Curved Air is a British progressive rock band that was formed in 1970. The band's lineup included Sonja Kristina (vocals), Francis Monkman (keyboards, guitar), Darryl Way (violin), Florian Pilkington-Miksa (drums), and Rob Martin (bass). Curved Air was one of the first bands to feature a female lead vocalist in the progressive rock genre.

The band's music is characterized by the use of classical music elements, particularly the use of the violin, which was played by Darryl Way. The band's sound was also influenced by jazz and folk music, which gave their music a unique and eclectic sound.

Curved Air released their self-titled debut album in 1970, which was followed by a series of successful albums throughout the 1970s, including "Second Album" (1971), "Phantasmagoria" (1972), and "Air Cut" (1973). Their music was well received by critics and fans alike, and the band gained a dedicated following.

Curved Air went through a number of lineup changes over the years, with Sonja Kristina being the only constant member. The band went on hiatus in the late 1970s, but reformed in the 1990s and have continued to perform and record new music.

Today, Curved Air is considered to be one of the pioneers of progressive rock, and their influence can be heard in the music of many contemporary bands. Their unique blend of classical, jazz, and folk music has earned them a place in the pantheon of great progressive rock bands.

• Sonja Kristina - vocals - b. April 14, 1949, Brentwood, England.
• Darryl Way - keyboards/violin
• Francis Monkman - synthesizer
• Rob Martin - bass
• Florian Pilkington-Miksa - drums

• "Air Conditioning" (1970)

• Sonja Kristina - vocals
• Darryl Way - keyboards/violin
• Francis Monkman - synthesizer
• Ian Eyre - bass
• Florian Pilkington-Miksa - drums

• "Second Album" (1971) - Single: "Back Street Luv"

• Sonja Kristina - vocals
• Darryl Way - keyboards/violin
• Francis Monkman - synthesizer
• Florian Pilkington-Miksa - drums
• Mike Wedgwood - bass

1. "Phantasmagoria" (1972)

• Sonja Kristina - vocals
• Mike Wedgwood - bass
• Kirby - guitar
• Eddie Jobson - violin/synthesizer - b. April 28, 1955, Billingham, England.
• Jim Russell - drums

1. "AirCut" (1973)
2. "Lovechild" (1991) - recorded in 1973.

• Sonja Kristina - vocals
• Darryl Way - keyboards/violin
• Francis Monkman - synthesizer
• Florian Pilkington-Miksa - drums
• Phil Kohn - bass

1. "Live" (1975)

• Sonja Kristina - vocals
• Darryl Way - keyboards/violin
• Mick Jacques - guitar
• Tony Reeves - bass - formerly with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Colosseum, and Greenslade.
• Stewart Copeland - drums - b. July 16, 1952, Alexandria, Egypt.

1. "Midnight Wire" (1975)
2. "Airborne" (1976)

• Sonja Kristina - guitar/vocals
• Darryl Way - keyboards/violin/vocals
• Francis Monkman - guitar/keyboards/bass
• Florian Pilkington-Miksa - drums/percussion

1. "Alive, 1990" (live) (2000) - On September 23, 1990, Curved Air reformed for a concert at London's Town and Country Club 2...this CD, published by Mystic Records, is a record of that event and features songs primarily selected from their first three albums.  Don't judge this live performance by the audio quality of the first track, "Twenty Years On (Intro)", a new song written specially for this reunion concert; this intro track was taken from a mono cassette recording from the audience.  Although I was a little leary of this approach at first, I'll have to admit a certain charm in hearing this song just as it was heard by the fans.  I was particularly impressed with the way the start of the second track, "It Happened Today", synchronizes with the much-improved audio quality recorded from the sound board.  I really like this CD, from the boogie-feel of "Stretch" and the moodiness of "Hide and Seek" to the lovely "Melinda (More Or Less)".  Sonja Kristina's lead vocals are strong and distinctive, the guitar work from Francis Monkman is impressive, and Darryl Way's violin playing is a joy to hear (with the exception for the feedback/screeching portion of "Vivaldi"...not a problem, since it doesn't last too long), and the percussive work from Florian Pilkington-Miksa keeps everything moving along.  This is a very good live recording of a very tight band.  Curved Air reminds me somewhat of what Kansas (one of MY favorite bands) might have sounded like with a female vocalist.  Having seen Curved Air play live in Memphis, Tennessee, in the early 1970s, it was refreshing to hear this music again, and it brought back a lot of pleasant memories from the concert.  Fans of the band will definitely want this recording, and if you haven't heard the music of Curved Air before, you need to hear this.  Highly recommended.

• The Official Curved Air Web Site
• Mystic Records - "Where The Music Really Matters"