7th of February, 2005

Sonja and Marv's new MasK single is available for sale on the Burningshed label. Click here to order.

I've added a link to a great film from Sonja's stint in the London production of "Hair." It's her performance of the song "Frank Mills." You can view it here.

I'll be adding on more film clips of Curved Air in the coming weeks.

11th of January, 2005

Darryl Way was in touch today. His new album "Aria Futura" is available through his Verisma website at www.verisma.com.uk . He wrote, "We currently have 3 videos playing on Classic FMTV (Sky Channel) which they have just started broadcasting on the web. You can find it on: www.classicfm.com .

"We're in the process of recording our second CD which should be out in the spring -- the new album will be in English this time. We are also in the process of putting an opera together based around one of our tracks that has been particularly successful, "Mistress of Destiny". The opera will be a 3-hander consisting of tenor, (Stephen Crook), soprano and character actor part.

"We're booked into the Dartington Barn Theatre this autumn and are planning a London date shortly after. We intend doing it using pre-recorded music and synths, in an attempt to keep it a lean and mean production."

18th of November, 2004

The MASK DVD maxi single will soon be available. Sonja and Marvin are taking pre-orders on the MASK website.

Also, Marvin's CDs "Neptune" and "Cellosphere" have been re-released by internet label Burning Shed. And shortly a collaborative DVD of three Pete Gomes films with soundtracks by Marvin will be available on their site.

30th of July, 2004

One of my favorite musicians, Eddie Hardin of Hardin & York and Spencer Davis Group fame, has published his hysterically funny autobiography called "Ain't Life a Bastard -- 35 Years of Musical Mayhem." Reviews and an excerpt can be found here, and Eddie's website is at EddieHardin.com.

28th of July, 2004

Here's a photo from MASK's gig at the Bedford on July 26th:

28th of June, 2004

Sonja's full Cri de Coeur concert from the Spitz in London is now available for viewing! Click here for the streaming video.

The new MASK video by Sonja & Marv is called "Free." You can view it here: Free . Be sure to check the MASK website regularly for news and concert information!

I've also added some photos from taken at MASK's gig at the Sprawl on the 9th of June by John Jacob to the News page of Sonja's website.

3rd of May, 2004 -- Gig news today!

Everyone please try and come to this one!!!!!! MASK concert and audio visual evening!!!!!! Monday, July 26th - MASK are performing at and hosting an audio visual evening at the Shakespearean Globe Theatre in the Bedford in Balham. The Bedford - The Premier Entertainment Destination in South London.... More information soon.

MASK concert!!!! Wednesday, June 9th - MASK are playing a short set at the celebrated Experimental Music Event - Sprawl in London Farringdon.

Sprawl Press Release:
The Sprawl club, at the Lifthouse. Sprawl happens next June in London, presenting another selection of oddbeats, soundscapes & eclectic sounds - it's a packed night of groundbreaking guests again, the un/usual Sprawl sonic art buffet...

19th of April, 2004

Lots of news today...

MASK's first major gig has been confirmed for July 2004...venue news in the next few days.

The first MASK album is now complete .

Three MASK tracks are being remixed by prominent London DJs.

MASK's second & third DVD films "Beloved" and "Blue Words,"also by Outerbongolia have been completed and you can view them right here: Beloved and Blue Words. Three more films have been shot and are being edited.

DJ Monkeypilot has been playing MASK tracks during the very successful Whirl-y-gig Club in Kings Cross, London. The April clubnight opened with Lambent Spires and closed with Global Incantation.

8th of April, 2004

Breaking news....A MASK track, "Global Incantation," has been chosen by DJ Monkey Pilot to open the new Whirl-y-Gig compilation, "Whirl-y-Waves 3," set for release in September 2004. The Websites are www.whirl-y-music.com and www.whirl-y-gig.org.uk.

4th of February, 2004:

Darryl Way’s new group Verisma are now marketing our their album “Aria Futura” directly from their website. Darryl is also offering a DVD which includes Dolby 5.1 surround sound mixes of the album as well as Dolby 5.1 surround sound versions of the 2 videos from the album, which are currently being broadcast on Classic FMTV.

