Yes joins the onslaught of holiday recording issuance’s with their latest live recording, In The Present, Live From Lyon on Frontier Records. It will be available for purchase as a CD/DVD in the U.S. on November 29, 2011.
Recorded in Lyon, France, on December 1st 2009. This is the first Yes live recording to feature new vocalist Benoit David.
The Yes press release is here for your further education.
Disc One
Siberian Khatru
I’ve Seen All Good People
Tempus Fugit
Onward
Astral Traveller
And You And I
Corkscrew (Acoustic Solo)
Disc Two
Owner Of A Lonely Heart
Southside Of The Sky
Machine Messiah
Heart of the Sunrise
Roundabout
Starship Trooper
DVD
Interviews, Excerpts from the Live Show,
Roundabout, Machine Messiah (running time approx 55 mins.)
Steve Howe, venerable progressive rock guitarist of Yes and Asia fame will release his 22nd solo album since 1975 on November 21, 2011.
It is entitled Time. It is a combination of folk and classical works. Five years in the making it is a collaboration between Steve and film and television composer, Paul K. Joyce.
The Yes brand is readily distinguished by the creative talent of visual artist Roger Dean, who has designed their album covers since Fragilein 1971. Yes guitarist Steve Howe has said, “There is a pretty tight bond between our sound and Roger’s art.” The 40 year partnership of Yes and Roger Dean provides a rich tapestry of unique fantasy world settings. I often find myself getting lost in the nether-worlds the album covers portray.
I am hard pressed to say what my favorite Roger Dean Yes art work is. His paintings are the perfect visual companion to the progressive rock sounds of Yes. After studying his Yes covers body of work more extensively I have decided that the cover of Keys of Ascension is the art and logo combination I admire the most.
So what’s your favorite Yes Roger Dean album painting?
We shared an intimate evening with legendary progressive rock artists, Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman this past Wednesday night. The two former members of Yes leveraged their warm affinity for each other’s musical heritage effectively resulting in a well-articulated collaboration.
Jon Anderson is the vocal heart of Yes. His gentle spirituality combined with his passion for Mother Earth endears you to him. The music he has co-written with Rick Wakeman, The Living Tree is a notable departure from the Yes classics we know and love. The songs are light, yet provocative in their assimilation.
I especially liked the interweaving of Yes songs with Anderson & Wakeman songs. I found that to be a very effective method to transfer accessibility to The Living Tree compositions.
A high point of the evening that showed me the superior depth of the vast Yes catalog was the song ”Awaken” from the Going For The One album. The synergy of Jon’s rich vocal instrument in direct harmony with Rick’s keyboard mastery produced a transfixing interlude. I have read that “Awaken” is Rick Wakeman’s favorite Yes selection. I have gained first hand insight why Rick Wakeman values this composition. I watched him in close pursuit as his fingers nimbly traveled over the keys, accenting the music’s edges as the respected maestro.
We found Rick Wakeman’s British humor refreshingly entertaining.
My wife especially liked the song, Garden. She loves Jon Anderson’s articulation as he equates the planting of flowers in the garden with how loving a relationship can center us all.
It was meant to be that Rick Wakeman and Jon Anderson sent us home with a romantic song for our hearts, “The Meeting” from the album that features the collaborative genius of Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman and Howe. I was reminded of this video as Rick Wakeman played the piano and Jon Anderson sang to us.
Surely I could tell
When I sleep tonight
A dream will call
And raise it’s head in majesty
Dividing all my energy
To the meeting of your love
I just love the lilting sound of Jon Anderson‘s voice, especially when it is coupled with the magnificence of Rick Wakeman‘s piano virtuosity. I just learned today that they will be appearing together at The Ridgefield Playhouse on Wednesday November 2, 2011.
I am very encouraged to attend this event. It’s a rare opportunity to see these two musical artists who represent the true spirit of Yes.
Their 2010 collaboration, The Living Tree, will melt your heart when you hear it. These recordings have a healing power all their own.
Jon Anderson has also just released a new solo recording, Survival & Other Stories.
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