ROBBY STEINHARDT (ex Kansas) – Not In Kansas Anymore A Prog Opera (2023)

The progressive rock world lost one of the greats during the summer of 2021 when former Kansas violinist/vocalist ROBBY STEINHARDT passed away just as he had been finishing up his first ever solo album, ”Not in Kansas Anymore / A Prog Opera”. Though he hadn’t appeared on a Kansas album since 2000’s, here, Steinhardt doesn’t miss a beat and delivers an album that will bring a smile to the face of any fan of his former band.
Joining Robby are a host of awesome guests, including Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, Steve Morse of Deep Purple/Dixie Dregs fame, Bobby Kimball of Toto, Chuck Leavell of The Rolling Stones, Liberty Devitto (Drummer from Billy Joel), Pat Travers, Billy Ashbaugh (Moody Blues/Pat Benatar) and many more.
The album was finally released after Robby’s death, but now it has been reissued, polished by 1000 Hands member Michael Franklin (who also play keyboards here) and re-packaged with new cover art.
Suppose the classic lineup of Kansas had recorded an album back in the mid-Seventies that, for one reason or another, never got released. Though I know better, I wouldn’t have been surprised if someone told me this Robby Steinhardt’s final solo recording was that lost album.

Unlike too many discs these days, this is a winner from start to finish. Yes, the golden age of prog rock is long gone, but this brings back memories of those days without sounding out-of-date, with a crisp production and great vocal performance by Robby and superb musicianship of all involved.

Timeless would be a good description. For those of us who still value such progressive landmarks as “The Inner Mounting Flame,” “Close to the Edge,” “Thick as a Brick,” “Leftoverture,” and “Point of Know Return,” Steinhardt’s “Not In Kansas Anymore / A Prog Opera” is essential.
Highly Recommended

1 Tempest
Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar – Tommy Calton
Drums – Matt Brown (23)
Electric Bass – Tim Franklin
Electric Guitar – Jim Gentry
Electric Violin – Robby Steinhardt
Hammond B3 – Michael Franklin

2 Truth 2 Earth (Only Truth Can Change The World)
Electric Violin, Lead Vocals – Robby Steinhardt
Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar – Tommy Calton
Drums – Matt Brown
Electric Bass, Backing Vocals – Tim Franklin
Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals – Jim Gentry
Guest Guitar Solo – Pat Travers
Hammond B3, Mellotron, Backing Vocals – Michael Franklin

3 Mother Earth (Is Calling You)
Electric Violin, Lead Vocals – Robby Steinhardt
Acoustic Guitar – Sonny Ferguson
Electric Bass, Backing Vocals, Strings – Tim Franklin
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Tommy Calton
Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals – Jim Gentry
Grand Piano, Synthesizer, Vocals – Michael Franklin
Guest Piano – Patrick Moraz
Strings – Benoit Lajeunesse, Olga Kopakova, Paul Fleury

4 Rise Of The Phoenix (Climb To Grace)
Electric Bass, Strings – Tim Franklin
Electric Guitar – Jim Gentry, Steve Morse
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Tommy Calton
Electric Violin – Robby Steinhardt
Piano, Mini Moog – Michael Franklin
Drums] – Billy Cobham
Strings – Benoit Lajeunesse, Olga Kopakova, Paul Fleury

5 The Phoenix
Electric Violin, Lead Vocals – Robby Steinhardt
Electric Bass, Backing Vocals – Tim Franklin
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Tommy Calton
Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals – Jim Gentry
Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Michael Franklin
Drums – Billy Ashbaugh

6 Prelude
6-String Bass, Electric Bass – Tim Franklin
Cello – Paul Fleury
Electric Guitar – Jim Gentry
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Tommy Calton
Electric Violin – Robby Steinhardt
Flute – Charlie Dechant
Hammond B3], Kurzweil Forte – Michael Franklin
Trombone, French Horn – Pat Gulotta
Trumpet – Billy Boyd, Steve Walters
Violin – Benoit Lajeunesse, Joycelyn Hsu, Olga Kopakova

7 Dust In The Wind
Electric Violin, Lead Vocals – Robby Steinhardt
6-String Bass, Electric Bass, Backing Vocals – Tim Franklin
Cello – Paul Fleury
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Tommy Calton
Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals – Jim Gentry
Acoustic Guitar – Jim Stringer
Backing Vocals – Bobby Kimball
Drums – Liberty DeVitto
Flute – Charlie Dechant
Lead Vocals – Lisa Fischer
Organ, Backing Vocals – Michael Franklin

8 Pizzacato (A Slice For Baby Boy Flynn)
6-String Bass – Tim Franklin
Acoustic Guitar, 12-String Acoustic Guitar – Tommy Calton
Electric Guitar – Jim Gentry
Electric Violin – Robby Steinhardt
Flute, Whistle – Ian Anderson
Harpsichord – Michael Franklin

9 Tuck Tuck
Electric Violin, Lead Vocals – Robby Steinhardt
6-String Bass – Tim Franklin
Cello – Paul Fleury
Electric Guitar – Jim Gentry
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Tommy Calton
Grand Piano, Organ – Michael Franklin
Backing Vocals – Davonda Simmons
Flute – Charlie Dechant
Slide Guitar – Les Dudek

10 Not In Kansas Anymore
Electric Violin, Lead Vocals – Robby Steinhardt
Electric Bass, Backing Vocals – Tim Franklin
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Tommy Calton
Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals – Jim Gentry
Drums – Rayford Griffin
Organ, Mellotron, Organ, Backing Vocals – Michael Franklin

11 Bonus Track: A Prayer For Peace
Electric Violin – Robby Steinhardt
Acoustic Guitar – Tommy Calton
Drums – Matt Brown (23)
Electric Bass – Tim Franklin
Electric Guitar – Jim Gentry
Kurzweil Forte – Michael Franklin

BUY
www.amazon.co.uk/Not-Kansas-Anymore-Robby-Steinhardt/dp/B0BRVN9SGK