ritual echo is the live performance project of singer/songwriter Leslie Combemale, artist/musician Michael Barry, and writer/musician Douglas E. Winter
Leslie Combemale (voices and words)
Leslie lives in the Washington, D.C., area, but grew up in France and Italy. After hearing Sarah Vaughan at age six, she fell in love with jazz. She was trained as a jazz vocalist, working with Ellis Marsalis while at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she also studied poetry, writing, and art history. Leslie studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, England, but prefers to spend her time onstage singing. She is co-owner of ArtInsights in Reston Town Center, Virginia, and an international expert on vintage Disney animation art.
Influences (in chronological order): Edith Piaf, Sarah Vaughan, Judy Garland, Sammy Davis, Jr., Nina Simone, Elmer Bernstein, The Who, Cat Stevens, Joni Mitchell, The Police, Bryan Ferry, Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel, Bjork, Dead Can Dance, Mark Isham, Erykah Badu, Me'shell Ndegeocello, James Horner, Jeff Buckley, Tom Waits
Michael Barry (guitars, keyboards, backing voices)
Born in Alexandria, Virginia, Michael began playing guitar and piano at age 10, then moved on to bass guitar, mandolin, and other stringed instruments, as well as keyboards and synthesizers. He was a founding member of Grande Hotel and Metropolis, which appeared frequently at the Bayou, the Cellar Door, the Warner Theatre, and Louie's Rock City. More recently, he was an occasional member of Downtown, performing at Fat Tuesdays, Sully's, and other area nightclubs. Michael works in his home digital recording studio, and has served as engineer and producer of ritual echos recent CDs. An honors graduate of the Corcoran School of Art, he has pursued a career in art as well as music. He owns one of the country's premiere animation and film art galleries, ArtInsights, located in Reston Town Center, Virginia.
Influences (in chronological order): Bernard Herrmann, Jerry Goldsmith, The Beatles, Procol Harum, The Moody Blues, King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Roxy Music, Robert Fripp, Brian Eno, Steve Hackett, Tony Banks, Todd Rundgren, Weather Report, Jan Hammer, Tangerine Dream, Bill Nelson, XTC, Dead Can Dance, Jonatha Brooke
Douglas E. Winter (drums, keyboards, devices)
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Doug played drums in The Dark Side before pursuing a career in writing and the law. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School, then moved to the Washington, D.C., area, where he wrote the critical biographies Stephen King: The Art of Darkness and Clive Barker: The Dark Fantastic, and edited Prime Evil and Revelations. The Book of the Month Club named his novel Run the best suspense novel of the year. His writing has appeared in the Washington Post, Washington Times, Harper's Bazaar, and other newspapers and magazines in fifteen languages, and includes the monthly soundtrack column for Video Watchdog . His interest in electronic music brought him back to the studio and stage in the instrumental duo Winter Soltis, and he later joined forces with Michael Barry to form Still Sad, whose music is featured on the tribute album Lucio Fulci: A Symphony of Fear.
Influences (in chronological order): Buddy Rich, Ennio Morricone, Eric Burdon and the Animals, The Yardbirds, Procol Harum, The Moody Blues, King Crimson, Pearls Before Swine, Roxy Music, Robert Fripp, Brian Eno, Philip Glass, Tangerine Dream, Goblin, Joy Division, Ultravox, John Foxx, Dead Can Dance, Clan of Xymox, Hans Zimmer, Radiohead, God Speed! You Black Emperor, Sigur Ros
