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| Symphonic Rock's First Couple: New Albums for Winter Symphonic rock vocalist Lana Lane and her keyboardist / producer / husband Erik Norlander have just completed a pair of covers albums for release this winter. It has been a tradition in Japan for the two to release a Lana Lane "specialty album" every two years. They started with the Lana Lane Ballad Collection in 1998, then continued with Ballad Collection 2 (2000), Covers Collection (2002) and Winter Sessions (2004). Now for 2006, Lana and Erik have recorded not one but two albums for the winter season. The first album is Lana Lane - Gemini, an album of classic rock covers from the 60s and 70s featuring the backing musicians Vinny Appice (d), Tony Franklin (b), George Lynch (g), Mark McCrite (g, v) and Erik Norlander (k) along with Kelly Keeling providing additional duet and harmony vocals. Gemini is the astrological symbol for twins, and since this is Lana's second album of all covers, the album carries the theme of "two" throughout. Lana recorded two songs by each classic rock artist for this release: a pair of songs each originally recorded by Cream, Pink Floyd, The Moody Blues, Heart, Jefferson Airplane and Foreigner. Of particular note is Lana's "Pink Moon Suite" that combines the song "Johnny Moon" -- originally recorded by Heart -- with songs from most of "Side One" of Pink Floyd's landmark "Dark Side of the Moon" album. The second album is Erik Norlander - Hommage Symphonique, an album of progressive rock covers recorded by Erik along with Gregg Bissonette (d), Don Schiff (b), Mark McCrite (g) with Kelly Keeling handling all of the vocal duties. Erik employed a small ensemble of acoustic instruments featuring Jon Pappenbrook (trumpets flugelhorn), Eric Jorgensen (trombones), Mike Alvarez (cello) and David Schiff (woodwinds). David is the brother of Don Schiff, and in addition to Don's NS/Stick work on the album, he also fills out the acoustic string ensemble with the new Bowed Guitar instrument. Erik's choice of covers reflects his own broad musical taste, performing songs originally recorded by ELP, ELO, Yes, Rick Wakeman, King Crimson, Procol Harum and Jethro Tull and Chuck Mangione. The last artist may sound the most surprising, but Erik's stirring rendition of Mangione's "Children of Sanchez" brings this jazz - fusion classic more into Erik's world of symphonic progressive rock supported by his seasoned and highly versatile band. Lana Lane - Gemini and Erik Norlander - Hommage Symphonique albums follow the already acclaimed 2CD release, Revolution Road, from Erik's band Rocket Scientists. The Rocket Scientists musicians appear throughout these two new titles continuing the collaboration and bringing it to new heights. Like Rocket Scientists - Revolution Road, these two new CDs will be distributed in North America and Europe by ProgRock Records which continues another successful collaboration with Erik and Lana's Think Tank Media label. Lana Lane - Gemini and Erik Norlander - Hommage Symphonique will be released on November 23, 2006 on the Avalon label in Japan and then on January 30, 2007 on Think Tank Media / ProgRock Records with advance sales starting in December 2006. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page |