be a joy but Camp is necessary for making the things brighter.

3 stars - good but very far from essential for the regular fan.