The Prog Collective is a prog supergroup with alternating members conceived and led by Yes bassist/vocalist/multiple instrumentalist Billy Sherwood, backed by famous guests from across the genres of prog, jazz fusion, and pop. The group's maximal sound virtually created the crossover prog subgenre that marries progressive pop to neo-prog and instrumental rock. Their 2012 self-titled debut included appearances from Alan Parsons and Rick Wakeman. Epilogue, its 2013 follow-up, featured contributions from Sherwood's Yes colleagues and a bevy of guests including Colin Moulding and John Wetton. After an eight-year hiatus, Sherwood revived Prog Collective for 2021's Worlds on Hold and followed with the covers collection Songs We Were Taught in 2022. The all-originals set Seeking Peace appeared in January 2023. Founded in late 2011, the Prog Collective's 2012 self-titled debut included appearances from Annie Haslam, Alan Parsons, Rick Wakeman, and a dozen others. Epilogue, its 2013 follow-up, featured contributions from Sherwood's Yes colleagues as well as Colin Moulding and John Wetton. After an eight-year hiatus, Sherwood revived the Prog Collective for 2021's Worlds on Hold. Released in February, its track list was split between originals and covers including Peter Gabriel's "Solsbury Hill," Procol Harum's "A Whiter Shade of Pale," and Alan Parsons' "Eye in the Sky," as well as the Doors' "People Are Strange," Boston's "More Than a Feeling," and the Beatles' "Penny Lane," sung by the late John Wetton as a bonus track. The guest list was customarily large, and offered a surprising array of vocalists including Todd Rundgren, Geoff Tate, David Johansen, and David Clayton-Thomas. Sherwood produced the album and played guitars, drums, keyboards, and occasionally sang. He was backed by a top-shelf roster of instrumentalists, including guitarists Jan Akkerman, Steve Hackett, and Steve Hillage, violinist L. Shankar, keyboardists Geoff Downes, Patrick Moraz, and Tony Kaye, and drummer Alan White. In 2022, the Prog Collective returned with the covers set Songs We Were Taught. Its lineup included many of the same players as well as some new ones, including bassist/vocalist Martin Turner (ex-Wishbone Ash) and former Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre. The set list was quite eclectic, offering progressive classic rock songs including "Fire and Rain," "The Weight," and "Year of the Cat." Further, guitarist Dweezil Zappa and Blackmore's Nght vocalist Candice Night delivered an orchestral version of Carole King's '70s-era smash "It's Too Late." In January 2023, the Prog Collective followed up quickly with Seeking Peace; it was the first time Sherwood's group issued an all-original program of his songs. Among the set's guests were vocalist Sonja Kristina, Dream Theater keyboardist Jordan Rudess, and vocalist James LaBrie, Patrick Moraz, David Sancious, Graham Bonnet, Downes, and Steve Morse. Sherwood's touring ambitions were delayed because Yes released the studio album Mirror to the Sky in May. Further, the band plotted and canceled a 50th anniversary tour of Relayer (as they had with Close to the Edge in mid-2022), due to being unable to procure insurance. Sherwood planned a mid-2023 tour for a live version of the Prog Collective. ~ Thom Jurek, Rovi

The Prog Collective

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