VA. After the Storm (A Benefit Album For The Survivors Of Hurricane Katrina) (2005). CD-2. Progressive Rock.

1 Kansas–Song For America Bass–Billy Greer Conductor–Larry Baird Drums – Phil Ehart Guitar–Richard Williams Orchestra–The London Symphony Orchestra Violin, Vocals–Robby Steinhardt Vocals, Keyboards–Steve Walsh (0:00) 9:13 2 The Flower Kings–A King’s Prayer Bass–Jonas Reingold Drums–Jaime Salazar Electric Piano, Grand Piano, Organ–Tomas Bodin Vocals–Hasse Fröberg Vocals, Twelve-String Guitar, Electric Guitar, Slide Guitar, Glockenspiel–Roine Stolt (9:13) 6:03 3 Woodenhead–Buzz Beat (Live) Bass–Paul Clement Drums–Mark Whitaker Guitar, Guitar Synthesizer–Jimmy Robinson Keyboards–Fran Comisky Recorded By–Dave Stocker, Richard Bird (15:17) 6:45 4 Djam Karet–The Shattering Sky Bass–Aaron Kenyon Drums, Synth, Sequencer–Chuck Oken, Jr. Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Mellotron, Organ–Gayle Ellett (22:03) 6:02 5 Neal Morse–Sleeping Jesus (Live) Bass, Keyboards, Vocals–Randy George Cello–John Krovosa Drums, Vocals–Mike Portnoy Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Vocals–Rick Altizer Guitar, Violin, Flute, Pedal Steel Guitar–Eric Brenton Keyboards, Vocals–Bert Baldwin Percussion, Saxophone, Vocals–Mark Leniger Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards–Neal Morse (28:05) 5:18 6 The Muffins–Essay R (Remix) Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone–Tom Scott Bass–Billy Swann Composed By, Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone–Dave Newhouse Drums, Guitar–Paul Sears Engineer–Carl Merson Producer–Paul Sears, Tom Scott Trombone–Doug Elliott (33:23) 5:53 7 Caravan–Love Song With Flute (Live) Flute–Jimmy Hastings Guitar–Doug Boyle Producer, Engineer–J. Gordon-Hastings Viola–Geoffrey Richardson Vocals, Acoustic Guitar–Pye Hastings (39:17) 4:06 8 Änglagård–Gånglåt Från Knapptibble Bass–Johan Hogberg Drums, Percussion–Mattias Olsson Flute–Anna Holmgren Guitar–Jonas Engdegård Guitar, Vocals–Tord Lindman Organ, Mellotron, Keyboards–Thomas Johnson (43:24) 7:18 9 Little Atlas–On And On Bass–Rik Bigai Drums, Percussion–Diego Pocovi Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar–Roy Strattman Vocals, Keyboards–Steve Katsikas (50:43) 5:34 10 Arjen Anthony Lucassen–Pools Of Sorrow/Not Over You Instruments, Vocals–Arjen Anthony Lucassen Keyboards–Cleem Determeijer Mixed By–Arjen Anthony Lucassen Recorded By, Mixed By–Arjen Anthony Lucassen, Oscar Holleman (56:17) 5:25 11 California Guitar Trio–Zundoko Bushi (Live) Bass–Tony Levin Drums–Pat Mastelotto Guitar–Bert Lams, Hideyo Moriya, Paul Richards (1:01:43) 3:47 12 Pendragon–Sou’ By Sou’west Bass–Peter Gee Drums–Fudge Smith Keyboards–Clive Nolan Vocals–Nick Barrett (1:05:30) 6:50 Disc Two starts off with a KANSAS song called “Song For America“ with help from The London Symphony Orchestra. This was originally released on “Always Never The Same“. It was so good to hear Roine’s vocals on the next song by THE FLOWER KINGS. It seems like it’s been a while since i’ve played this great band. They offer up an alternate mix of “A King’s Prayer“. Another powerful and emotional song. WOODENHEAD who are from the New Orlean’s area do “Buzz Beat“ live. I hadn’t heard this band before now but after listening to this all week I am going to get at least one of their albums. I love this song ! Fripp-like guitar with some killer bass and check out the drumming. DJAM KARET are another incredible band who treat us with “The Shattering Sky“ an instrumental that starts out a little experimental before we get some intricate guitar, followed by mellotron (yes !) organ and some nice bass lines. Neal Morse gives us “Sleeping Jesus“ a mellow live song with Portnoy on drums. The lyrics are meaningful and Portnoy plays like he’s from another planet ! Unbelieveable drumming towards the end of this song. THE MUFFINS do “Essay R“ an alternative mix from the “Bandwidth“ album. The horns sound great and there is a blistering guitar solo too. I need to find this album. CARAVAN does “Love Song With A Flute“ with Pye Hastings on vocals and Jimmy Hastings on flute, and Jimmy’s incredible. ANGLAGARD blesses us with the bonus track that is on “Hybris“ called “Ganglat Fran Knapptibble“. And what a song it is with warm flute melodies and mellotron. Talk about complex ! LITTLE ATLAS are great ! The guitar sounds fantastic on this song called “On And On“. ARJEN ANTHONY LUCASSEN does an alternate version of “Pools Of Sorrow / Not Over You“. I like the acoustic guitar with the lead guitar over top. This turns into a spacey PINK FLOYD like tune. Nice. CALIFORNIA GUITAR TRIO give us a live recording of KING CRIMSON covers like “21st Century Schizoid Man“ and “Vrooom“, they call it “Zudoko Bushi“. The sound isn’t the best on this one, but it’s cool having Tony Levin on bass and Pat Mastelotto on drums. The last song is a good one from PENDRAGOn called “Sou By Sou ’West“. It’s from their latest record called “Believe“. With Nick Barrett, Clive Nolan, Peter Gee and Fudge Smith, enough said. Review by Mellotron Storm