Presto Ballet is a progressive rock

Progressive rock

Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...

 band founded by Metal Church

Metal Church

Metal Church was an American heavy metal band. They originally formed in Seattle, Washington as Shrapnel in 1980. Their first album was released in 1984, and the band's most recent work, This Present Wasteland, was released in 2008....

 guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof

Kurdt Vanderhoof

Kurdt Vanderhoof, born in 1961, is an American guitarist, best known as the lead guitarist and founding member of the American heavy metal band Metal Church. He formed the band in 1980 after the alias given to his San Francisco apartment. Vanderhoof moved back to his hometown, Aberdeen, Washington....

. Their sound is highly reminiscent of 70's prog rock, as the band was founded chiefly as a tribute to classic progressive bands such as Yes

Yes (band)

Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...

 and Kansas

Kansas (band)

Kansas is an American rock band that became popular in the 1970s initially on Album-Oriented Rock charts, and later with hit singles such as "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind"...

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Debut album

Presto Ballet's debut album Peace Among the Ruins was released in 2005 to general praise and considerable press. Critics consistently commented on the album's warm and organic sound, a feeling created through the use of analogue recorders and vintage instruments, played with great skill and precision. The band used no drum machines, digital recorders or sequencers in the studio.

The band's second album, The Lost Art of Time Travel

The Lost Art of Time Travel

The Lost Art Of Time Travel is a 2008 album by the progressive rock band Presto Ballet. Presto Ballet was founded by Metal Church guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof...

, was released in June 2008. Featuring a revamped lineup, and was released worldwide through ProgRock Records

ProgRock Records

ProgRock Records is an independent American record label that specializes in the Progressive Rock musical genre . The key distribution partners are MVD in the US, H'art in Germany, RSK in the UK and Borders in Sweden...

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New album and current events

Presto Ballet's third album, Invisible Places, will be released on February 4, 2011 through SAOL / H'Art / Zebralution. On this release, founder Kurdt Vanderhoof is joined by fellow Metal Church alum Ronny Munroe on vocals, keyboardist Kerry Shacklett, and bassist Bobby Ferkovich (Powertrain, ex-Heir Apparent). Drums on the new album were handled by session man Henry Ellwood.

Current members

• Ronny Munroe
  Ronny Munroe
  Ronny Munroe is an American heavy metal singer, most noted as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Metal Church until the band broke up on July 7, 2009. He joined in 2004, replacing David Wayne and Mike Howe. He also had brief stints as the vocalist for Brutal Godz and Lillian Axe. He was...
  
   - Lead vocals, acoustic guitar
• Kurdt Vanderhoof
  Kurdt Vanderhoof
  Kurdt Vanderhoof, born in 1961, is an American guitarist, best known as the lead guitarist and founding member of the American heavy metal band Metal Church. He formed the band in 1980 after the alias given to his San Francisco apartment. Vanderhoof moved back to his hometown, Aberdeen, Washington....
  
   - Guitar, mellotron, chamberlin, synthesizer, Hammond organ, bass pedals, electric piano
• Bobby Ferkovich - Bass, backing vocals
• Kerry Shacklett - Piano, keyboards, Hammond organ, backing vocals

Former members

• Jeff Wade - Drums, percussion
• Brian Cokeley - Piano, Hammond organ, synthesizer, electric piano, lead and backing vocals
• Brian Lake - Bass
• Scott Albright - Lead vocals, acoustic guitar
• Ryan McPherson - Piano, keyboards, Hammond organ.
• Izzy Rehaume - Bass
• Bill Raymond - Drums