Jon Anderson @ The Fitzgerald Theater 4/20/19

Much against the wishes against my better half, I attended this concert last Saturday night.

This was the 5th time I've seen Jon Anderson in Minnesota outside of a Yes concert (3rd solo/solo band, once with Jean-Luc Ponty and once with ARW), and in some ways it might have been the best.

I say that largely due to the band he has is really excellent. They very much jazz-ed and jungled/tropical-ed up many of the classic Yes tunes and some of his solo stuff including some of the Olias of Sunhillow work which were highlights especially.

Along with some of the material from the new album 1000 Hands. Among them, the 1000 Hands piece that went into Starship Trooper and then back to Solid Space.

I was really digging that piece, which I will confess to have the album on my hd, but have yet to listen to it yet, but mean to soon of course.

1000 Hands may be the best music he's done since "Open" which I asked my super-Yes fan John about if Jon's ever thought about playing live, but he didn't know but would like to ask Jon about.

But as far as the band, he had this great female electric violinist, more than 1 percussionist, and a couple of guys who played multiple instruments including Trombone, Flute and keys.

edit: here's what is listed in an article as his touring band:

Michael Franklin (keyboards), Tim Franklin (bass), Matt Brown (drums), Tommy Carlton (guitar), Jocelyn Hsu (Violin), Antonio Esposito (keyboards) and Chris Charles (saxophone, flute?).

Set 1
Ocean Song? (excerpt)
Owner of a Lonely Heart (Yes song)
Yours Is No Disgrace (Yes song)
Ramalama
State of Independence (Jon and Vangelis cover)
I've Seen All Good People (Your Move / All Good People)
Makes Me Happy
America (Simon and Garfunkel cover)
WDMCF

Set 2
Flight of the Moorglade
Sweet Dreams (Yes song)
To the Runner
Long Distance Runaround (Yes song)
First Born Leaders
1000 Hands (Come Up)
Starship Trooper / Solid Space (Yes song)

Encore:
Roundabout (Yes song)

Chris Squire Tribute "A Life in Yes": Todd Rundgren + others "Roundabout"

This is from an upcoming Chris Squire tribute album A Life in Yes, being released on November 9th,

The Steve Hogarth and Annie Haslam contributions probably have me the most curious.

But here's Todd Rundgren with John Wesley and Tony Kaye (oddly) doing "Roundabout"




Amazon



1. Jon Davison and Patrick Moraz - on the Silent Wings of Freedom
2. Steve Hogarth and Larry Fast - Hold Out Your Hand
3. Annie Haslam - Onward
4. David Sancious and Steve Stevens - South Side of the Sky
5. Sonja Kristina - the Fish
6. Steve Porcaro and Steve Hackett - the More We Live - Let Go
7. Jon Davison and Tony Kaye - Parallels
8. Nikki Squire and Dweezil Zappa - Owner of a Lonely Heart
9. Todd Rundgren, John Wesley and Tony Kaye - Roundabout
10. Candice Night and Brian Auger - Don't Kill the Whale
11. The Prog Collective - the Technical Divide - Bonus Track
12. Chris Squire - Comfortably Numb - Bonus Track

Yes featuring ARW - Fragile [1B] (2018)

New song "Fragile" from Jon Anderson + Rick Wakeman + Trevor Rabin.

Haven't heard it yet, but the response sounds good. I'm impressed that we finally got something from these guys, as they have been kind of touring as nostalgia for the most part. But maybe this will mean a full album at some point.

also who plays the drums?

Lost in Vegas - Rush-2112 REACTION

A lot of people have seen this already, and I commented on Twitter earlier about it.

I enjoyed this one a ton as I have with all of their Rush videos and many others.

The only issue is the edits for copyright concerns.

I mentioned they should check out the ANIMATED VIDEO that Rush themselves shared a few years ago.

Thanks for making this! This was a ton of fun!, even with having to edit some spots. I would suggest listening to 2112 without edits soon, and actually a great way to do that would be with the ANIMATED VIDEO: https://t.co/NrZTxGxMZU https://t.co/AmGJSGpyhc

— AllMediaReviews (@AllMediaReviews) July 7, 2018

And then I added another post on twitter tagging them and Rush that echos a ton of comments in support of them making a REACT TO video for Natural Science.

@lostinvegas83 I will echo many requests in the 2112-Reaction video, for your next @rushtheband Reaction Video, NATURAL SCIENCE. would be awesome. I find it simply a perfectly composed piece of music.

— AllMediaReviews (@AllMediaReviews) July 7, 2018

It is awesome they love Rush so much, and some of the comments asked about them reacting to some other names in progressive rock. Yes of course (Roundabout, which might make sense, although someone suggested Heart of the Sunrise which would be my suggestion).

And so I chimed in about Genesis and King Crimson which I thought they may have done a video for 21st Century Schizoid Man, but I'm not sure. They could react to Starless or Red I suppose if so.

893 Essential Songs (89.3 The Current) TOP 10

Well my prediction was correct

But one other thing that crossed my mind about this, in thinking about the likely, pretty eye-rolling list that I anticipate, is that in 2016 it was 893 albums, 2017 893 Artists, so in 2018 it might be 893 songs, if they haven't already done one for Songs (I somehow think they did, but maybe it wasn't in this so called voting process? I can't remember).

https://cloud.connect.mpr.org/essential_songs

893 Essential Songs

Submit your Top 10 Essential Songs — your favorite songs of all time!

Use this form to submit your 10 essential songs and enter the 893 Essential Songs giveaway between Tuesday, April 3 at 2 p.m. CDT and 11:59 p.m. CDT Monday, April 16, 2018.

One (1) winner will receive one (1) gift certificate redeemable at Amazon.com for $893.00. Winner must provide a signed prize acceptance and a W-9 before receiving prize. Three (3) back up names will be drawn.

Items with a red asteristk (*) are required.

Same deal as last year; per I don't pay attention nor listen to 89.3 for obvious reasons, I didn't realize they were doing another 1 of these for these dates, although per last year it began on April 4th, I suppose that would have been something to remember/plan.

So for 2019, it'll probably be April 1st or April 8th 2019 which are both Mondays. But Albums, Artists, Songs. 2019???? Career Discographies? Live Albums? although Career Discographies is basically the same thing as Artists.

I still think the thing to do is my idea posted last year. 89 minutes and 30 seconds for people who win a contest. Hell, even just 1 listener, although that doesn't occupy more than 1 day and just an isolated amount of time for that matter. If it were like 10 winners or more, than it could at least be done for those 90 minutes once-a-day. It would give reason to tune in then. Their issue would be, 24 hours in the day, and only 1.5 for the special reason to tune-in. Which might suggest more than once-per-day. Say like 10 times per day, and like 100 winners or something, lol.

Maybe that sounds far-fetched, but I know i would be interested in those playlists.

I suppose though if they are doing the Pledge Drive, the winner might get 89 minutes of music or even time for their own, per they would have to talk and beg for money they do during the Pledge Drive. Although I dunno if they could do it where the winners would have their 89 minutes AFTER THE PLEDGE DRIVE IS OVER, etc.

Anyway, that all being said, like the previous submissions, none of my songs or artists likely will end up in their 893 list. Well, not sure, but the only ones would be the obvious classic rock names, but the songs I picked, there's next to no chance for, other than maybe Zeppelin and Queen.

Link for MY list (below)

0. Judy Garland - Somewhere Over the Rainbow 

1. Rush - Cygnus X-1: Book Two: Hemispheres
2. Yes - The Gates of Delirium
3. Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick
4. Marillion - Grendel
5. Genesis - The Cinema Show
6. Dream Theater - Scarred
7. Fates Warning - Still Remains
8. Pain of Salvation - The Perfect Element
9. Queen - The Prophet's Song
10. Led Zeppelin - Achilles Last Stand


11. Toy Matinee - Last Plane Out
12. Ours - The Worst Things Beautiful
13. dredg - The Canyon Behind Her
14. The Dear Hunter - His Hands Matched His Tongue
15. Oceansize - The Frame
16. Pink Floyd - Dogs

edit: Gonna publish this now and then Edit in more later I think per time right now.

edit 2:
So I suppose 1 idea as a Reaction-To the list of 893 Songs that I'm sure less than 30% will be
a) Songs I like
b) Artists I even think are okay or like

So what I may do is come up with I dunno, 500 SONGS let's say, with the interest to never repeat an Artist Twice. Although I suppose if I struggle to find 500 Artists with 1 song, which now thinking about it, shouldn't be all that hard, just time-consuming of course, I may consider more than 1 song per artist.

