Music review: Jon Anderson – 鈥�1000 Hands: Chapter One鈥�
It鈥檚 been a long time coming.
Nearly 30 years after Jon Anderson began work on new tracks with fellow Yes bandmates Chris Squire and Alan White, Anderson鈥檚 vision comes to fruition with the release of 鈥�1000 Hands: Chapter One.鈥�
Named after the many musicians contributing to the new arrangements, the former Yes frontman and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member sounds revitalized and focused on the material that features collaborations with the likes of Jethro Tull鈥檚 Ian Anderson, Journey鈥檚 Jonathan Cain, Carmine Appice, Pat Travers, Rick Derringer, Chick Corea, Billy Cobham, Jean-Luc Ponty and the Tower of Power horn section.
Producer Michael Franklin does a masterful job in seamlessly piecing together the original material with the numerous guest performances added over the years, giving the tracks a fresh and eclectic feel.
Opening tracks 鈥淣ow鈥� and 鈥淩amalama鈥� spotlight Anderson delivering a beautiful vocal performance that evokes tones of earlier Yes numbers like 鈥淚t Can Happen鈥� and 鈥淟eave It鈥� from 1983鈥檚 鈥�90125.鈥� As a side note, 鈥�90125鈥� was the very first CD I purchased and heard in its entirety. I鈥檒l also confess that I am a huge Yes fan, having amassed the band鈥檚 complete discography. There is nothing better than listening to 鈥淐lose to the Edge鈥� or 鈥淭ales from Topographic Oceans鈥� late at night with the headphones on, absorbing the intricate musical textures that showcase progressive rock at its very best.
鈥淢akes Me Happy鈥� serves as a poppy number that follows the same infectious vibe of Bobby McFerrin鈥檚 鈥淒on鈥檛 Worry, Be Happy鈥� with Anderson cheerfully proclaiming, 鈥淛ust to be where you are makes me feel so good inside.鈥�
The signature piece arrives with 鈥淐ome Up.鈥� This jazz-infused charmer elegantly flows along with a cosmic message of realizing your highest potential by being an extension of peace, love and understanding.
鈥淣ow and Again鈥� closes the album with Steve Howe of Yes on guitar and Anderson singing, 鈥淣ever forget that we are friends.鈥� Anderson鈥檚 declaration of recalling memorable times with an emphasis on living in the current moment could possibly be seen as a sign of a Yes reunion in the near future.
For now, Anderson will be performing tracks from his new solo album as well as other Yes classics when he makes an area appearance on April 14 at the Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall in Munhall.