For details of the album and DVD, plus some nice new photos of Darryl, visit the Verisma website at verisma.co.uk , or you can email the group direct at: verisma@verisma.co.uk.

15th of January, 2004:

And yet another library album has surfaced. This one is also by Darryl -- a CD on Rouge Records called "Classical Rock."

17th of December, 2003:

I found yet another library album. This one is by Darryl -- a lovely set of classical compositions entitled "Country Diary" on the DeWolfe label. Track list has been added to the discography.

15th of December, 2003:

Sonja's "Cri de Coeur" CD is now on the BBC2 playlist. Take a look.

BREAKING NEWS -- 23rd of October, 2003:

Sonja's "Lambent Spires" Video: music by MASK and film by Outerbongolia, has been selected to be screened in Berlin at Trampoline Praterfernsehen night (contemporary new media arts festival), 28th/29th October. For information contact info@trampoline-berlin.de, or visit the website at www.trampoline-berlin.de.

Also, Sonja has signed copies available of the "Cri de Coeur" CD, the "Songs From the Acid Folk" CD and DVDs of the Cri de Coeur gig at the Spitz in London. Email info@mask.uk.net for details!

MASK are about to embark on a series of impromptu London dates before festival appearances and an international concert tour.

To receive news and information please add your name to our mailing list by emailing info@mask.uk.net.

19th of August, 2003:

Unfortunately, spammers have seen fit to attack the Curved Air mailbox with a variety of viruses lately, so I've been forced to take down the email box. Until we find an alternative, please address any questions to the Curved Air Yahoo discussion group. Sorry for the inconvenience.

4th of June, 2003:

Sonja has announced a new "Cri de Coeur" gig at the Birmingham Jazz Festival on Thursday, July 10th at O'Neill's, Broad Street Birmingham. The festival website is: http://www.bigbearmusic.com/FESTIVAL.html . As before it will have filmic visuals and will feature DJ Monkey Pilot.

Sonja has also asked that those of you who attend the "Cri de Coeur" gigs send us reviews via email -- AND also any reviews of the album itself.

20th of May, 2003:

Sonja's "Cri de Coeur" concert last night at The Spitz was a great success by all accounts, with lots of old friends in the audience.

Good news from the BBC today -- they'll be playing the 1976 live BBC concert on BBC 6Music on the 27th of May at 22.00, and repeating it on the 1st of June at 7.00. Click on the logo below to go to their website.

Sonja and the band will be performing against a film created as a backdrop for the musicians by French filmmaker Jean Henri Meunier, who has made many films and documentary portraits especially of musicians. He is also a writer, photographer and record producer. This is his first abstract conceptual film.

Consult the Spitz website for further information on tickets and more information: http://www.spitz.co.uk/venue.html.

19th of March, 2003:

I've added a great photo of John Jacob and Carol "Speed Queen" Munro to the Fan page today.

Also, Darryl sent along a great set of personal photos from the early 70s -- most are from Curved Air's tours of the USA and Italy in 1971. For the moment I've grouped them all on one page. Take a look.

6th of March, 2003:

Darryl has a new album being released here in the States in April on Miles Copeland’s ARK21 label. The band is called Verisma and the album is "Aria Futura." It’s a classical rock album featuring the operatic tenor voice of Stephen Crook, whom Darryl has worked with on several projects over the years. The CD will be available directly from Ark21 Records. We'll post further updates as the release date draws near.

More on Stephen Crook:

Stephen Crook studied classical guitar at the Royal College of Music. He has gained many diplomas, given recitals, and played concertos in the time honoured tradition of the classical musician. Before that however, he was just another teenager sitting on the end of his bed, strumming an electric guitar and dreaming of rock bands. ‘That was my real beginning’ he says, ‘I started with what was in front of me. Later when I needed direction, it was the classical training that took over and opened a door to all those other influences.’

When did the singing start? ‘I can’t think of many guitarists who don’t sing, it usually goes with the instrument; but it is a little unusual to leap from classical guitarist to opera singer. It makes a lot more sense when you think of the curious affinity between rock music and opera, because both have such a great sense of drama. The transition certainly happened slowly for me, singing in choirs, backing singers in rock musicals; but every step seemed like a natural progression. Getting involved with opera was the final development’.

