''Tribute'' is the second live album and third concert film by Greek keyboardist and songwriter
Yanni
Yiannis Chryssomallis ( el, Γιάννης Χρυσομάλλης; born November 14, 1954), known professionally as Yanni ( ), is a Greek-American composer, keyboardist, pianist, and music producer.
Yanni continues to use the musical shorthand ...
, released in November 1997 on
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a record label owned by Universal Music Group. It originally founded as a British independent record label in 1972 by entrepreneurs Richard Branson, Simon Draper, Nik Powell, and musician Tom Newman. It grew to be a worldwid ...
. It was recorded at the
Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal (; ) is an Islamic ivory-white marble mausoleum on the right bank of the river Yamuna in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1631 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan () to house the tomb of his favourite wife, Mu ...
, India in March 1997 and the
Forbidden City
The Forbidden City () is a Chinese palace, palace complex in Dongcheng District, Beijing, China, at the center of the Imperial City, Beijing, Imperial City of Beijing. It is surrounded by numerous opulent imperial gardens and temples includ ...
, China, in May 1997, both featuring Yanni performing with a seven-piece band, choir, and 27-piece orchestra.
''Tribute'' went to No. 1 on the ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'' Top New Age Album chart and No. 21 on the
''Billboard'' 200.
The concert film was released in December 1997. In March 1998, the album was certified platinum by the
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...
(RIAA) for selling one million copies in the US. Yanni supported the album with the Tribute World Tour between January and July 1998, after which he put his career on a two-year hiatus.
Background
In 1994, Yanni released his first live album, ''
Live at the Acropolis
''Live at the Acropolis'' is the first live album and concert film by the Greek keyboardist, composer, and producer Yanni, released on March 1, 1994, on Private Music. It was recorded at the Herodes Atticus Theatre in Athens, Greece during his 1 ...
'', which saw him perform with his band and orchestra at the
Herodes Atticus Theatre in his native Greece. It became his best selling album of his career with 4 million copies sold in the US alone. Yanni was influenced to perform at such locations while visiting his father in Greece following the success of the Acropolis concerts, who thought it was a shame "After going so far with my music, not to take it all the way around the world."
This led to Yanni's desire to stage concerts at other historic sites and the decision to perform in India and China, which he said took around two-and-a-half years to plan
and cost around $4 million.
The shows at the
Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal (; ) is an Islamic ivory-white marble mausoleum on the right bank of the river Yamuna in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1631 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan () to house the tomb of his favourite wife, Mu ...
took place on three nights in March 1997, as part of celebrations around the fiftieth anniversary of Indian independence.
[ A temporary concert site was constructed which involved the Indian army building bridges across the ]River Yamuna
The Yamuna ( Hindustani: ), also spelt Jumna, is the second-largest tributary river of the Ganges by discharge and the longest tributary in India. Originating from the Yamunotri Glacier at a height of about on the southwestern slopes of Ban ...
.[ The shows included a light display that marked the first time the monument was illuminated at night.][ The concerts were met with some protests against them, claiming the lighting and sound systems would harm the building and its surroundings. Some local farmers went so far to threaten to immolate themselves on the site, until a financial settlement between them, the Indian government, and Yanni was agreed upon.] Yanni later said that the reports of immolation were rumours that were generated by the political dispute, and that he had met a group of local farmers and had tea with them which he said helped defuse the situation. "And they said 'no, we're not crazy.'" The Supreme Court of India
The Supreme Court of India ( IAST: ) is the supreme judicial authority of India and is the highest court of the Republic of India under the constitution. It is the most senior constitutional court, has the final decision in all legal matters ...
threw out a case filed by the Archaeological Survey of India
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is an Indian government agency that is responsible for archaeological research and the conservation and preservation of cultural historical monuments in the country. It was founded in 1861 by Alexande ...
that tried to cancel the shows.[ A portion of the receipts was donated toward conserving the Taj Mahal, which is affected by smoke and brick kilns.] The second concert was broadcast live on Indian television.[ Yanni was particularly nervous about presenting a setlist of new music and whether the Indian public thought what he did was "appropriate and respectful toward the monument."][
The shows at the ]Forbidden City
The Forbidden City () is a Chinese palace, palace complex in Dongcheng District, Beijing, China, at the center of the Imperial City, Beijing, Imperial City of Beijing. It is surrounded by numerous opulent imperial gardens and temples includ ...
followed in May 1997 and took place at the courtyard at the Imperial Ancestral Temple
The Imperial Ancestral Temple, or Taimiao () of Beijing, is a historic site in the Imperial City, Beijing, Imperial City, just outside the Forbidden City, where during both the Ming Dynasty, Ming and Qing Dynasty, Qing Dynasties, sacrificial cere ...