I kind of suspect 89.3 will do more than 1 song per artist, especially if they truly use the Voting results, which I'm pretty sure they do not 100%.

But as far as my vote, honestly I just threw it together to not invest hours upon days on it up until the deadline next week. Are those 10 or 15 songs above MY DEFINITIVE TOP 10 OR 15 SONGS??? HELL TO THE NO. But they certainly are 10 or 15 songs I love, and if I ever really made as close to a definitive Favorite Songs List, all of them would be very high.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow has been and likely always will remain my favorite song of all-time, largely pure childhood sentimentality and nostalgia. But I didn't vote for it per it probably will get more than enough votes to make it anyway. And it kind of goes into a different category for me, more like most cherished childhood song, etc.

The others though, and the rankings?..meh, I just threw them down and the numbers don't really mean a lot. Hemispheres over Gates of Delirium? lol..why maybe if I ever make a close-to definitive list, it'll just be UNRANKED or tiered or something. Will the React-To be THAT close-to-definitive list? Unlikely.

I suppose maybe 2 lists, if somehow time permits it. 1 being the 500+ Songs with only 1 artist? and the other is just honestly? taking as many favorite artists and puting 5-25 songs in a hat and see where the number goes. And then the whole issue of artist who have 1 amazing song, or 2 amazing songs, etc like Under the Influence of Giants or Aviatic or whatever.

Tom Brislin - Hurry Up and Smell the Roses (2012)

This is Tom Brislin's solo debut album, that I had no idea was even a thing. I knew he was in a band called Spiraling who once played at CalProg I think in the 2000's (2004? 2003? I forget when).

edit: it may have been in 2005 and 2007 per this link

Anyway, this album is to be honest, A LOT BETTER THAN I EXPECTED.

Tom I know from playing with both Yes and Renaissance as a hired gun live, and I guess he played with Meatloaf and some others.

And he's friends with of all people, Timmy Sean.

But the songwriting on this album is really well composed. Melodic, dreamy, emotional, but not cheesy or even overtly poppy. It's the right mix. Almost like Death Cab for Cutie with Tom Brislin singing, and I not only can tolerate his voice but actually LIKE IT way more than Ben Gibbard.

Why I found out about this now? that new project The Sea Within with Daniel Gildenlow the Flower Kings guys and Marco Minneman he's involved with, I read a comment talking about his solo music being pretty good. And whoever mentioned that, were definitely on the mark.

I now want to re-check out Spiraling I suppose.









1. Hurry Up and Smell the Roses 04:39
2. Your Favorite Day 04:08
3. When You Told Me Not to Go 03:52
4. Stuff You Would Understand 03:19
5. Industry in the Distance 07:28
6. Predawn 00:51
7. Liftoff 04:33
8. The Outskirts 03:28
9. I Hold a Candle 07:32
10. Visitor 03:24
11. Microphone 06:02

Rolling Stone's ANDY GREENE take on YES

My wife just showed me this, a summary of the history of Yes, and while there's a number issues and disagreements with it from me, and even the fact he doesn't know how to pronounce Trevor Rabin's name (it's RAY-BIN by the way).

This is an interesting illustration of the Fraternity and story of Yes with the drama, backstabbing, and conflicts that happened regularly throughout most of their history.

I don't have the time to elaborate on this and others, but it does beg the desire for more details and even a list of some of the bands who have this kind of history. Why my wife hates BANDS for the most part and thinks solo artists work much better per the lack of arguments and EGOS.




http://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/yes-an-animated-breakdown-of-the-band-over-19-iterations-w475371

Yes Rock Hall; Incl Geddy w/ Yes live!

Here's some clips, 2 of these videos may include some of the same speeches, etc.

Anyway, the Geddy filling in for Chris thing that was announced and then recanted, was true, although I wonder if the Yes guys wanted to keep it a secret, etc.

Wakeman kind of stole the spotlight.


With this year's Rock Hall class now done, I may want to go into another who should get in next entry, time allowing/permitting of course.

WatchMojo did a ROCK (and Metal) video of that very thing

The Year 1980 Albums Calendar + Rankings

1980, sort of a transitional year for music and progressive rock. I see the Yes and Genesis records as sort of their last of a classic era, and even better than their previous records.