In a journey from gigging guitarist to international tenor, life has been colourful to say the least, but his latest venture, as vocalist in the classical fusion band Verisma, with their debut album Aria Futura, is a dynamic return to those early roots in rock . After ten years treading the boards in some fifty operas, totalling well over a thousand performances, Stephen is excited about this new project. Indeed it seems just as easy to imagine him in front of a rock combo , electric guitar slung around his neck, as it is to picture him with an orchestra, playing the romantic hero on an operatic stage. ‘I don’t regret taking some time to get here. This is how you learn your craft and find your direction. The album is a fresh mixture of all that I have been involved with. The songs are great and they were written for my voice. What more could you want?’

Voiceprint in the UK have announced the release of Francis's "Harpsichord Sampler." The recording has been circulating amongst friends of Francis for several years -- I'm personally very pleased that it has been given a proper release. I give it my highest recommendation.

And Francis's "Jam" CD has also been released by Voiceprint -- I finally have a scan of the cover:

Sonja's new "Cri de Coeur" solo website has been launched. Take a look -- I'm still adding new pages and information, but there's plenty to look at. The address is http://www.sonjakristina.com.

MP Records in Italy have announced the upcoming release of Fabio Liberatori's new CD entitled "Asimov Assembly," featuring two songs written and performed by Sonja, "Eyes Do More Than See" and "Nightfall." The release date is the 14th of February.
 

This album is an electronic voyage through the mind and thought of Isaac Asimov....but many acoustic moments (and the wonderful voice of Sonja and the sweet touch of Arturo at the piano) will bring you into a journey among planets, stars......and a future day by day closer to the present."

Contact MP Records at mp-records@libero.it for purchasing information.

6th of January, 2003:

I added a couple more photos to the fan page and made one correction today.

Sonja's "Cri de Coeur" website is currently under construction -- it should be finished and ready to enjoy soon.

2nd of January, 2003:

I've added some new photos to the fan page -- check out the link above. More coming soon.

Sonja's "Cri de Coeur" jazz CD will be released shortly by Market Square Records in the UK. There will be two new websites related to the release, one for Sonja and one for MASK, a joint project between Sonja and Marvin Ayres. Sonja's solo website will be up and running by early next week. Watch this news page for details.

Also, there are two more Russian bootleg releases. The "Second Album" has been paired with "Lovechild" and "Phantasmagoria" has been paired with Sonja's "Harmonics of Love." Haven't heard them, but I assume they're nothing but copies of legitimate CDs. The covers state that the albums have been remastered, but I guarantee that they are NOT. Don't waste your money on these.

Just noticed that they spelled Michael Wedgwood's name incorrectly on the DVD cover!

12th of December:

The Curved Air DVD has been released! See the November 15 news listing below for the link to order your copy.

Sonja will soon have a new solo website to feature her upcoming jazz CD, "Cri de Coeur" along with all her other new projects. The site is not yet active, but the address is http://www.sonjakristina.com

Also, the Russian bootleggers have released a pair of 2-on-1 CDs, "Airconditioning" along with "Midnight Wire" and "Air Cut" along with "Airborne." Haven't heard them yet, so I can't comment on the quality, but I would expect Air Cut to be taken from a vinyl album, just as the other Russian boot was. Again, we discourage the purchase of these inferior quality products. The CD covers:

Richard Wynne

Many thanks to the various record & CD companies for allowing us to use the album covers and other images on this site, including Warner Brothers, BTM, HTD, Repertoire, Mystic, Deram, BBC Records, I.R.S., Collectors Choice, AFKM, Voiceprint, Si-Wan, Bruton, KPM, Music House, Line, Charisma, Snat, Venture, DeWolfe, Timbre, Fruithouse, Crunchy, Chopper, Pearl Key, Phantom, Band of Joy, Castle, Snapper and any others whom we've forgotten to mention (let us know, we'll be delighted to add you, too!).