. This marked the first time a Western artist in modern times was permitted perform at the location.[ The project began after Yanni received an invitation from the China National Culture and Arts Corp. Before the Forbidden City was chosen, locations by the ]Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China (, literally "ten thousand ''li'' wall") is a series of fortifications that were built across the historical northern borders of ancient Chinese states and Imperial China as protection against various nomadic grou ...
and the Temple of Heaven
The Temple of Heaven () is a complex of imperial religious buildings situated in the southeastern part of central Beijing. The complex was visited by the Emperor of China, Emperors of the Ming dynasty, Ming and Qing dynasty, Qing dynasties for ...
were possible candidates to stage the shows. The show's promoters asked for 5,000 seats, but they had to settle for around 4,000, hundreds of which were reserved for Chinese officials.[ A request to beam lights from inside the temple outward was denied. The crew were instructed to have the sound no louder than 40 decibels. Before the show, Yanni performed sold out shows at arenas in ]Shanghai
Shanghai (; , , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ) is one of the four direct-administered municipalities of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The city is located on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the Huangpu River flow ...
and Guangzhou
Guangzhou (, ; ; or ; ), also known as Canton () and alternatively romanized as Kwongchow or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of Guangdong province in southern China. Located on the Pearl River about north-northwest of Hong Kon ...
. Later in 1997, Yanni deemed the audiences as the best of his career.[
Yanni hired Armenian conductor ]Armen Anassian
Armen Anassian holds master's degrees in Instrumental Conducting and Violin Performance, and studied in the United States, Armenia, and Germany. His teachers include Rainer Kussmaul, Sidney Weiss, Dorothy DeLay, and conductor Michael Zearott. Mr. ...
for the tour "on faith"; he had not seen Anassian perform before. The conductor recalled being sceptical about the tour, "But the truth is, it happened. We did it" and said it was a "life-changing experience."
Album
Critical reception
In a review by Jonathan Widran of AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
, "Yanni
Yiannis Chryssomallis ( el, Γιάννης Χρυσομάλλης; born November 14, 1954), known professionally as Yanni ( ), is a Greek-American composer, keyboardist, pianist, and music producer.
Yanni continues to use the musical shorthand ...
's gargantuan popularity unfortunately makes him an easy target for those who see his orchestrally inspired works as glorified musical wallpaper. But if they'd listen for the whole picture before judging, it would be clear that he brings classically influenced symphonic qualities to modern instrumental music; it's highly charged film scoring, only without the movie. The musical images comprising ''Tribute'' and the photos in the packaging come from the famous places that not only inspired it but at which it was performed: India's Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal (; ) is an Islamic ivory-white marble mausoleum on the right bank of the river Yamuna in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1631 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan () to house the tomb of his favourite wife, Mu ...
and China's Forbidden City
The Forbidden City () is a Chinese palace, palace complex in Dongcheng District, Beijing, China, at the center of the Imperial City, Beijing, Imperial City of Beijing. It is surrounded by numerous opulent imperial gardens and temples includ ...
. While conventional string and brass instruments lead the way, Pedro Eustache
Pedro Eustache (born August 18, 1959) is a Venezuelan-born flautist, reed player, world woodwind player, composer, and instrument maker. He has more than seven years of symphonic experience and a collection of around 600 instruments from all ...
's bamboo sax and Doodook and the gypsy-flavored lead violin of Karen Briggs supply appropriate dashes of Eastern culture. "Waltz in 7/8" combines the traditional western rhythm scheme with Eustache's exotic flute improvisation. As always, Yanni plays keyboards, but he's more a ringmaster/conductor of an inspiring, symphonic brew that includes gospel and flamenco (with rousing vocals and an accompanying guitar textured over a mid size string section), powerful violin/funky sax duets (the core of the seven-minute "Renegade"), improvisational trumpet ("Dance with a Stranger"), and an intoxicating weave of an orchestra with upward climbing operatic voices. Yanni and friends tap on another culture on the closing track, the previously recorded African tribal piece "Niki Nana", which features Eustache's percussive flute and a hooky wordless vocal chant from a gospel-flavored, female choir. As we see from the other artists this month, there are many ways to build musical bridges between East and West; Yanni's approach is spiritual grandeur in a beautiful, theatrical setting."
Track listing
RIAA certification
Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) Gold and Platinum database entries:
* (G=Gold, P=Platinum, M=Multi-Platinum)
*YANNI TRIBUTE 03/11/98 VIRGIN P ALBUM SOLO Std
*YANNI TRIBUTE 03/11/98 VIRGIN G ALBUM SOLO Std
Video
Track listing
#"Deliverance"
#"Adagio in C Minor"
#"Renegade"
#"Waltz in 7/8"
#"Tribute"
#"Dance with a Stranger"
#"Nightingale"
#"Southern Exposure"
#"Prelude"
#"Love Is All"
#"Niki Nana (We're One)"
#"Santorini"
Sound
Personnel
Music
*Yanni
Yiannis Chryssomallis ( el, Γιάννης Χρυσομάλλης; born November 14, 1954), known professionally as Yanni ( ), is a Greek-American composer, keyboardist, pianist, and music producer.
Yanni continues to use the musical shorthand ...
– keyboards
* Karen Briggs – violin, chorus on "Niki Nana (We're One)"
*Daniel de los Reyes
Daniel de los Reyes (born July 18, 1962) is an American percussionist
who is a former member of Earth, Wind & Fire and Chicago. He is currently a member of the Zac Brown Band.
Musical career
De los Reyes was born in New York City and raised ...
– percussion, chorus on "Niki Nana (We're One)"
*Pedro Eustache
Pedro Eustache (born August 18, 1959) is a Venezuelan-born flautist, reed player, world woodwind player, composer, and instrument maker. He has more than seven years of symphonic experience and a collection of around 600 instruments from all ...
– flute, soprano saxophone
The soprano saxophone is a higher-register variety of the saxophone, a woodwind instrument invented in the 1840s. The soprano is the third-smallest member of the saxophone family, which consists (from smallest to largest) of the soprillo, sop ...
, bamboo saxophone, duduk
The duduk ( ; hy, դուդուկ ) or tsiranapogh ( hy, ծիրանափող, meaning “apricot-made wind instrument”), is an ancient Armenian double reed woodwind instrument made of apricot wood. It is indigenous to Armenia. Variations of th ...
, quena
The quena (hispanicized spelling of Quechua ''qina'', sometimes also written ''kena'' in English) is the traditional flute of the Andes. Traditionally made of cane or wood, it has 6 finger holes and one thumb hole, and is open on both ends or th ...
, Chinese flute
Chinese flutes come in various types. They include
Transverse Flutes:
* Dizi (and its varieties such as the qudi and bangdi; primary transverse flutes, usually made of bamboo and distinctively has a buzzing membrane)
* Koudi (a small center-b ...
, ney
The ''ney'' ( fa, Ney/نی, ar, Al-Nāy/الناي), is an end-blown flute that figures prominently in Persian music and Arabic music. In some of these musical traditions, it is the only wind instrument used. The ney has been played continually ...
, bass flute
The bass flute is a member of the flute family. It is in the key of C, pitched one octave below the concert flute. Despite its name, its playing range makes it the tenor member of the flute family. Because of the length of its tube (approximate ...
, chorus on "Niki Nana (We're One)"
*Ric Fierabracci
Ric Fierabracci is an American bassist who has toured and/or recorded with such artists as Frank Gambale, Chick Corea, Sir Tom Jones, Dave Weckl, Billy Cobham, Bradley Joseph, Shakira, Nancy Sinatra, Planet X, The 5th Dimension, The Beach Boys, ...
– bass guitar
*Ming Freeman
Ming Freeman (born 24 October 1963 in Taiwan) is a Taiwanese-Canadian multi-keyboardist and pianist, musical director, composer and producer who has toured or recorded with artists such as Joni Mitchell, Yanni, Ronnie Laws, Chuck Negron, Jeffr ...
– keyboards
* David Hudson – didgeridoo
The didgeridoo (; also spelt didjeridu, among other variants) is a wind instrument, played with vibrating lips to produce a continuous drone while using a special breathing technique called circular breathing. The didgeridoo was developed by ...
* Ramon Stagnaro – guitar, charango
The charango is a small Andean stringed instrument of the lute family, from the Quechua and Aymara populations in the territory of the Altiplano in post-Colonial times, after European stringed instruments were introduced by the Spanish during c ...
, chorus on "Niki Nana (We're One)"
* Joel Taylor – drums
*Alfreda Gerald
Alfreda Gerald is an American vocalist born in Morganton, North Carolina.
