Considered
(according
to
AllMusic)
"one
of
the
most
dramatically
accomplished
of
all
the
bands
lumped
into
Britain's
late-'60s
prog
explosion",
Curved
Air
is a
pioneering
British
progressive
rock
group
of
musicians
from
mixed
artistic
backgrounds.
They are famed for their unforgettable live performances
and
'Art
Rock'
music
-
the
quasi
classical
imprints
of
Terry
Riley
hooked
onto
beautiful
and
demonic
violin
combined
with
electronic
adventurous
synths
and
interwoven
with
brilliant
guitar
wizardry
mesmerisingly
embroidered
by
the
subliminal
and
exotic
presence
of a
unique
girl
lead
singer
Sonja
Kristina.
All
these
elements
elevated
them
from
the
underground
Roundhouse
scene
to
top
the
album
charts
in
the
early
'70s.
Along
with
High
Tide
and
East
of
Eden,
Curved
Air
was
one
of
the
first
rock
bands
after
It's
A
Beautiful
Day
and
The
United
States
of
America
to
feature
an
electric
violin,
inspiringly
and
dramatically
explored
by
the
excellent
Darryl
Way
and
now
by
the
dynamic
Grzegorz
Gadziomski
.Original
keyboard
player/guitarist
Francis
Monkman
was
the
trailblazer
for
future
'electronica'
and
ambient
extemporization.
Robert
Norton
has
inherited
this
sonic
template
and
himself
a
spinner
of
ethereal
soundscapes
extends
the
boundaries
towards
further
horizons
while
drummer
Andy
Tween
is a
charismatic
energetic
expressive
player
who
succeeded
Florian
Pilkington
Miksa
on
drums
after
Florian
sadly
passed
away
in
2021
.
Chris
Harris'
bass
guitar
artistry,
provides
the
expressive
rhythmic
pulse
that
is
the
Curved
Air
signature.
Curved
Air
have
to
date
released
eight
studio
albums
and
though
progressive
innovators
they
were
hailed
as
Pop
Stars
when
their
single,
the
sultry
"Back
Street
Luv"
was
a
Top
5
hit
in
1971.
The
present
line-up
of
Sonja
Kristina,
Andy
Tween
and
Robert
Norton
(
From
Sonja’s
1990’s
Acid
Folk
band
) ,
Kirby
Gregory
on
guitar
(
from
the
celebrated
‘Aircut’
lineup
of
1974
) ,
Chris
Harris,
and
Grzegorz
Gadziomski
are
the
latest
brilliant
players
surrounding
singer
Sonja
Kristina
.
They
keep
the
Curved
Air
legacy
fresh
and
relevant
for
the
audiences
of
today
.
Kirby
Gregory
returned
to
Curved
Air
after
40
years
in
October
2013
to
add
his
signature
guitar
sound.
There
is
great
chemistry
and
communication
in
this
incarnation
of
Curved
Air
that
the
crowds
love..."
On
12th
November
2012,
much
to
the
excitement
of
their
fans
and
press
worldwide,
a
Live
CD/DVD
titled
'Live
Atmosphere'
was
released
-
'Songs
of
revolution,
insanity,
loss,
desire
and
ghosts:
a
unique
compilation
of
powerful
Curved
Air
songs
played
by a
vital
contemporary
Curved
Air'.
A
new
studio
album,
‘North
Star’
the
first
in
36
years,
was
released
worldwide
by
US
label
Cleopatra
Records
in
2014
Created
by
the
musicians
and
curated
by
Sonja
who
had
kept
the
Curved
Air
flame
alive
since
the
Rebirth
in
2008.
The
material
evokes
the
beauty
and
experimentation
of
the
original
line
up.
The
45th
Anniversary
year
was
celebrated
with
a
complete
performance
of
the
1970
release
‘Air
Conditioning
‘
which
was
released
as
Curved
Air:
‘Live
at
Under
the
Bridge
–
The
45th
Anniversary
Concert,
2CD
‘
There
are
a
growing
number
of
rare
recordings
available
under
the
Curved
Air
rarities
label
.
A
new
studio
album
is
underway
to
be
released
in
2024
.
2023
Curved
Air
will
look
for
new
territories
and
platforms
to
extend
their
reach
.
Streamed
concerts
.
Acoustic
shows
even
Virtual
Reality
whilst
completing
their
newest
offering.
