Quivira - Quivira

Quivira - Quivira
Melodic Revolution Records/Bandcamp

Quivira is a project by Lisa LaRue (composer, keyboards, programming), John Baker (guitars, bass, vocals), and singer Jake Livgren. LaRue wrote almost all the music for this self-titled album and co-produced it alongside Baker. Thematically, Quivira delves into historical lore, focusing on the legend of Native American villages believed to be filled with gold—a subject close to home for LaRue, who is of Cherokee descent.

The result is a true symphonic prog album featuring gorgeous compositions, dramatic orchestrations, and exceptionally skillful musicianship. While there is no physical drummer present, the drum programming is handled with remarkable taste.

Jake Livgren (Proto-Kaw)  lends his distinctive voice to several tracks, delivering that quintessential American prog sound reminiscent of Kansas and Styx. To lean into this even further, Kansas violinist Joe Deninzon guest-stars on the beautiful track ‘Moving Forward’. It’s a stellar addition—the man is simply fantastic. (If you’d like to learn more about Joe, check out my interview with him in the InterViews section on this site!)

Quivira is a truly impressive record: beautifully written, finely produced, and wonderfully executed. I’ve never been the biggest fan of American prog—it often feels a bit too slick for my taste—but this album completely won me over. Highly recommended!