Upon graduating from college, Gerald sang professional opera with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, and the North Carolina Symphony ...
– vocals, lead vocals on "Niki Nana (We're One)"
*Vann Johnson
Vann Johnson (November 13, 1960 – September 27, 2017) was an American singer who toured or recorded with artists such as Michael Bolton, Neil Young, The Temptations, and Yanni. She appeared as a featured vocalist in Yanni's live concert albu ...
– vocals, lead vocals on "Love Is All"
*Jeanette Clinger
Jeanette Clinger, is an American singer/vocalist who has toured and/or recorded with such artists as Kim Carnes, Bradley Joseph, Hiroshima (band), Sheena Easton, Julie Brown, Donovan, and Yanni for whom she is featured on the live concert video ...
– vocals
* Catte Adams – vocals
*Armen Anassian
Armen Anassian holds master's degrees in Instrumental Conducting and Violin Performance, and studied in the United States, Armenia, and Germany. His teachers include Rainer Kussmaul, Sidney Weiss, Dorothy DeLay, and conductor Michael Zearott. Mr. ...
– conductor, violin on "Tribute"
*Clif Foster – first violin, concertmaster
*Beth Folsom – violin
*Julian Hallmark – violin
*Sayuri Kawada – violin
*Neal Laite – violin
*Ann Lasley – violin, chorus on "Niki Nana (We're One)"
*Will Logan – violin
*Julie Metz – violin
*Pam Moore – violin
*Cheryl Ongaro – violin, chorus on "Niki Nana (We're One)"
*Delia Park – violin, chorus on "Niki Nana (We're One)"
*Irina Voloshina – violin
*Corinne Chapelle
Corinne Chapelle (May 5, 1976 – March 23, 2021) was a French-American violinist. She was born in California, her father was French and her mother Tunisian. She started her violin studies as a two-year-old and gave her first concert one year lat ...
– violin
*German Markosian – viola
*Eugene Mechtovich – viola
*Cathy Paynter – viola, chorus on "Niki Nana (We're One)"
*John Krovoza – cello
*Sarah O'Brien – cello
*Lisa Pribanic – cello
*Alexander Zhiroff
Alexander "Sasha" Zhiroff (born 13 April 1951 in Ishim, Soviet Union) is a Russian cellist whose performing career has included appearances as a soloist with orchestras in the United States, Russia, Cuba, recitals in major concert halls, and reco ...
– cello
*Gary Lasley – contra bass, chorus on "Niki Nana (We're One)"
*April Aoki – harp
*Cheryl Foster – oboe
*Matt Reynolds – French horn, chorus on "Niki Nana (We're One)"
*James Mattos – French horn
*Paul Klintworth – French horn
*Doug Lyons – French horn
*Luis Aquino – trumpet
*Kerry Hughes – trumpet
*Rich Berkeley – trombone
*Dana Hughes – trombone, bass trombone
Production
*Yanni – production, arranger, engineer, orchestrations
*Anthony Stabile – assistant engineer
*Tommy Sterling – assistant engineer
*Paul Sarault - monitor engineer
*Curtis Kelly - monitor engineer / technician
*Jeffrey Mark Silverman – orchestrations
The ''Tribute World Tour 1998''
Dates
1997-1998
Cities
For cities, see below
Set list
*"Deliverance"
*"Adagio in C Minor"
*"Renegade"
*"Waltz in 7/8"
*"Tribute"
*"Dance with a Stranger"
*"Within Attraction"
*"Aria"
*"Keys to Imagination"
*"Nightingale"
*"Southern Exposure"
*"Marching Season"
*"Nostalgia"
*"Prelude/Love Is All"
*"Acroyali/Standing in Motion"
*"Reflections of Passion"
*"Niki Nana (We're One)"
*"Santorini"
Tour production
*Business Manager: Tom Paske
*Video Director/Producer: George Veras
*Tour Accountants: Diane Kramer, Pete Dorsey
*Yanni Management Tour Support Staff: Anda Allenson, Richard Allenson
Tour dates
Charts
Certifications
References
External links
Official Website
*
''Tribute''
at Allmovie
AllMovie (previously All Movie Guide) is an online database with information about films, television programs, and screen actors. , AllMovie.com and the AllMovie consumer brand are owned by RhythmOne.
History
AllMovie was founded by popular-cult ...
*
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Concert films
Yanni live albums
Yanni video albums
Yanni concert tours
1997 live albums
Live instrumental albums
Albums recorded in India