From the Crazy
World of
Lockdown, at the
time of the
first UK vaccine
approval, in
celebration
thereof, Arthur
Brown, Sonja
Kristina, Clem
Burke, Glen
Matlock, Chris
Spedding, Josh
Phillips, Tony
Moore, Paul
Tuthill and Paul
Mitchell perform
the Free
classic. To
raise awareness
and to encourage
contributions to
Help Musicians
in the UK.
Roger Dean and
Sonja Kristina
in conversation
Curved Air is
pleased to
announce the
release of the
latest volume of
its Rarities
Series The definitive
edition of Alive
1990
This release was
prepared by
Francis Monkman
and features a
newly written
introduction by
him, along with
rare images and
other notes all
collected
together in new
cover artwork.
The album
features the
unique track, 20
Years On, but
from a lower
sound quality
source than the
rest of the
album.
Curved Air
Announce Plans
for New Projects
and the
Band’s 50th
Anniversary Year
in 2020.
Photo by Howard
Rankin Curved Air was
formed in 1970
and ever present
original member
Sonja Kristina
will be
continuing to
lead the band
into the band’s
50th
Anniversary year
with a range of
projects and a
world tour.
The band will be
recording a new
studio album in
2020, along with
contributing to
the release of a
50th
Anniversary
Compilation
which will
include newly
recorded tracks,
featuring former
and current
members of the
band, recording
together in
various
combinations.
Curved Air will
be touring the
Americas, Japan,
Europe and also
appearing on
Cruise to the
Edge in 2020.
The 50th
Anniversary year
line-up has also
been solidified
with Curved Air
welcoming back
Kirby Gregory to
the line-up
after a break of
3 years. Kirby
was originally
in the heyday
era line-up
which recorded
Air Cut in 1973.
He returned to
the band playing
guitar for the
recording of the
very successful
North Star
album. Kirby was
professionally
committed to
other projects
from the end of
2015 until now,
and he is
looking forward
to embarking on
the 50th
Anniversary
World Tour in
2020.
The current
line-up was
completed when,
after much
searching, the
band found and
welcomed
Grzegorz “Greg”
Gadziomski to
the line-up.
Greg is a
classically
trained Violin
player who likes
to play in many
genres but
prefers
Progressive
Rock/Fusion as a
particular
passion. The
band would like
to acknowledge
and thank Paul
Sax who has
decided to
retire from
touring after a
lifelong career.
Paul was a
member of Curved
Air from 2009
and the band
wish him much
happiness and
peace in his
retirement.
The
accomplishments
of the previous
line-up and
former members
were recently
showcased with
the release of
two titles on
the band’s own
Curved Air
Records via
Cherry Red: “The
Curved Air
Family Album”
and “Live at
Under the
Bridge”.
“The Curved Air
Family Album”
features 26
tracks including
rare and
unreleased band
and solo
recordings,
including by
current and
former members
which Sonja
Kristina
commented
“How appropriate
that many curved
Air members past
and present have
contributed to a
special
collection
called The
Curved Air
Family Album for
our 50th year.
I’m excited
about this –
it’s so great to
hear all the
unique sounds,
surprising
collaborations,
eclectic songs
and haunting
instrumentals
including from
Francis Monkman,
Darryl Way,
Stewart
Copeland, Kirby
Gregory and
Robert Norton –
they all make
for a very
enjoyable double
album.”
“Live at Under
the Bridge”
captures the
band live
playing Air
Conditioning in
its entirety,
with special
guests Darryl
Way and Ian
Eyre, as well as
tracks from
North Star and
other Greatest
Hits.Of this
release, Sonja
Kristina said
“The 45th
Anniversary of
the release of
Air Conditioning
was a triumph of
performance,
musicianship,
presentation and
appreciative
reception.
Original and
current members
on stage
together - what
joy! Robert
Norton’s
pristine
production
perfectly
captures the
sound and energy
of our night of
celebration.”
Amazon CD:
https://geni.us/CAbridge
iTunes:
https://geni.us/CAbridgeiTunes
Google Play:
https://geni.us/CAbridgeG
Spotify:
https://geni.us/CAbridgeSpotify
Curved Air is:
Sonja Kristina
Kirby Gregory
Chris Harris
Robert Norton
Andy Tween
Grzegorz “Greg”
Gadziomski
Curved Air’s 1984 single
Renegade,
and two other tracks
from the same sessions,
have all been
re-released digitally.
The tracks were recorded
by a line-up of Sonja
Kristina and Darryl Way.
This is the first time
the songs have been
re-released under the
Curved Air name, and the
first re-release of the
single in its original
form since 1984.
