Harlequin Mass -

Harlequin Mass was an American symphonic-rock band from Portland, Oregon, that released a self-titled album in October 1978 on Mass Productions. The group developed from West Linn high-school projects Aarbyn and Magus, then continued in Seattle as Stubborn Puppet.

Members: Lyle Holdahl (bass, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, strings, synthesizer, piano, organ, bass synthesizer, flute, percussion, vocals), Nancy Deaver [Nancy Kaye] (vocals, bass synthesizer), John Reagan (drums, percussion, backing vocals), Jeff Pike (lead guitar, classical guitar, acoustic guitar, piano, synthesizer, saxophone, clarinet, background vocals), John Curtis (keyboards), Mike Goodman (drums), Jon Jacoby (guitar), Chris Roberts (keyboards), Craig Rose (guitar), Sandy Santra (keyboards, rhythm guitar)

Background

Harlequin Mass formed in late 1977 in Portland when songwriter–multi-instrumentalist Lyle Holdahl and drummer John Reagan regrouped around an album project. Guitarist–clarinetist Jeff Pike returned to the partnership, and vocalist Nancy Deaver completed the recording quartet. The three instrumentalists met at West Linn High School and first rehearsed Holdahl compositions with pianist–flutist Dave Pischel.

Under the Aarbyn name, the trio and assorted friends recorded 1974 demos of “All in One” and the conceptual suite “Land of Dream.” Pike moved to California and Reagan entered college, while Holdahl assembled a 1975 lineup with guitarist Mark Pierson and guitarist–cellist Collin Heade. Keyboardist Will Miller and singer Renee Miller joined the 1975 group. Drummer Kenny Field completed the lineup. The musicians cut a fourteen-minute “Sky Caller” demo in June 1975 as their final known recording.

Pike returned to Oregon and joined Holdahl and Reagan in new rehearsals under the temporary Magus name. The trio recorded test demos and auditioned singers until Deaver, billed as Nancy Kaye, joined on lead vocals and bass synthesizer. They completed album masters before keyboardist Chris Roberts entered the first live lineup for a May 1978 KLC Radio performance at Lewis & Clark College in Portland.

Sandy Dillman, billed as Sandy Santra, replaced Roberts in June. She joined the recording quartet for a new version of “A New Song” at Sound Smith Studios in Aloha on June 24 for a regional compilation. Vector Records included the track on The KYTE Album, an August benefit release for Muscular Dystrophy, before the band began regular Portland appearances at The Long Goodbye and The Depot.

Harlequin Mass

Harlequin Mass released their self-titled singular album on October 2, 1978, through Mass Productions.

The seven Holdahl compositions range from the one-minute “Space Cats” to the ten-minute “Sky Caller.” Kaye and Holdahl divide lead parts, while Pike shifts among guitars, reeds, piano, and synthesizer. Reagan supplies drums and percussion and also adds backing vocals. Cellist–guitarist Collin Heade joins “One Step Home.” Rob Metcalfe programs synthesizer effects, while Mark Reagan adds marching snare and hand cymbals to “Space Cats.”

“Love & Death” surges through extended instrumental runs and shifting meters, then eases into more direct late passages. “One Step Home” unfolds beneath a pastoral male lead and Mellotron wash; backing harmonies fill its final section before a lead solo fades. “Space Cats” darts through an upbeat, playful interlude punctuated by marching snare and secondhand cymbals. “A New Song” brightens from an acoustic opening as Kaye sings about hopes for a hit.

A1. “Introit (A Mass for the Harlequin)” (3:09)
A2. “Love & Death” (7:37)
A3. “One Step Home” (7:32)

B1. “Space Cats” (1:00)
B2. “Loss of a Friend” (3:39)
B3. “A New Song” (4:21)
B4. “Sky Caller” (10:34)

Sessions spanned December 1977 through February 1978 at Recording Associates in Portland, where Harlequin Mass produced the album with recording and mixdown engineer Bob Stoutenburg, a former drummer with Salem group Wheel of Fortune whose recent Portland credits included the 1976 Apple album Let the Good Times Roll and 1977 sessions for singer Milton Davis.

Portland visual designer and later substitute bassist Carl Bennett illustrated and designed the monochrome sleeve. Front art depicts a sleeveless figure surrounded by three circular lights between dense trees and rock formations; rear panel pairs a four-member portrait with credits and track titles. Original copies included a lyric insert; side one carried a white label, and side two carried a black label.

Mellow Records reissued Harlequin Mass on CD in 1994 with four November 1981 Stubborn Puppet recordings, including “My Place” and “Fabulous Angel,” plus “Meantime” and the KZOK mix of “Jeopardy.” Bennett also designed the revised CD cover. Big Balloon Music restored the original seven-track program on a 2000 CD-R. Mellow placed the expanded edition on Bandcamp in 2018 for digital circulation.

Postlude

Harlequin Mass continued regular Oregon and Washington dates through the spring 1979 schedule. Pike and Dillman left following the May 19 prom show at Kit Carson Motel in Chehalis, Washington; guitarist Craig Rose and keyboardist John Curtis entered the revised lineup, with Bennett covering bass on select dates.

The band closed Portland activity with a September 21 concert at Day Music Company Auditorium, then moved to Seattle in November. December shows in Bellevue and at Spats Tivoli’s preceded another overhaul. Holdahl and Kaye remained with Curtis; guitarist Jon Jacoby and drummer Mike Goodman completed the final spring 1980 lineup.

Harlequin Mass dissolved in summer 1980 as Holdahl and Kaye organized Stubborn Puppet. Guitarist Kevin Hay and drummer Tom Dickens joined the 1981 configuration, with Bennett on bass as Holdahl moved to keyboards and rhythm guitar. November sessions at Triangle Recording in Seattle produced the four recordings later added to the Mellow CD.

Reagan established Big Balloon Music and recorded with the project Autophobia. Kaye later contributed to that group and Seattle ensemble Talamasca. Holdahl continued under Fire Monkey and Art & Science Projekt, while Pike performed with wife Kate.

Discography: