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Here’s part of a BlogCritics Music Review of the latest (August 28th, just three weeks ago) YES/ABWH DVD release, “Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe — An Evening of YES Music Plus“:

By 1980 the classic Yes lineup had begun to splinter, led by the departures of Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman. Veteran musicians Geoff Downes and Trevor Horn were brought in as replacements and the Drama album and tour soon followed, but the band eventually split up in 1981. Bassist Chris Squire and drummer Alan White continued working together and in 1983 they recruited South African guitarist Trevor Rabin for a new group that would be dubbed Cinema. Later that year Jon Anderson was invited to join the band and the decision was eventually made to simply call it Yes.

Rabin, along with producer Trevor Horn, proceeded to significantly overhaul Yes’ beloved classic progressive-rock sound with a more modern, radio-friendly, pop-rock sound that came to fruition on this new lineup’s first album, 90125. The album won over millions of new Yes fans, even producing their first #1 single with “Owner Of A Lonely Heart,” and made the band more popular than ever. Another hit album of the same formula, and a couple of hugely successful tours followed, but longtime Yes fans and especially Jon Anderson began to grow weary of this new musical direction. They eagerly wanted a return to the classic Yes sound.

Following the 1988 Big Generator tour, Anderson began working with former Yes members Rick Wakeman, Steve Howe, and Bill Bruford on what was probably originally planned as an Anderson solo album, but eventually turned into a band effort. Legally, the Yes name still belonged to the current members of the band, Chris Squire, Alan White, Trevor Rabin, Tony Kaye, and Anderson (still), so they would have to come up with something new. After floating around some interesting names, the best one probably being “No”, they eventually decided upon Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe, or simply ABWH.

Their self-titled debut album was released in 1989, and blended the classic Yes sound with some obvious world music influences. Later that year the band, including bassist Tony Levin, keyboardist Julian Colbeck, and guitarist Milton McDonald, embarked on a massive world tour, having legally secured the right to promote the tour as “An Evening Of Yes Music Plus.” Jeff Berlin filled in for Levin who was too ill to perform at this show. This amazing tour was captured on video and was initially released as a CD and VHS in 1994. This year a limited addition, two-DVD edition of the video, and more recently a single disk edition, minus any bonus features, was finally released.

An Evening Of Yes Music Plus was recorded Sept. 9, 1989 at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountainview, California. This performance is sure to please any fan of the ABWH album, and especially fans of the classic Bruford era of the band, since it focused mainly on The Yes Album, Fragile, and Close To The Edge albums. I know those are my three favorites. The ABWH album is also solidly represented by five songs - and fairly long ones at that.

For the rest of the full review and the article, click on the link below:

Music Review: Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe - An Evening Of Yes Music Plus

Thank you.

Dr. Andrew Colyer and “MacGyver” Daniel Aggers
Indra’s Net
“Progressive Classical Music for Progressive Rock Fans ”

Technorati Tags: Indra’s Net, IndrasNetMusic.com, Dr. Andrew Colyer, Daniel Aggers, YES, ABWH, Rick Wakeman, Steve Howe, Jon Anderson, Bill Bruford, Tony Levin, Progressive Rock, Symphonic Rock, Symphonic Prog, Progressive Classical

Here’s a great article on the definition of Progressive Rock:

Phil’s Vinyl Addiction Blog

Phil loves all kinds of music, including Progressive Rock, and his blog is a good resource.

Check it out!

We’ll be sending Phil a free copy of our CD to review when it comes out.

Thank you.

Dr. Andrew Colyer and “English Gentleman” Daniel Aggers
Indra’s Net
“Progressive Classical Music for Progressive Rock Fans”

Technorati Tags: Progressive Rock, Symphonic Rock, Symphonic Prog, Progressive Classical, Indra’s Net, IndrasNetMusic.com, Dr. Andrew Colyer, Daniel Aggers

The picture to the left is of Dweezil Zappa, son of Frank Zappa.

Dweezil is currently on tour, playing his father’s music.

This post and article link is for all the people who like and don’t like Frank Zappa’s music.

How could it be for both?

Because, like him or not, Frank Zappa was a revolutionary and influential person, from a recording production standpoint.
Even if you think his stuff is weird and freaky, listen to it with an open mind, and try to appreciate what he was doing from the standpoint of innovation.

We here at Indra’s Net (Daniel Aggers and Dr. Andrew Colyer) are kind of like the “Ebert & Roeper” of Progressive Rock = we often have differing opinions, and we’ll share them here with you.

Daniel likes Frank Zappa because he’s weird and oddball and freaky. Daniel gives him thumbs up.

Andrew doesn’t really care for Frank Zappa because he’s weird and oddball and freaky. Musically, Andrew gives him thumbs down.

However, from a musician-composer-producer standpoint, Andrew has to give Frank the thumbs up.

“Frank Zappa is important to the development of production because he was a true sound sculptor who knew how to create soundscapes, instrumental compositions, and skill blends of the two.” –Virgil Moorefield, The Producer as Composer

This article does a really great job of concisely profiling Frank, Dweezil’s career, and the challenges that are inherent in trying to reproduce music onstage that was never really meant to be performed live.

The Cleveland Free Times :: Music :: Music Lead :: Zappa Plays Zappa

Thank you.

Dr. Andrew Colyer and “English Gentleman” Daniel Aggers.
Indra’s Net
“Progressive Classical Music for Progressive Rock Fans”

Technorati Tags: Zappa Plays Zappa, Frank Zappa, Dweezil Zappa, Indra’s Net, Indra’s Net Music, IndrasNetMusic.com, Dr. Andrew Colyer, Daniel Aggers, Progressive Classical, Progressive Rock