North Star "Transcendence"

Country: USA
Genre(s): Progressive Rock
Format: CD
Release date: April 2015
Tracklist: 
1. Shaman Everywhere (4:32)
2. The Red Road (3:48)
3. Why Go So Soon - 1st Movement (3:44)
4. 2nd Movement (2:46)
5. 3rd Movement (2:11)
6. Threads Of Light (3:40)
7. September Song (3:30)
8. Le Baton Rouge (4:53)
9. One Door (5:18)
10. Darkness Of Light (3:55)
11. Transcendence (4:39)
12. I'm Not Ready To Be Grateful (1:07)
13. Canon (2:28)
14. Final Word (11:02)

Line-up: 
Dave Johnson - guitar
Glenn Leonard - piano, marimba
Kevin Leonard - keyboards, piano, thumb piano, flugelhorn, bass guitar
Joe Newman - vocals, bass, trumpet, keyboards, piano, guitar, sitar

Description/Reviews: 

Transcendence is not a normal North Star album, and bandleader/keyboardist Kevin Leonard says it is their final album. Drummer Glenn Leonard passed away in 2013. His brother Kevin says this final recording is a tribute to Glenn and, as such, contains no drums (nor drum machines). In contrast to North Star’s previous work, Transcendence is “much more subdued, sprinkled with a few lighthearted moments to celebrate our past, although it still retains the North Star stamp maintaining connections to the band’s origins.” The band’s two major influences have been Genesis and ELP. The ELP influence is absent on Transcendence, and what you have is in the vein of pastoral or dreamy Genesis and (occasionally) Gentle Giant, reminiscent of their drum-less tracks or passages, as well as music that is more modern and uniquely North Star. Singer Joe Newnam has some Peter Gabriel quality to his voice (if less polished), which reinforces the Genesis comparison.  (kinesiscd.com)

Media/Samples 
Shaman Everywhere
Darkness of Light

Links:
Progarchives
Proggnosis