Ethnicity (Yanni album)

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Ethnicity
Studio album by Yanni
Released	February 11, 2003
Genre	Contemporary instrumental Easy listening Soft adult contemporary
Length	57:51
Label	Virgin Records
Producer	Yanni
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link
Yanni chronology
If I Could Tell You (2000) Ethnicity (2003) Yanni Live! The Concert Event (2006)

Ethnicity, is Yanni's 13th studio album, released in 2003, (see 2003 in music) extending his "One World, One People" philosophy.^[1] It peaked at #27 on Billboard's "Top Internet Albums" chart and at #27 on the "Billboard 200" chart in 2003. It also peaked at #1 on the "Top New Age Albums" chart in 2004.^[2] This release sparked what would become the 4th largest concert tour of 2003, ranked by Billboard Magazine.

One element distinguishing Ethnicity from previous albums is the extensive use of human voices, not only solo arias and group chants, but also bona fide lyrics, a rare departure for the artist. "The Promise," for example, is an adaptation of an earlier composition, "Secret Vows," featuring lyrics from longtime friend Pamela McNeill and soulfully sung by Alfreda Gerald, a member of Yanni's Tribute tour. The album's final track reflects his own cultural heritage with a traditional Greek island folk song, "Jivaeri".

Contents 1 Album 1.1 Track listing 1.2 Personnel 1.3 Vocals 1.4 Lyrics 1.5 Production 2 The Ethnicity concert tour 2.1 Media Excerpts 2.1.1 Yanni Fall 2003 Newsletter 2.1.2 Star Tribune 2.2 Set List 2.3 Featured tour musicians 2.3.1 Band 2.3.2 Orchestra 2.4 Tour Production 2.5 Tour Dates (2003) 2.6 Tour Dates (2004) 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Album

^[3]

[edit] Track listing

1. "Rites of Passage" – 4:35
2. "For All Seasons" – 5:37
3. "The Promise" – 3:42
4. "Rainmaker" – 5:36
5. "Written on the Wind" – 3:56
6. "Playing by Heart" – 4:38
7. "At First Sight" – 5:14
8. "Tribal Dream" – 5:35
9. "Almost a Whisper" – 3:51
10. "Never Too Late" – 5:01
11. "Playtime" – 5:29
12. "Jivaeri" (Jiva-Eri) Traditional – 4:37

[edit] Personnel

• All music composed and arranged by Yanni. (except "Jivaeri")
• Pedro Eustache – Flutes, World Reeds, Duduk, Argul, Uilleann pipes, Chanter, and Saxophone.
• Karen Briggs – Violin

[edit] Vocals

• Alfreda Gerald (also lead vocals on "The Promise", "Tribal Dream", and "Never Too Late")
• Michelle Amato (also lead vocals on "For All Seasons", "Almost a Whisper", and "Jivaeri")
• Noelani Brock (and lead vocals on "Written on the Wind")
• Regina Acuna-Williams
• Peter Lehman
• Randy Nichols
• Suzy Park
• Kurt von Schmittou

[edit] Lyrics

• Lyrics for The Promise and Almost a Whisper by Pamela McNeill.

[edit] Production

• Engineered and mixed by Yanni at his private studios.
• Assistant engineer: Anthony Stabile
• Mastered by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering, Hollywood, CA.
• Recorded and mixed on a Sountracs DPC-II Digital Console
• All piano tracks were recorded on a Yamaha CFIII 5, 9' Concert Grand

[edit] The Ethnicity concert tour

[edit] Media Excerpts

[edit] Yanni Fall 2003 Newsletter

On March 1, 2003, after a nearly five-year absence from touring, Yanni opened his 2003/2004 Ethnicity Tour in Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. The Ethnicity concerts showcased both familiar and favorite musicians and music, as well as brand-new compositions and musical talent. Some of the returning artists included Charlie Adams on drums, Karen Briggs on violin, Pedro Eustache on flute/woodwinds, Ric Fierabracci on bass guitar, Ming Freeman and Bradley Joseph on keyboards, and Alfreda Gerald on vocals. Yanni also discovered new talent from all corners of the world - Puerto Rico, Paraguay, Armenia, and the Ukraine. All of this multicultural talent blended harmoniously to enhance Yanni's musical definition of Ethnicity. Newcomers included Samvel Yervinyan on violin, Dan Landrum on hammered dulcimer, and Victor Espinola on Paraguayan harp. The [2003] tour spanned 96 days, 60 cities, and more than 27,000 miles logged. It was seen by nearly a half million fans throughout the U.S. and Canada.^[4]

[edit] Star Tribune

(2003-05-20) Yanni, an alum of the University of Minnesota and the 1980s Twin Cities hair-rock band Chameleon, has elevated instrumental music to new heights. Equal parts showman and maestro, the keyboard icon, who has done command performances at the Taj Mahal and Acropolis, returns to his old stomping grounds with former Chameleon drummer Charlie Adams and keyboardist Bradley Joseph. Expect more singing this time from Alfreda Gerald, whose mostly wordless vocalizing is featured on the new CD Ethnicity.^[5]

