I and Thou (band)

Last updated

I and Thou is a progressive rock group that is primarily a solo effort from Jason Hart (keyboardist for Renaissance, [1] and Camel) with supporting musicians John Galgano (bassist for IZZ), Matt Johnson (drummer for Jeff Buckley, and Rufus Wainwright), and Jack Petruzzelli (guitarist for Patti Smith and The Fab Faux). [2] Hart stated in an interview that the name was chosen to pay homage to the Martin Buber book, I and Thou . [3]

Contents

Discography

As of June 2014, I and Thou have released one album, and they are currently working on a follow-up recording.

Speak

Speak
IandThouSpeak.jpg
Studio album by
I and Thou
Released2012
Recorded2009–2012
Genre Progressive rock
Length60:38
Label Independent
Producer Jason Hart

I and Thou's first album Speak was released in 2012 [4] . It features a cover image by Renaissance lead vocalist Annie Haslam. Hart has stated that he began developing material for the album in 2005, and the recording began in 2009. [5] Rob Hughes writing for PROG magazine observed

"The ravishing minimalism of Speak is reliant on mood and atmosphere for much of its effect, with Hart combining elements of symphonic rock, prog, classical, and ambient music. It's a record of discreet pleasures, slowly unlocking its secrets with every play." [6]

The album has received generally positive reviews, receiving a 4/5 rating from Henri Strik at Background Magazine, [7] 12/15 from Jochen König at Musikreview.de, [8] and 9/10 from Grande Rock. [9]

Track listing

All songs written by Jason Hart except as indicated.

  1. "Speak" – 12:23
  2. "...and I Awaken" - 11:35
  3. "Hide and Seek" - 16:34
  4. "The Face Behind the Eyes" - 13:38
  5. "Go or Go Ahead" (Rufus Wainwright) - 6:43

Personnel

  • Jason Hart - piano, keyboard, lead and background vocals, percussion, glockenspiel, trumpet, additional guitar and sound effects
  • John Galgano - bass guitar and background vocals
  • Matt Johnson - drums
  • Jack Petruzzelli - electric, acoustic, and classical guitar, mandolin, banjo

Additional personnel

  • Paul Bremner - additional guitar
  • Maxim Moston - violin
  • Laura Meade - background vocals
  • Keren Ann - vocals on "Hide and Seek"
  • Steve Hogarth - vocals on "Go or Go Ahead"

Production

  • Jason Hart - producer
  • Jack Petruzzelli, Philip Hart and Mac Simpson - executive producers
  • Mixed by Fernando Lodeiro
  • Mastered by Fred Kevorkian
  • Cover image, "This Glorious Earth", by Annie Haslam

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renaissance (band)</span> English progressive rock band

Renaissance are an English progressive rock band, best known for their 1978 UK top 10 hit "Northern Lights" and progressive rock classics like "Carpet of the Sun", "Mother Russia", and "Ashes Are Burning". They developed a unique sound, combining a female lead vocal with a fusion of classical, folk, rock, and jazz influences. Characteristic elements of the Renaissance sound are Annie Haslam's wide vocal range, prominent piano accompaniment, orchestral arrangements and vocal harmonies.

<i>Want One</i> 2003 studio album by Rufus Wainwright

Want One is the third studio album by the Canadian-American singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, released through DreamWorks Records on September 23, 2003. The album was produced by Marius de Vries and mixed by Andy Bradfield, with Lenny Waronker as the executive in charge of production. Want One spawned two singles: "I Don't Know What It Is", which peaked at number 74 on the UK Singles Chart, and "Oh What a World". The album charted in three countries, reaching number 60 on the Billboard 200, number 130 in France, and number 77 in the Netherlands.

<i>Rufus Wainwright</i> (album) 1998 studio album by Rufus Wainwright

Rufus Wainwright is the debut studio album by Canadian-American singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, released in the United States on May 19, 1998, through DreamWorks Records. The album was produced by Jon Brion, with the exception of "In My Arms", which was produced and mixed by Pierre Marchand, and "Millbrook" and "Baby", which were produced by Brion and Van Dyke Parks. Lenny Waronker was the album's executive producer.

<i>Heartbeats Accelerating</i> 1990 studio album by Kate & Anna McGarrigle

Heartbeats Accelerating is the sixth album by Kate & Anna McGarrigle, released in 1990. It was their first album in eight years, after Love Over and Over in 1982, and received favourable reviews from many music critics.

<i>Martha Wainwright</i> (album) 2005 studio album by Martha Wainwright

Martha Wainwright is the debut album of Montreal singer Martha Wainwright, released on April 12, 2005. The album received generally favourable reviews.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Brislin</span> Musical artist

Tom Brislin is an American keyboardist, songwriter, singer, producer, and author. In December 2018, American progressive rock band Kansas announced Brislin as the group’s keyboardist; his playing, vocals, and prominent songwriting contributions are featured on the band’s most recently released studio album, The Absence of Presence (2020).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Annie Haslam</span> English vocalist, songwriter, and painter

Annie Haslam is an English vocalist, songwriter and painter. She is best known as the lead singer of progressive rock band Renaissance since 1971, and for her long and diverse solo singing career. She has a five-octave vocal range. From 2002, Haslam has developed a parallel career as a visual artist, producing paintings on canvas, painted musical instruments and giclées.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teddy Thompson</span> Musical artist

Teddy Thompson is an English folk and rock musician. He is the son of folk rock musicians Richard and Linda Thompson and brother of singer Kamila Thompson. He released his first album in 2000.