Lot of Hard Rock and early Metal and interesting "new wave" stuff as well as Classic Rock artists putting out albums.

And the continuation and extension of a lot of Jazz-Fusion, although some good records, none of them being my favorites, but also hardly their worst.

Certainly a good year, and ultimately, better than some years from that era, but at the same time, hardly comparing to some of my favorite years overall.


1. Yes - Drama
2. Rush - Permanent Waves
3. Genesis - Duke
4. Hawkwind - Levitation
5. Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell
6. Al Di Meola - Splendido Hotel
7. Queen - Flash Gordon
8. The Police - Zenyatta Mondatta
9. Bruce Springsteen - The River
10. The Alan Parsons Project - The Turn of a Friendly Card
11. Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel [3]
12. Yes - Yesshows
13. Van Halen - Women and Children First
14. Weather Report - Night Passage
15, Mike Rutherford - Smallcreep's Day
16. Queen - The Game
17. David Bowie - Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)
18. U2 - Boy
19. XTC - Black Sea
20. Kerry Livgren - Seeds of Change
21. Steve Hackett - Defector
22. John Lennon and Yoko Ono - Double Fantasy
23. Bruford - Gradually Going Tornado



Buggles - Age of Plastic
rel January 10, 1980


Rush - Permanent Waves
rel January 14, 1980


Sparks - Terminal Jive
rel January 28, 1980


Mike Rutherford - Smallcreep's Day
rel February15, 1980


Bruford - Gradually Going Tornado
rel February 1980


Billy Joel - Glass Houses
rel March 10, 1980


Journey - Departure
rel March 23, 1980


Genesis - Duke
rel March 24, 1980


Van Halen - Women and Children First
rel March 26, 1980


Daryl Hall - Sacred Songs
rel March 1980


Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden
rel April 14, 1980



Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell
rel April 25, 1980


Al Di Meola - Splendido Hotel
rel May 10, 1980


Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel [3]
rel May 23, 1980


Roxy Music - Flesh and Blood
rel May 23, 1980


Blue Oyster Cult - Cultösaurus Erectus
rel June 14, 1980


Queen - The Game
rel June 30, 1980


Steve Hackett - Defector
rel June 1980


Hall and Oates - Voices
rel July 29, 1980


Black Sabbath - Live at Last
rel July 1980


Kerry Livgren - Seeds of Change
rel July 1980


Yes - Drama
rel August 18, 1980


Electric Light Orchestra / Olivia Newton-John - Xanadu
rel August 1980


David Bowie - Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)
rel September 12, 1980


XTC - Black Sea
rel September 12, 1980


Kool and The Gang - Celebrate!
rel September 29, 1980


Stevie Wonder - Hotter than July
rel September 29, 1980


The Police - Zenyatta Mondatta
rel October 3, 1980


Prince - Dirty Mind
rel October 8, 1980


Talking Heads - Remain in Light
rel October 8, 1980


Bruce Springsteen - The River
rel October 17, 1980


Dire Straits - Making Movies
rel October 17, 1980


U2 - Boy
rel October 20, 1980


Hawkwind - Levitation
rel October 27, 1980


Jon Anderson - Song of Seven
rel October 1980


The Alan Parsons Project - The Turn of a Friendly Card
rel November 1, 1980

 
Motorhead - Ace of Spades
rel November 8, 1980


John Lennon and Yoko Ono - Double Fantasy
rel November 17, 1980


Steely Dan - Gaucho
rel November 21, 1980


Yes - Yesshows
rel November 24, 1980


Weather Report - Night Passage
rel November 1980


Queen - Flash Gordon
rel December 8, 1980


Dixie Dregs - Dregs of the Earth
rel 1980


Pat Metheny - 80/81
rel 1980


Hermeto Pascoal - Cérebro Magnético
rel 1980


Speedway Blvd - Speedway Blvd
rel 1980


Sussman Lawrence - Hail to the Modern Hero
rel 1980

Yes FINALLY get into the Rock HOF!

Rollingstone.com Article

Much more to add later in this entry, but just to initially pass it along. Ding Dong the witch is finally fucking dead.

I mean to write-up more thoughts about this, the ceremony coming up, my previous prediction being right below.