[edit] Set List

"On Sacred Ground" "Felitsa" "Keys to Imagination" "If I could Tell You" "Play Time" "Enchantment" "Rain Maker" "The Promise" "Within Attraction" "Aria" "For All Seasons" "Nightingale"

"Dance with a Stranger" "Jivaeri" "Never Too Late" "Nostalgia" "Marching Season" "Acroyali" "Standing in Motion" "Niki Nana" "World Dance" "Reflections of Passion" "Santorini"

[edit] Featured tour musicians

^[6]

[edit] Band Charlie Adams: Drums Michelle Amato: Vocalist Karen Briggs: Violin Victor Espinola: Harp Pedro Eustache: Flutes, Saxophone Ric Fierabracci: Bass guitar Ramon Flores: Trumpet Ming Freeman: Keyboards Alfreda Gerald: Vocalist David Hudson: Didgeridoo Bradley Joseph: Keyboards Dan Landrum: Hammered Dulcimer Armen Movsessian: Violin Walter Rodriguez: Percussion Samvel Yervinyan: Violin

[edit] Orchestra Violins: Kristen Autry, Robert Berg, Erica Walczak Violas: Eugene Mechtovich, Llona Geller Celli: Alexander Zhiroff, Sarah O'Brien Harp: April Aoki Oboe: April Cap French Horns: Jim Mattos, Kristin Morrison Trumpets: Kerry Hughes Trombones: Wendell Kelly Orchestrator: Jeffrey Silverman

[edit] Tour Production

• Personal Management: Danny O'Donovan, Danny O'Donovan Entertainiment Group
• Business Management: Seven Eight, Inc., Tom Paske, George Veras, Diane Kramer, Anda Allenson, Richard Allenson
• Tour & Production Manager: Michael Weiss
• Production Supervisor: Anthony Stabile
• Personal Assistant to Yanni: Don Bath
• Road Manager: Craig Yun
• Stage Manager: Richard Bray
• Production Coordinator: Kathleen Kronauer
• Tour Accountant: Richard Allenson
• Tour Security: Jason Temke
• Lighting Director: Bud Horowitz
• Yanni's wardrobe designed by Nolan Miller
• Costume Design/Wardrobe: Jennifer Jacobs, Thomas Wells

[edit] Tour Dates (2003)

Date	City	Country	Venue
North America
March 01, 2003	Las Vegas	United States	Mandalay Bay Events Center
March 03, 2003	Dallas	United States	American Airlines Center
March 06, 2003	Tampa	United States	St. Pete Times Forum
March 07, 2003	Ft. Lauderdale	United States	Office Depot Center
March 08, 2003	Orlando	United States	Centroplex
March 09, 2003	Jacksonville	United States	Veterans Memorial Arena
March 11, 2003	Atlanta	United States	Philips Arena
March 12, 2003	Nashville	United States	Gaylord Entertainment Center
March 14, 2003	Dayton	United States	Ervin J. Nutter Center
March 15, 2003	Buffalo	United States	HSBC Arena
March 16, 2003	Columbus	United States	Nationwide Arena
March 18, 2003	Indianapolis	United States	Conseco Fieldhouse
March 20, 2003	Toronto	Canada	Air Canada Centre
March 21, 2003	Cleveland	United States	Gund Arena
March 22, 2003	Pittsburgh	United States	Mellon Arena
March 23, 2003	Cincinnati	United States	US Bank Arena
March 25, 2003	Moline	United States	MARK of the Quad Cities
March 27, 2003	Grand Rapids	United States	Van Andel Arena
March 28, 2003	Chicago	United States	United Center
March 29, 2003	Detroit	United States	The Palace
March 30, 2003	State College, PA	United States	Bryce Jordan Center
April 01, 2003	Rochester	United States	Blue Cross Arena
April 03, 2003	Boston	United States	Fleet Center
April 04, 2003	Montreal	Canada	Molson Centre
April 05, 2003	Uncasville, CT	United States	Mohegan Sun
April 06, 2003	Manchester, NH	United States	Verizon Wireless Arena
April 08, 2003	Albany	United States	Pepsi Arena
April 10, 2003	E. Rutherford, NJ	United States	Continental Airlines Arena
April 11, 2003	Washington, D.C.	United States	MCI Center
April 12, 2003	Philadelphia	United States	First Union Center
April 13, 2003	Uniondale, NY	United States	Nassau Coliseum
April 15, 2003	Richmond	United States	Richmond Coliseum
April 16, 2003	Wilkes Barre, PA	United States	First Union Arena
April 17, 2003	New York	United States	Madison Square Garden
April 25, 2003	Houston	United States	Compaq Center
April 26, 2003	Bossier City, LA	United States	CenturyTel Center
April 27, 2003	Austin	United States	Frank Erwin Center
April 29, 2003	Phoenix	United States	Dodge Theater
April 30, 2003	Phoenix	United States	Dodge Theater
May 02, 2003	San Diego	United States	Cox Arena
May 03, 2003	Anaheim	United States	Arrowhead Pond
May 04, 2003	Los Angeles	United States	Hollywood Bowl
May 06, 2003	Fresno	United States	Selland Arena
May 08, 2003	Sacramento	United States	Arco Arena
May 09, 2003	Oakland	United States	The Arena in Oakland
May 10, 2003	San Jose	United States	Compaq Center
May 11, 2003	Reno	United States	Lawlor Events Center
May 13, 2003	Salt Lake City	United States	Delta Center
May 15, 2003	Spokane	United States	Spokane Arena
May 16, 2003	Portland	United States	Rose Garden Arena
May 17, 2003	Vancouver	Canada	GM Place
May 18, 2003	Seattle	United States	KeyArena
May 21, 2003	Denver	United States	Pepsi Center
May 22, 2003	Colorado Springs	United States	World Arena
May 25, 2003	Las Vegas	United States	MGM Grand
May 28, 2003	Green Bay	United States	Resch Center
May 29, 2003	Milwaukee	United States	Bradley Center
May 30, 2003	St. Paul	United States	Xcel Energy Center
May 31, 2003	Madison, WI	United States	Alliant Energy Center
June 01, 2003	St. Louis	United States	Savvis Center
June 04, 2003	Miami	United States	AmericanAirlines Arena

