Yanni Tribute CD

Personnel includes: Yanni (keyboards, synthesizer); Alfreda Gerald, Vann Johnson, Jeanette Clinger, Catte Adams (vocals); Ramon Stagnaro (guitar, charango); Karen Briggs, Corinne Chapelle, Beth Folsom, Julian Hallmark, Sayuri Kawada, Neal Laite, Ann Lasley, Wil Logan, Julie Metz, Pam Moore, Cheryl Ongaro, Delia Park, Irina Voloshina (violin); German Markosian, Eugene Mechtovich, Cathy Paynter (viola); John Krovoza, Sarah O'Brien, Lisa Pribanic, Aleksandr Zhirov (cello); April Aoki (harp); Pedro Eustache (flute, soprano saxophone, bamboo saxophone, doodook); Cheryl Foster (oboe); David Hudson (didgeridoo); Luis Aquino, Kerry Hughes (trumpet); Paul Klintworth, Doug Lyons (French horn); Rich Berkeley (trombone).
Engineers include: Yanni.
Recorded live at the Taj Mahal, India and the Forbidden City, Beijing, China from March to May, 1997.
Personnel: Jennette Clinger, Alfreda Gerald, Vann Johnson, Catte Adams (vocals); Ramon Stagnaro (guitar, charango); April Aoki (harp); Irina Voloshina, Corinne Chapelle, Wil Logan, Julian Hallmark, Beth Folsom, Neal Laite, Julie Metz, Ann Lasley, Delia Park, Cheryl Ongaro, Sayuri Kawada, Pamela Moore, Karen Briggs , Armen Anassian (violin); Cathy Paynter, German Markosian, Eugene Mechtovich (viola); Aleksandr Zhirov, Sarah O'Brien, Lisa Pribanic, John Krovoza (cello); Pedro Eustache (flute, soprano saxophone); David Hudson (didjeridu); Cheryl Foster (oboe); Luis Aquino (trumpet, flugelhorn); Kerry Hughes (trumpet); Paul Klintworth, Jim Mattos, Doug Lyons, Matt Reynolds (French horn); Rich Berkeley (trombone); Dana Hughes (bass trombone); Jeffrey Mark Silverman (Fender Rhodes piano); Ming Freeman (keyboards); Joel Taylor (drums); Daniel Reyes (percussion).
Audio Mixer: Yanni.
Recording information: Forbidden City, China (03/1997-05/1997); Taj Mahal, India (03/1997-05/1997).
Photographers: Lynn Goldsmith; Kazuyuki Nagae.
Arrangers: Richard Boukas; Yanni.
Yanni's gargantuan popularity unfortunately makes him an easy target for those who see his orchestrally inspired works as glorified musical wallpaper. But if they'd listen for the whole picture before judging, it would be clear that he brings classically influenced symphonic qualities to modern instrumental music; it's highly charged film scoring, only without the movie. The musical images comprising Tribute and the photos in the packaging come from the famous places that not only inspired it but at which it was performed: India's Taj Mahal and China's Forbidden City. While conventional string and brass instruments lead the way, Pedro Eustache's bamboo sax and Doodook and the gypsy-flavored lead violin of Karen Briggs supply appropriate dashes of Eastern culture. "Waltz 7/8" combines the traditional western rhythm scheme with Eustache's exotic flute improvisation. As always, Yanni plays keyboards, but he's more a ringmaster/conductor of an inspiring, symphonic brew that includes gospel and flamenco (with rousing vocals and an accompanying guitar textured over a mid size string section), powerful violin/funky sax duets (the core of the seven-minute "Renegade"), improvisational trumpet ("Dance With a Stranger"), and an intoxicating weave of an orchestra with upward climbing operatic voices. Yanni and friends tap on another culture on the closing track, the previously recorded African tribal piece "Niki Nana," which features Eustache's percussive flute and a hooky wordless vocal chant from a gospel-flavored, female choir. As we see from the other artists this month, there are many ways to build musical bridges between East and West; Yanni's approach is spiritual grandeur in a beautiful, theatrical setting. ~ Jonathan Widran
Recorded live at the Taj Mahal, TRIBUTE pays musical homage to India on several songs; Greek-born composer and keyboardist Yanni describes the album as a tribute to the builders of the Taj and the Forbidden City, as well as to the people of India and China. Yanni's ethereal keyboard work is backed by an i