11/4/2011 - London, UK - As a follow-up to their critically acclaimed CD 'The Living Tree' from 2010, YES legends Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman prepare to release 'Anderson / Wakeman - The Living Tree In Concert Part One' on Gonzo Multimedia on November 28th. The CD was recorded during the duo's British tour in 2010 and comes housed in a sleeve design by Mark Wilkinson who was also responsible for the design of the artwork for 'The Living Tree'.
Having worked together on and off since 1971's groundbreaking YES masterwork 'Fragile', Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman have traveled similar musical paths that have eventually and happily led their careers back together again. The duo began performing live together in the UK in 2006 playing both classics from the YES catalogue and selected tracks from the pair's individual solo releases. In 2009 Anderson and Wakeman recorded the highly anticipated album 'The Living Tree' which garnered rave reviews worldwide. In 2010 it was announced that Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman were to tour together once more at the end of the year. The wildly successful tour featured material from their time with YES, but more importantly material from the duo's new CD 'The Living Tree'. A collection of live highlights from the tour were compiled and overseen by Jon and Rick for the upcoming release 'Anderson / Wakeman - The Living Tree In Concert Part One'.
"The live recordings have a unique feel, the way we perform the show, it's as though all the songs 'old and new' were written just a few months ago, all very timeless," says Jon. "For many years Jon and I have felt it was really important to record all we do," adds Rick, "whether for general release or just personal purposes, the decision being very much that of quality. We were so happy with the way that the live music was happening that we felt this was a must to record and put out a mixture of the music, both old and new, as a record of where we are at, at this moment, and also perhaps giving a hint as to where we can go on to. Music for us is progressive in all genres, and this album is yet another stepping stone in that quest."
Tracks include:
And You & I
Living Tree (Part 1)
Morning Star
Long Distance Runaround
The Garden
Living Tree (Part 2)
Time and a Word
Just One Man
23/24/11
Southside of the Sky
House of Freedom
The Meeting
Here's what the press are raving about the Anderson / Wakeman North American tour:
"Anderson and Wakeman not only proved that they make a vibrant twosome, but also it's possible to reinvent YES classics without sacrificing any of the towering ambiance. Anderson's earnest songwriting combined with Wakeman's virtuosic vision on the keyboard/synthesizer made for a night of beautiful music." David Hens - Examiner, Buffalo
"Anderson and Wakeman were the heart and soul of YES, and as much as I hate to say it, they seem to be better off without their former band mates. If you do have a chance to see them, you will not be disappointed, the duo's incredible version of 'Awaken', that they end their regular set with, is worth the price of the admission alone." Thom Jennings - Backstage Axxess
"This was an intimate concert, not an arena spectacle, and it underscored just how strong these great YES songs are when stripped of their musical excesses." Greg Haymes, Times Union, Albany
"Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman aren't YES. But the two musicians are certainly a major factor in that band's best work. And in YES-land, Anderson and Wakeman certainly beat out the other live music options currently on display." Jeff Miers - Buffalo News"
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