Curved Air is pleased
to announce the third
album of its rarities
series on Curved Air
Records.
The
Second British Rock
Meeting 1972 is
distributed via Cherry
Red
Curved Air is pleased to
announce the release of
the latest volume of its
Rarities Series the
definitive edition of
Alive 1990
This
release was prepared by
Francis Monkman and
features a newly written
introduction by him,
along with rare images
and other notes all
collected together in
new cover artwork.
The
album features the
unique track, 20 Years
On, but from a lower
sound quality source
than the rest of the
album.
Concept and album
created by Darryl Way,
novel written by Charles
Shorwell.
Promo video for
the release of 'The Rock
Artist's Progress' Album
and Novel on the 23rd
September 2022, on
Spirit of Unicorn Music,
Cherry Red Records,
iTunes and Amazon.
Darryl Way due to
release 'Destinations 2'
on Spirit of Unicorn
Music, May 28th 2021
'Destinations 2' is a
follow up to his
critically acclaimed
album 'Destinations',
which was voted number 3
in Goldmine Magazine's
top 100 albums of 2020.
Prog Rock said of this
album:
"This is 'Guitar Hero'
as arch-melody maker,
putting his chops in
service of each song's
mood. This is an artist
searching for and
finding a fresh way to
express his
unquestionable talent".
Talking about his new
album Darryl says:
"Like 'Destinations',
'Destinations 2' sets
out to take the listener
on a journey to far off
and exotic locations,
something that in
reality is very
difficult for us to do
at the moment. These
tracks are journeys of
the mind and are my
interpretation of the
atmosphere's and music
of each different
location, from Sun Baked
Mexico to Bohemian
Budapest.
Set mostly in a 'Rock'
format, the tracks are
tempered by my new found
love of playing the
Guitar and my continuing
love for playing the
Violin. So the pieces
themselves, lean towards
genres where the Guitar
and Violin are features
of that particular
style. However, when the
music needs to be more
expansive,
I have not been able to
resist orchestrating it
for full orchestra,
giving the piece more
cinematic depth.
As this music is
essentially 'Program
Music', I've also
included in the sleeve
notes of this album my
descriptions of the
pieces. As with works
like Vivaldi's 'Four
Seasons' and Berlioz's
'Symphonie Fantastique',
it's sometimes helpful
for the listener to know
what the composer's
original intentions
were.
Having said that, I'm
just as happy for the
listener to make up
their own stories for
the music.
Finally, I hope you
enjoy this album as much
as I did creating it".
Darryl Way :: Ocean
Blues
is a track off the
forthcoming album
'Destinations 2' due for
release in February 2021
A piece designed to take
away the stress of these
troubled times and help
remind
you of the sunshine and
sea during the depths of
winter. Hope it works
for you. Darryl Way
Amazon CD
::
iTunes To mark the 50th
anniversary of the
creation of his classic
rock anthem 'Vivaldi',
Darryl Way has arranged
and recorded the whole
of Vivaldi's
masterpiece 'The Four
Seasons' and given it
the same 'rock'
treatment.
Official website:
https://www.darrylway.com/
Curved Air’s best known songs include IT
HAPPENED TODAY, VIVALDI and BACK STREET
LUV.
It is the ORIGINAL sound recordings of
the songs that are included here.
This is the FIRST CD release of this
1976 LP and cassette only collection,
with new liner notes and remastered
audio.
This release is endorsed by Curved Air
and appears on the band’s own Curved Air
Records.
New official remastered edition of
curved air’s classic 1973 album
remastered from the original master
tapes for the very first time
booklet includes liner notes with
exclusive interview
Sonja Kristina
appears on the new EXCALIBUR IV The Dark
Age of the Dragon album!
Nearly 5 years after the
last Excalibur album,
Alan Simon’s rock opera
returns to stores with a
new full length studio
album, The Dark Age of
the Dragon.
The album features Sonja
Kristina singing lead
vocals on the song “The
Passion”.
Sonja Kristina said of
the album "The
Passion is an absolutely
beautiful song and I am
very happy to have been
invited to perform it on
the fourth Excalibur
album.”
This is the FIRST collection of her
solo works and draws on recordings
from her varied solo albums, along
with rare and NEWLY RECORDED
EXCLUSIVE TRACKS.
This Anthology has been personally
compiled by Sonja, with custom cover
art and her personal liner notes. Sonja will be on tour both as a solo
artist and with Curved Air as it
builds up to its 50th anniversary
year.
Underworld: Rock Opera Curved Air Legend
Darryl Way Releases
Complete