 And I'll likely make a video about this and the Rock Class, etc. The video below is still relevant, even if Yes finally did get in. But at least having them finally in along with Rush and Genesis, Prog is finally being represented like it should have decades ago.

2017 Rock Hall Noms: Yes, ELO, Jane's Addiction NO MONKEES!

Not enough time to do a proper write-up, but I did vote by submitting my email address.

You can with that or with a facebook login. Once per day, which may improve the flooding issue, but does not fix nor actually address more of the important/bigger issues as I posted last year here


if I find the time of course as always, which probably won't be all that soon, I would go for writing a more detailed take on who I want and who I think will get in.

And/or a YouTube video.

But as short as I can, I will just say I think this may be Yes's best shot as among the people who would vote for them, only really have ELO and possibly The Zombies to consider in the Psych/Prog area.

Will it happen? My initial inclination is NO. However, they received a lot of votes in the FAN VOTE last year if I recall. But as I wrote about last year, it really comes down to the 800+ voters a lot more than the 1 vote for the Fans.

Of course so many names still missing like The Moody Blues, Jethro Tull, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and especially THE MONKEES.

Just get on the fucking ballot ONCE please. Their new album with a handful of modern songwriters including Rivers Cuomo and Andy Partridge, and 50th Anniversary didn't seem to do enough this year.

Why the NOMINATING COMMITTEE needs to BE REVEALED and RE-ASSESSED . At least reveal the whole fucking list for once so fans like myself can at least understand ALL OF WHO CONTROLS WHO GETS ON THE BALLOT EVERY YEAR.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/hall-of-fame-pearl-jam-tupac-shakur-yes-lead-nominees-w445147



Bad Brains
Cars, The
Chaka Khan
Chic
Depeche Mode
Electric Light Orchestra
J Geils Band
Jane's Addiction
Janet Jackson
Joan Baez
Joe Tex
Journey
Kraftwerk
MC5
Pearl Jam
Steppenwolf
Tupac Shakur
Yes
Zombies, The


oh , the likes of the MC5, Bad Brains and Tupac..is just pitiful to see on there.
Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, Steppenwolf, Janet Jackson, Chaka Khan, etc I likely won't vote for, but at least I can follow and if they got in I wouldn't be as annoyed.

Pearl Jam are just like Nirvana Jr. Overrated but the media and obsession with them more or less writes their ticket in. Although I'd say the same about Nine Inch Nails, Radiohead, Smashiing Pumpkins, Foo Fighters and many others.

I do think Journey will get in, as they have mass popularity, especially since The Sopranos finale using Don't Stop Believin' and then it going viral on iTunes to all the millennial kids.

REACT TO: Top 10 Yes Songs of the 1970's (Teamrock + Ultimateclassicrock)

The lists are below. I don't think I have done a Yes SONGS list, but I recall an ALBUMS list here May 21, 2015

And while the lists from both of these sites aren't terrible, they are hardly reflective of my favorites nor most of the huge Yes fans favorites. Team Rock which has the "prog" contingent given they publish PROG magazine, did not include anything from Relayer,  yet they include 2 songs from the album that followed it Going for the One. Wakeman-bias?

I guess seeing those, just to play along, here's MY guestimation of my Top 10+ Yes songs just from the 1970's:

1. The Gates of Delirium
2. Heart of the Sunrise
3. Ritual
4. Southside of the Sky
5. Turn of the Century
6. Soundchaser
7. Siberian Khatru
8. Perpetual Change
9. The Remembering
10. To Be Over
11. Release, Release
12. Close to the Edge
13. The Revealing Science of God
14. Starship Trooper
15. Yours is No Disgrace
16. On the Silent Wings of Freedom
17. Parallels





Team Rock Top 10 Yes Songs of the 70's

1) Close to the Edge
2) Awaken
3) Heart of the Sunrise
4) Yours is No Disgrace
5) Roundabout
6) The Revealing Science of God
7) Starship Trooper
8) Going for the One
9) On the Silent Wings of Freedom
10) Astral Traveller


ultimate classic rock's list

1) Roundabout
2) I've Seen All Good People
3) Long Distance Runaround
4) Close to the Edge
5) Starship Trooper
6) Time and a Word
7) And You and I
8) The Gates of Delirium
9) Heart of the Sunrise
10) America

Small Vinyl Update Video (The Monkees + Hawkwind + Yes item)

The Monkees - Good Times! (Barnes and Noble) + 7"
Hawkwind - Levitation (Blue)
Yes - Wall Pick

as I said in the video, a more in-depth review of Good Times! should come soon.