[edit] Tour Dates (2004)

Date	City	Country	Venue
North America
March 01, 2004	Albuquerque	United States	Tingley Coliseum
March 07, 2004	El Paso	United States	Don Haskins Center
March 09, 2004	San Antonio	United States	SBC Center
March 11, 2004	Oklahoma City	United States	Ford Center
March 12, 2004	Wichita	United States	Kansas Coliseum
March 13, 2004	Omaha	United States	Qwest Center
March 14, 2004	Kansas City	United States	Kemper Arena
March 16, 2004	Fort Wayne, IN	United States	Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
March 18, 2004	Champaign, IL	United States	Assembly Hall
March 19, 2004	Louisville	United States	Freedom Hall
March 20, 2004	Knoxville	United States	Thompson-Boiling Arena
March 21, 2004	Raleigh	United States	RBC Center
March 22, 2004	N. Charleston, SC	United States	North Charleston Coliseum
March 24, 2004	New Orleans	United States	New Orleans Arena
March 25, 2004	Pensacola	United States	Civic Center
March 26, 2004	Tallahassee	United States	Leon County Civic Center
March 27, 2004	Lakeland, FL	United States	Lakeland Center
March 28, 2004	Fort Myers	United States	TECO Arena
March 30, 2004	Columbia, SC	United States	Colonial Center
March 31, 2004	Charlotte, NC	United States	Charlotte Coliseum
April 02, 2004	Bridgeport, CT	United States	Arena at Harbor Yard
April 03, 2004	Providence, RI	United States	Dunkin' Donuts Center
April 04, 2004	Portland, ME	United States	Cumberland County Civic Center
April 06, 2004	Syracuse, NY	United States	War Memorial at Oncenter
April 07, 2004	Reading, PA	United States	Sovereign Center
April 08, 2004	Baltimore	United States	1st Mariner Arena

[edit] References

1. ^ Official biography. Yanni.com. Retrieved on 2006-12-21.
2. ^ Chart history for Ethnicity. AMG. Retrieved on 2007-09-01.
3. ^ (2003) Album notes for Ethnicity by Yanni [CD liner]. Virgin Records (7-2435-81516-0-2).
4. ^ Yanni Newsletter:Fall 2003; volume 8 number 2 (PDF). yanni.com. Retrieved on 2006-12-21.
5. ^ Bream, Jon. "This Week IN MUSIC", Star Tribune, 2003-05-20. Retrieved on 2006-12-18. 
6. ^ (2003) Ethnicity World Tour 2003–2004 - Official concert program. Yanni. 

[edit] External links

• Official Website
• Ethnicity at Allmusic

v • d • e Yanni Studio albums Optimystique | Keys to Imagination | Out of Silence | Chameleon Days | Niki Nana | Reflections of Passion | In Celebration of Life | Dare to Dream | In My Time | If I Could Tell You | Ethnicity | Voices Live albums and Videography Yanni Live at the Acropolis | Yanni Live at Royal Albert Hall | Yanni One on One | Tribute | Yanni Live! The Concert Event Concert tours 1987 Concert Series | 1988 Concert Series | Reflections of Passion |  | Revolution in Sound | Dare to Dream | Yanni Live, The Symphony Concerts 1993 | Yanni Live, The Symphony Concerts 1994 | Yanni Live, The Symphony Concerts 1995 | Tribute | Ethnicity | Yanni Live! Compilations Romantic Moments | Devotion (The Best of Yanni) | The Private Years