| Band
Members: |
Robert Berry all Instrumentation
and Vocals-Except Listed Below |
Steve Howe Guitar Cadenza on track
1 |
| |
Lief Sorbye Bodhran on track 2 |
Paul Keller Lead Guitar on track
4 |
| |
Mike Wible Keyboards on track 4 |
Roger Bonasera Drums on track 4 |
| |
Gene Perrault Percussion on track
4 |
Simon Phillips Drums on track 6 |
| |
Jordan Rudess Keyboards on track
6 |
Mark Wood Violin on track 6 |
| |
The December People - Sven, Klaus,
Rudolph, Prancer, Vixen (obviously pseudonyms) |
Jeff Feldman - Keyboards |
| |
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|
| Track
Listing: |
1.)-Roundabout (6:55)
(Album: Tales From Yesterday: Tribute To Yes ) |
8.)-Different Strings
(5:03) (Album: Subdivisions: Tribute To Rush) |
| |
2.)- Minstrel In The Gallery (5:22)
(Album: To Cry You A Song: Tribute To Jethro Tull) |
9.)- A Theme For The Wheel Of
Time (3:36) (Album: A Soundtrack For The Wheel Of Time) |
| |
3.)- Brain Damage
(2:30) (Album: The Moon Revisited: Tribute To Pink Floyd) |
10.)-Carol Of The
Bells (6:19) (Album: The December People - Sounds Like Christmas)
|
| |
4.)-Watcher Of The
Skies (5:53) (Album: Supper’s Ready: Tribute To Genesis) |
|
| |
5.)- Winespring Reel
(4:32) ( Album: A Soundtrack For The Wheel Of Time) |
|
| |
6.)-Life Beyond LA (5:04) (Previously
Unreleased Track) |
|
| |
7.)Karn Evil 9 1st Impression
(8:51) (Album: Encores, Legends & Paradox: Tribute To ELP) |
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| The
Review |
Robert Berry has long been on the
fringes of progressive rock fame and fortune even if time
has not necessarily been on his side. From his higher profile
associations with Keith Emerson and Carol Palmer in 3 from
1988 to nearly joining the second incarnation of GTR (with
Steve Howe), Berry has consistently demonstrated pop and rock
characteristics that worked to update older bands with a rejuvenated
sound (much like Trevor Rabin and Billy Sherwood). Magna Carta
continues its series of cherry picking tracks from Berry's
various works in this ten song overview meant to single out
his respective talent. The artist's re-work of the classic
Yes hit, "Roundabout" works well with a slight tempo change
endorsed by Steve Howe himself who included the extended acoustic
guitar cadenza to close out the new version. Next up is a
fairly folkish version of Tull's "Minstrel in the Gallery"
from the tribute To Cry You a Song that shows Berry's insightful
hard rock approach to song as well. The singer's lead vocal
quality is perhaps the most important aspect to one of the
first re-recordings of tracks from the Floyd's Dark Side of
the Moon but nothing new is really indicated in the rendition.
However Berry's slower tempo introduction to "Watcher of the
Skies" is another well conceived update that emphasizes using
an acoustic guitar to introduce the main riff of the piece.
As a producer Berry's approach appears most thoughtful on
his covers of ELP and Rush pieces. The only real drawback
to this label overview approach is that very few of Berry's
own song craft is apparent except for the two representative
pieces from The Wheel of Time disk. -
Jeff Melton
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