IZZ is a New York-based progressive rock band. Its music is inspired by such classic progressive groups as Genesis, Yes, King Crimson, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and Renaissance and is often infused with pop hooks à la The Beatles. The band's name comes from the nickname of baseball relief pitcher Jason Isringhausen, who was once on the New York Mets, a team favored by John Galgano.

<i>Release the Stars</i> 2007 studio album by Rufus Wainwright

Release the Stars is the fifth studio album by Canadian-American singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, released through Geffen Records on May 15, 2007. Pet Shop Boys' Neil Tennant was the executive producer; the album was mixed by Record producer Marius de Vries and Andy Bradfield. Wainwright's most commercially successful album to date, Release the Stars charted in 13 countries, reaching Top 10 positions in Denmark, Norway, and the United Kingdom, and was certified gold in Canada and the UK. The album generated three singles: "Going to a Town", which peaked at number 54 on the UK Singles Chart, "Rules and Regulations", and "Tiergarten".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mick Rogers (musician)</span> English rock guitarist, singer and songwriter (born 1946)

Mick Rogers is an English rock guitarist, singer and songwriter, chiefly known for his time with Manfred Mann's Earth Band from 1971 to 1975 and again since 1984.

<i>Time-Line</i> 1983 studio album by Renaissance

Time-Line the eleventh studio album by the English progressive rock band Renaissance, released in April 1983. It was the last album released by Renaissance before they disbanded in 1987.

"Mother Russia" is the closing song on Renaissance's 1974 album Turn of the Cards. It also appears on the 1976 live album Live at Carnegie Hall, the compilation Tales of 1001 Nights, Vol. 1, and several other Renaissance concert albums.

<i>When Love Speaks</i> 2002 compilation album of interpretations of Shakespeares sonnets

When Love Speaks is a compilation album that features interpretations of William Shakespeare's sonnets – some spoken, some set to music – and excerpts from his plays by famous actors and musicians, released under EMI Classics in April 2002. The original idea came from Joy Gelardi who proposed the album as a fund raiser for Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. When that plan fell through, Joy and Michael Kamen, together with Alan Rickman, co-produced it in support of RADA. Alan chose the title, which alludes to a speech in Love's Labour's Lost – "And when love speaks, the voice of all the gods make heaven drowsy with the harmony." – which is, however, not on the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rules and Regulations (song)</span> 2007 single by Rufus Wainwright

"Rules and Regulations" is a song written and performed by Canadian-American singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright. It was the second single from Wainwright's fifth studio album, Release the Stars, released digitally via iTunes in the UK on July 30, 2007.

<i>Milwaukee at Last!!!</i> 2009 live album by Rufus Wainwright

Milwaukee at Last!!! is the seventh album by Canadian-American singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, released in the United States on September 22, 2009. The album consists of live recordings from his August 27, 2007, performance at the Pabst Theater in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in support of his previous studio album, Release the Stars (2007). Documentary film director Albert Maysles recorded a film of the same name for DVD, also released on September 22 in the US.

<i>Grandine il vento</i> 2013 studio album by Renaissance

Grandine il vento is the 13th studio album by the English progressive rock band Renaissance, first released in 2013 and re-released as Symphony of Light in 2014. It was financed through a Kickstarter campaign.

Ronald Dean Cornelius was a session musician and producer who has played on albums by Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Al Kooper and Loudon Wainwright III. He was also the president of Gateway Entertainment which was established in 1986. As a producer he has produced Miko Marks's Freeway Bound album in 2007. He is also the co-writer of "Chelsea Hotel No. 2", which has been covered by many artists including Rufus Wainwright.

<i>Unfollow the Rules</i> 2020 studio album by Rufus Wainwright

Unfollow the Rules is a studio album by Rufus Wainwright, released on July 10, 2020. It marks Wainwright's ninth of original material, his first since Out of the Game (2012), and his first under BMG. The album was produced by Mitchell Froom, and other contributors include Matt Chamberlain, Jim Keltner, and Blake Mills.

References

  1. I and Thou - Speak review on ProgPlanet
  2. Artist's website
  3. I and Thou, interview with Jason Hart on Grande Rock ezine
  4. "Speak" at Prog Archives
  5. Interview on Grande Rock ezine
  6. Hughes, Rob (April 2013) "I and Thou", PROG magazine Issue 35, p. 27
  7. I and Thou - Speak, review at Background Magazine
  8. I and Thou: Speak (review) at Musikreview.de (German)
  9. I and Thou - Speak, review at Grande Rock