The music of the Middle Ages is combined with modern sensibilities and elaborately textured arrangements by California-based quintet Avalon Rising. Paced by the shared lead vocals of flute, Celtic harp and recorder player Margaret Davis and electric and twelve string guitar, mandola and oboe player Kristoph Klover, the group's blend of Medieval songs, Celtic songs and inspired originals sung in Medieval French, Portuguese and English has made them one of the Bay Area's most popular club acts. Illinois-born Davis, who holds a degree in music from Knox College, is classically trained in singing, flute and recorder. In addition to having spent six years with Medieval band, Gai Saber, Davis has appeared as a solo vocalist with Renaissance music ensemble, the Brass Menagerie and Scots/Celtic bands Beltaine, Magic Fire and Four Shillings Short. Klover, who studied vocal technique with James Schwabacher and Edwin Barlow, has performed with the Mrin Opera and was co-leader of Beltaine and Magic Fire. Klover co-produced, arranged and performed on Cynthia McQuillan's album, This Heavy Heart. Avalon Rising is rounded out by Cat Taylor (violin, bodhran), Mark Ungar (bass, mandocello), Scott Irwin (trap drums), Kevin Fanning (drums, Renaissance field drum, $Deirdre McCarthy), Beth Milne, Peter Gascoyne and Chris Fox. On their self-titled 1997 debut album, the band was joined by viellist Shira Kammen and Metallica hurdy gurdy player David Miles. 2004 saw the release of Storming Heaven, a collection of progressive Celtic, Pagan, and original rock songs. ~ Craig Harris