The Prog Collective

The Prog Collective emerged in late 2011 as a rotating supergroup in the progressive idiom, assembled and directed by Billy Sherwood, the multi-instrumentalist bassist and vocalist from Yes, and supported by an ever-changing roster of prominent figures drawn from prog, jazz fusion, and mainstream pop. Its densely layered approach essentially originated the crossover-prog style that fuses progressive pop with neo-prog and instrumental rock textures. The ensemble’s self-titled 2012 debut showcased Annie Haslam alongside Alan Parsons, Rick Wakeman, and roughly a dozen additional contributors. Its 2013 successor, Epilogue, incorporated work from several of Sherwood’s Yes bandmates together with Colin Moulding and John Wetton.

Following an eight-year pause, Sherwood reactivated the project for Worlds on Hold, issued in February 2021. Half the track list comprised new material while the remainder revisited covers such as Peter Gabriel’s “Solsbury Hill,” Procol Harum’s “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” Alan Parsons’ “Eye in the Sky,” the Doors’ “People Are Strange,” Boston’s “More Than a Feeling,” and, as a bonus, the Beatles’ “Penny Lane” performed by the late John Wetton. A characteristically extensive guest roster supplied vocals from Todd Rundgren, Geoff Tate, David Johansen, and David Clayton-Thomas. Sherwood himself produced the album, handled guitars, drums, keyboards, and occasional lead singing, and was joined by guitarists Jan Akkerman, Steve Hackett, and Steve Hillage, violinist L. Shankar, keyboardists Geoff Downes, Patrick Moraz, and Tony Kaye, plus drummer Alan White.

The following year brought the covers album Songs We Were Taught, which retained many of the earlier participants while adding bassist-vocalist Martin Turner, formerly of Wishbone Ash, and ex-Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre. Its song selection ranged across progressive rock staples including “Fire and Rain,” “The Weight,” and “Year of the Cat,” while guitarist Dweezil Zappa and Blackmore’s Night vocalist Candice Night contributed an orchestral reading of Carole King’s 1970s hit “It’s Too Late.”

January 2023 saw the swift arrival of Seeking Peace, the first Prog Collective release devoted entirely to original compositions by Sherwood. Among its guests were vocalist Sonja Kristina, Dream Theater keyboardist Jordan Rudess, vocalist James LaBrie, Patrick Moraz, David Sancious, Graham Bonnet, Downes, and Steve Morse. Sherwood’s plans for live performances were postponed after Yes issued the studio album Mirror to the Sky in May; the band also scheduled and then abandoned a fiftieth-anniversary tour of Relayer, mirroring the earlier cancellation of Close to the Edge dates in mid-2022, both times because suitable insurance could not be secured. A mid-2023 concert trek spotlighting the Prog Collective remained on Sherwood’s calendar.