Also I forgot to mention, but given how history goes, I'll probably see 4 or 5 used copies of Levitation in the next year, lol.

Random Artist Feature: Yes

8/14/16 2:30AM

24 minute video which again, longer than I'd prefer, but would almost rather do 1 longer than 2 shorter I suppose. Lot of ground to cover, etc.



6/28/16 6:24PM




Yes
Time and a Word
The Yes Album
Fragile
Close to the Edge
Tales from Topographic Oceans
Relayer

Anderson / Stolt - Invention of Knowledge (2015-2016)

3/18/16 8:46PM
I saw some stuff about this, I forget when, maybe a couple of weeks ago? Or it may have been just over last weekend. Anyway, the thing about this is, I tend to notice like Neal Morse, most things Roine Stolt does, sound like him and The Flower Kings. So I guess my hopes and expectations for this would be for it to sound like TFK's with Jon singing.

Now with the emphasis and inpsiration even more from classic, 70's epic Yes stuff, and especially having Jon involved, it may not ultimately quite come out like The Flower Kings with Jon Anderson singing.

And it is impressive to have this come out, with Jon's track record of projects that are in-the-works but never seem to actually come out.

And just noticing the guests, I am curious what role Daniel Gildenlow will have? he may just sing some harmonies and play guitar on some of it, I dunno. And from creative standpoint, his role may be minimal at best. Since even the stuff he did with The Flower Kings I never fell head over heals with exactly.

But all that being said, I will certainly check this out and maybe at least hope to be pleasantly surprised by it. If they capture some of the Tales and Relayer/CTTE/Heart of the Sunrise vibe (or even "Mind Drive" for that matter) I cannot see myself not listening to it a fair amount.


insideoutmusic.com



1. Knowing 17:45
2. Everybody Heals 13:20
3. Invention Of Knowledge 23:10
4. Know 11:20

Anderson / Stolt, the brand new duo of legendary Yes vocalist & singer/songwriter Jon Anderson and progressive rock veteran Roine Stolt (The Flower Kings, Transatlantic), have announced the release of their collaborative album 'Invention Of Knowledge' for 24th June 2016 via InsideOut Music.

Jon Anderson had this to say: ".....Music is always the driving force in my life...working with such a wonderful musician as Roine Stolt made the creation of this album very unique,we are very excited with the release of 'Invention of Knowledge'."

Roine Stolt adds: "It is not aiming at being new Yes music; just new music, modern and classical, rock and ethno, tribal and orchestrated, grooving and floating. Hopefully in the true spirit of "progressive" - leaning forward, surprising and also comforting with familiar run-arounds. 

We've been "inventing" as we go along - Jon is an endless source of new ideas. We've been bouncing ideas back and forth for months and as a result there are probably dozens of versions of these songs. It's been a very interesting and rewarding time and the result is just insanely detailed."

InsideOut label-head Thomas Waber comments: "I have been talking to Jon for ages about making an album of 'Yes music' - as Jon calls it - and Roine seemed like the perfect guy for him to work with. I am really happy that it has finally happened and I am also thrilled with the material they have come up with. I think it will please a lot of fans!"


The idea came to life swiftly off the back of a performance from Roine's band Transatlantic, and Jon Anderson on the Progressive Nation At Sea Cruise in 2014, and was initially instigated by InsideOut Music label boss Thomas Waber. The duo set about crafting new music in the spirit of early epic works such as 'Tales From Topographic Oceans', 'Awaken' & 'Olias Of Sunhillow', but giving it a modern twist.

Written & recorded over the course of 1 and a half years, the tracks have been in a state of constant change as Roine and Jon swapped & refined ideas by sending tracks to each other via the internet. In March 2015, an ensemble was put together by Roine to realise the music live in the studio. Joining him there was Tom Brislin (who played on the Yes Symphonic tour) & Lalle Larsson on keys, Jonas Reingold & Michael Stolt on bass and Felix Lehrmann on drums. The sessions were also bolstered by appearances from Daniel Gildenlöw, Nad Sylvan, Anja Obermayer, Maria Rerych and Kristina Westas who all provided backing vocals.