The legendary vocalist, backed by students aged 17 and under, delivered an impressive performance of classic Yes material, covers and more.
Any fan of progressive music is well aware of the tenacity and musical gusto it takes to pull off a song by seminal genre rockers, Yes. Which is why much of the audience at the Wellmont Theatre in Montclair, N.J. on July 14 sat glued to their seats in awe, as teenagers and children from the Paul Green Rock Academy in Philadelphia seamlessly executed two sets of Yes classics and covers, fronted by none other than Jon Anderson, the original voice of Yes.
The legendary front man’s voice was in pristine condition. His signature, high-pitched delivery, often imitated but never replicated, resonated through the halls of the historic Wellmont Theatre, which celebrated its centennial anniversary this summer. Concurrently, Anderson and the students celebrated 50 years of Yes’ “Close to the Edge” by performing the album in its entirety.
“Close the Edge” is often regarded as a landmark album in the world of progressive music. The album’s title track, which encompasses the entirety of the first side of a vinyl record, fuses elements of rock, jazz, world music and ambient noise. Its complex musical structures are juxtaposed against atmospheric soundscapes and have proven vastly influential in the realm of progressive rock, as well as electronic music.
Anderson and the students also performed several covers of songs by Led Zeppelin, Simon & Garfunkel and Eminem (you read that correctly!).
There are still a few opportunities to catch Anderson alongside this incredible cast of young musicians. More information can be found at jonanderson.com.
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