“There are two experiences on offer here – jam band or practitioners of exquisitely-arranged songs”: Curved Air’s Rarities Series box set

Curved Air - Rarities Series box set.

Always shape-shifting, London’s Curved Air were thrilling exponents of the then-burgeoning rock/classical crossover on early LPs such as Air Conditioning and Second Album. As former students of The Royal Academy Of Music and Royal College Of Music respectively, keyboardist Francis Monkman and violinist Darryl Way were well placed to explore that area.

But Curved Air also had a not-so-secret weapon in Sonja Kristina, a former actress, folk singer and Playboy Club croupier who brought a wonderful musical theatre sensibility to songs such as Jumbo, and a sensuous charisma to the band’s gigs.