Tony Banks: SIX Pieces for Orchestra

�Ex-Genesis member Tony Banks in classical mode, each of the six pieces majoring on rhapsodic feeling and bold melodies. Blade, featuring the solo violin of Charlie Siem, is the most impressive.� --BBC Music Magazine, June 2012 ****

�These six symphonic songs are full of openhearted melody and glamorous orchestration�Particularly pleasing is The Oracle, a serene bit of tunefulness that has harmonies, harps, and woodwind writing that sound a bit like early Delius. The orchestra has a big, brassy sound, with lush strings for the soupier lyrical moments�and there are plenty of those. Martin Robertson�s alto sax solos in Siren and Charlie Siem�s violin in Blade are smooth and stylish.� --American Record Guide, September 2012

Tony Banks, founder member of rock band Genesis, has already written a much admired orchestral work called Seven (8557466), in which he was praised for his �genuine melodic gift� (Gramophone). His new work consists of six evocative songs without words which may arouse in the listener ideas of seduction, journeys, heroes, quests, decisions and goals. Two of the pieces feature solo instruments � alto saxophone on Siren and violin on Blade � played here by elite soloists, which mesh into Banks�s orchestral tapestry with bewitching effect. The remaining pieces reveal his outstanding lyrical gifts and total command of musical narrative.

Tony Banks has a big following for his solo work outside the group. His classical compositions have been admired for their lyricism and melodic qualities, with some critics noting an affinity with the string works of Vaughan Williams.