Renaissance are well known for their classically-influenced progressive folk-rock music, stunning vocals and full-bodied orchestral arrangements. Originally rising from the ashes of The Yardbirds under the leadership of Keith Relf, the band released Renaissance (1969) and Illusion (1971). A series of significant lineup changes occurred before the band membership stabilised and found its stride with a series of highly successful albums in the 1970s. Renaissance -- Michael Dunford, Annie Haslam, John Tout, Terry Sullivan and Jon Camp -- found themselves in a unique symphonic niche in the progressive rock marketplace. Although Tout and Sullivan departed in 1980, two further albums emerged from yet another lineup.
Throughout the lineup changes, Michael Dunford has been at the heart of the band, initially playing guitar, then writing, then settling in as both guitarist and the featured composer throughout their mainstream period. Michael Dunford's collaboration with Cornish poetess and lyricist Betty Thatcher -- writing songs with Dunford mailing demo tapes to Cornwall and Thatcher mailing accompanying lyrics back to London -- is etched in the tablets of the Renaissance legend.
After the lackluster commercial performance of Renaissance's albums Camera Camera (1981) and Time-Line (1983), Michael continued to tour with Annie, Jon Camp and guests, proving the group's songs could work well in an acoustic format. Stage commentary from the farewell performances and interviews from the period frequently referred to Michael's plan -- initially conceived in 1975 -- to create a musical based on "The Song Of Scheherazade." Michael has worked diligently on the musical and now has the support and a workable plan to complete the project.
Michael met Stephanie Adlington in 1994 during workshops for his musical held with students from the Royal Academy of Music. He formed a band to record a new collection of Renaissance songs with lyrics by Betty Thatcher-Newsinger and an alternative arrangement of "Northern Lights," from A Song For All Seasons (1978). The Other Woman was released throughout Europe and South East Asia in early 1995.
The classic Renaissance tracks on Ocean Gypsy were chosen to create a departure from The Other Woman and a return to the acoustic folk-rock style. These are entirely new arrangements of mainly Dunford/Thatcher songs with Stephanie's vocals giving the songs a unique warmth and different texture than the original versions. An additional dimension to the overall sound results from the new orchestration written by Richard Brown, Musical Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company and co-composer of Michael's Scheherazade musical.
On Ocean Gypsy, Michael and Richard have added a unique combination of woodwinds, strings and light percussion that compliment the vocals and highlight the everlasting melodies. The new arrangements prove that the acoustic format works well and demonstrate that Stephanie adds a unique style and flair to the sound of these classic tracks.
"The Great Highway" is similar in style to what Renaissance were doing in the mid-70s but with a more contemporary feel; lyrics are by Jude Alderson, lyricist and book writer of Michael's Scheherazade musical and new writing partner. Stephanie's theatrical style and sheer vocal power perfectly illustrate the broadening range of Michael's compositions in the wonderful new ballad "Star of the Show" a Dunford/Gosling collaboration. Surely this collection of new and rearranged classic tracks will delight Renaissance fans worldwide.