News
New Live Dates
04/25/2013 - Jon is pleased to announce that new live dates are being added to his tour schedule.
Jon will appear at the World Guitar Festival in Quebec on May 25th, followed by some exclusive shows in Europe early August. Stay tuned to the Tour page for additional dates as they are confirmed!
Peter Banks
03/12/2013 - Jon is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of original YES guitarist Peter Banks. He has issued this statement:
I was watching the BBC footage just last month, and we spoke about those wonderful times. Peter was a unique guitar player and a kind soul. I will miss him.
I feel very lucky to have spoken with him over the past year. Even though he was very sick, he would chat away about music and laugh about the journey we have all been on.
He will be missed...
Jon
Jon To Tour Australia & New Zealand
02/23/2013 - Music fans 'down under' are buzzing with excitement about the upcoming solo tour of Australia and New Zealand by legendary vocalist Jon Anderson, YES's singer/songwriter for 35 years along with his successful work with Vangelis, Kitaro, and Milton Nascimento. This will be the very first time Jon has performed solo in either country. The tour promises to deliver an exciting mixture of material from Jon Anderson's prolific solo career, collaborations with Vangelis and classic YES songs, along with songs from his latest CD 'Survival & Other Stories' and new compositions, highlighted by humorous and enlightening stories told by Jon.
Says Jon, “I'm very excited to bring my show to Australia and New Zealand. I enjoy the show that I do, and people really seem to have a great time.”
See the Tour Page for details.
In other news, Jon has made some recent guest appearances on several new CD releases: Acoustic guitarist Jeff Pevar's debut album 'From The Core'; French keyboardist/composer Jean Philippe Rykiel's new CD 'Inner Spaces'; and guitarist Dennis Haklar's debut CD release 'Lizard Tale'. Says Jon, “With the internet my musical world has evolved to an amazing degree, one day I'm singing with a Brazilian dude, the next day with peeps in Liverpool, the next creating a Symphonic work with a mate in India...then singing with Steve Layton 'down under' – it's an endless musical world!” Jon is currently recording new material, including the follow-up to his critically acclaimed 21-minute opus “OPEN” from 2011 titled “EVER”. In closing Jon has this to impart to his fans, “Have fun...love is forever, and God is Free...”
Jon Anderson - Race To the End
Check out the video by Victor Cristean for Jon's new tribute to the Olympics, "Race To The End":
Anderson / Wakeman Live CD
11/14/2011 - 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"
To purchase 'Anderson / Wakeman - The Living Tree In Concert Part One' ahead of its release date: www.gonzomultimedia.co.uk or www.voiceprint.co.uk
Open Doors Will Always Open Hearts... OPEN – The New Opus By Jon Anderson
10/25/2011 – Much to the excitement of music fans across the globe, on October 25, 2011 legendary YES vocalist Jon Anderson will release as a digital download an epic musical work entitled "OPEN." A return to the long-form composition that Jon Anderson is best known for, ("Close To The Edge", "Gates of Delirium", "Revealing" and "Awaken"), OPEN is a 21-minute exhilarating musical journey; a pioneering effort that weaves intricate melodic and harmonic themes within a classical music framework whilst showcasing Anderson's iconic vocals and timeless melodies throughout. In many ways OPEN is a return to Jon Anderson's musical roots, as YES music continually flows through his veins, making it only natural to revisit now and again. Coupled with wonderful orchestration by his neighbor and good friend Stefan Podell, messages of peace, love, light and freedom are further explored within OPEN, making listening an uplifting and joyous experience!
"'Forever taken to that place of understanding,' are the first lyrics of 'OPEN', as though I am always remembering my true musical journey. To create this work, I sat with my 19th Century guitar and strummed ideas last spring 2010. Songs just poured out of me that week, and before I knew it I had created a long form musical idea, and with the help of Stefan Podell's powerful orchestration, we put together what is now 'OPEN.'
It has 4 movements all intertwined, and seems to have a life of its own. For those who love this kind of music, I feel so happy to present it as one of many I hope to create over the coming years. My love 'Janee' has helped in production with her unique musical observations and her angel voice. I am so happy and thankful... Many Blessings." Jon Anderson - October 2011
In other news, Jon Anderson is currently on tour in the US and Canada with fellow former YES member Rick Wakeman. The legendary duo performed a series of successful concerts in the UK in 2010 in support of their critically acclaimed CD release 'The Living Tree', and have now brought their highly anticipated show to America! In December 2011 Jon will be performing select solo concerts in South America. Go to www.jonanderson.com/tour.html for more information. Lastly, Jon Anderson's latest CD release 'Survival & Other Stories' has been garnering rave reviews worldwide by critics and fans alike. You can purchase the CD at Amazon.com.
Jon Anderson's OPEN is available as a digital download on October, 25, 2011 and can be obtained via iTunes.
Survival & Other Stories
"About four years ago I just put in an ad on my website: 'Musicians Wanted'... this is the result." - Jon Anderson
Click below to hear "Unbroken Spirit" from "Survival & other Stories".
"Survival & Other Stories" is currently for sale on Jon's tour dates, and can be pre-ordered from Gonzo Multimedia prior to the June 6 release date.
Anderson/Wakeman:
"The Living Tree"
Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman have collaborated on "The Living Tree", the duo's debut studio release featuring nine tracks of original material. Titles include The Living Tree (Parts1&2), Morning Star, Anyway and Always, Forever and Just One Man. Details and ordering information can be found at the Voiceprint website. You can also download The Living Tree on Amazon.com.
Click below to view a video for Forever from "The Living Tree":
