Quivira – Debut | Progressive Rock Central.com

Quivira released their self-titled progressive rock debut album on September 4, 2026, through Melodic Revolution Records.

This new symphonic progressive rock album is: “An exploration of pre-Kansas Quivira history and Francisco Vázquez de Coronado’s 16th-century search for the mythical city of gold.”

Music and history, I’m in!

Quivira consists of members:

Lisa LaRue (keyboards, programming, composer, and album producer)

Jake Livgren (vocals)

John Baker (guitars, bass, and vocals)

Special guests include: Joe Deninzon (violin, electric violin – track 7) and Evan Stanley (guitar).

I have always enjoyed Lisa LaRue Baker and her bands. Their sound leans towards that of the epic progressive rock band Kansas. And the best part, is their choice of direction. They seem to lean towards the Steve Walsh era most, (My favorite).

The “(Intro) The Coming of the Spaniards,” is a symphonic and majestic opening. It is full of choirs, orchestration, acoustic guitars, bass, and strings. It is a very warm welcome to what will be one of Lisa and her band’s greatest albums. It is a powerful, close to four-minute, stage setting, musical intro.

“The Benefits of Breathing Quietly,’ opens with soft violin, like a moonlight on the plains. Piano and keyboards follow, with deep breathing and Jake Livgren singing about an evening on the plains. “Soft as the wind. Living in the spaces. Where the noise grows thin. The world sounds clearer when I don’t speak at all. Silence is a shelter. These are the benefits of breathing quietly. Letting the land decide what it will tell me.” Great lyrics that set up a warm relaxing feeling. Then Lisa takes you away on a wonderful Emerson-like keyboard journey. One of the best songs on the album. The drums join in as do the acoustic and electric guitar, and bass to build a monumental soundscape, worthy of the legendary band Kansas.

“The Plains’ Truth,” opens with organ and a similar opening to some of Kansas’ best albums. The electric guitar is bold as the piano strikes home. Jake Livgren is back with a historic story of the “phantom of the plains.” It is a serious story of the native people who populated this region of the country before they were removed by foreign forces from the European continent. The violin and electric guitar, along with Lisa’s keyboards help raise the level of the sound of this music. The lyrics are deep and truer to the story of the peoples of the plains.

“Quivira Bound, opens with what sounds like electric violin, but is probably synthesizers. This is an over 5 and a half-minute band instrumental showcase. No one is left out. The keyboards are amazing, as are the lead electric guitar solos. The drums keep a great steady beat and the bass brings those great lower chords. A shining star of a song to showcase the talents of this band, and give it a worthy title song. The closing, growling, electric guitar, at times, almost sounds like a harmonica. Great effect!

“Moving Forward,” opens with soft piano and keyboard electric violin sounds. John Baker sings this one and provides his own story of how the wind rises over the tall grass on the prairie. If you have never been to the prairie lands of the USA, you are missing something. It is beautiful and bountiful, full of corn and other crops that feed America and much of the world. This area is also considered “Tornado Alley,” and its ominous dark clouds and storms were well portrayed in the famous movie “The Wizard of Oz.” John sings of the Spanish seeking the famous, lost City of Gold, somewhere out on the plains and prairies. This lost city of gold was hunted, for decades, with the promise of untold riches. The search later extended farther south into Central and South America; disrupting so many native cultures as it travelled south. All for the sake of profit and gold.

“The Turk/Follow the Wind,” almost sounds like a famous, epic, Kansas song, off “Leftoverture,” or “Point of No Return”. It is an amazing reminder of the brilliant past that was so spectacular for Kansas. The keyboard violin, electric guitar, bass and drums are perfect throughout this close to six-minute, instrumental. Another fabulous showcase for this dynamic band. The piano and keyboard violins are wonderful. They take me back to the pinnacle of the Steve Walsh Kansas era.

“Nothing is Everything,” brings aboard guest violinist, Joe Deninzon, who is known for playing electric violin and a 7-string electric violin with his band Stratospheerius. This over 7-minute song is a continuation of the feeling and sound from that wonderful Steve Walsh era of Kansas. Lisa’s piano and keys are absolutely perfect. However, Joe Deninzon’s violin is the highlight of this show. The electric guitar, bass and drums support the soundscape well. Another famously great instrumental. The drums near the end are spectacular! As is the lead electric guitar performance. A whole lotta something here.

“Carved from the Sun,” opens with those cool organ sounds I remember from early Kansas. Then Lisa goes spacey, Genesis keyboards and they sound just so great! She keeps those magical Harmond sounds, close to the commanding sound of the soundscape, thankfully. The lead electric guitar chords are so strong they almost echo and reverberate. Every moment of this over 8-minute instrumental is worth your time and listening pleasure.

“Kicking Rocks,” is full of Lisa’s magical piano performance, and what sounds like some accompanying brass. The electric guitar soloing is magnificent. Another great instrumental.

“Prelude to Anywhere/Weekend Conquistadors,” opens with commanding piano and fired up electric guitar. That electric keyboard violin sound returns and all is well. The electric guitar enters and echoes away, creating a wonderful effect, for this piano powered instrumental. Jake Livgren returns to sing on the second part of this combined track.

“Still Breathing,” opens with wonderful piano and that keyboard created violin sound. The soundscape builds as strings, drums, bass and guitars are added. Then, they take a pause and come back with a full-on assault to close this album epically! Close to six minutes of the best piano you will hear this year. The violin sounds are also unforgettable. A powerful closing instrumental to leave you wanting more. The follow-up album, which should be well worth the wait.

Quivira’s Debut album is clearly better than Kansas’ last album, “The Absence of Presence,” released on July 17, 2020. I really enjoyed “The Prelude Implicit,” but “The Absence of Presence,” only had a few memorable songs, including the title track. It must be so much fun trying to bring back the stellar music of Kansas to a new generation. Jake Livgren’s voice is closer to Steve Walsh’s. That makes me want to hear the follow up more than Kansas’ next album. I look forward to the next chapter of Quivira with anticipation. Don’t miss this, the start of the story and the beginning of a rush for gold, which can be found in the music of Quivira!

Album Track List: