Biography
Blending the music of the Middle Ages with contemporary approaches and richly layered compositions, California-based quintet Avalon Rising operates from the West Coast. Shared lead vocals drive the ensemble, supplied by Margaret Davis on flute, Celtic harp and recorder alongside Kristoph Klover on electric and twelve-string guitar, mandola and oboe. Their fusion of Medieval and Celtic material with original compositions, performed in Medieval French, Portuguese and English, has established the group as one of the Bay Area’s most popular club acts. Illinois native Davis earned a music degree from Knox College and received classical training in voice, flute and recorder. Before her current work she spent six years in the Medieval ensemble Gai Saber and appeared as a solo vocalist with the Renaissance group Brass Menagerie as well as the Scots/Celtic bands Beltaine, Magic Fire and Four Shillings Short. Klover studied vocal technique under James Schwabacher and Edwin Barlow, performed with the Mrin Opera, and served as co-leader of both Beltaine and Magic Fire. He also co-produced, arranged and played on Cynthia McQuillan’s album This Heavy Heart. The lineup is completed by Cat Taylor on violin and bodhran, Mark Ungar on bass and mandocello, Scott Irwin on trap drums, Kevin Fanning on drums and Renaissance field drum, Deirdre McCarthy, Beth Milne, Peter Gascoyne and Chris Fox. Shira Kammen on vielle and Metallica hurdy-gurdy player David Miles augmented the self-titled 1997 debut. Storming Heaven, issued in 2004, gathers progressive Celtic, Pagan and original rock songs.
Albums