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(?) [1] |
Ethnicity is the thirteenth studio album by Yanni, released on the Virgin Records label in 2003, (see 2003 in music) extending his "One World, One People" philosophy.[2] 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.[3]
Background
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 sung by powerhouse vocalist 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".
Album
[4]
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" |
3:57 |
6. |
"Playing by Heart" |
4:37 |
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)" |
4:37 |
Personnel
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
Lyrics
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 Soundtracs DPC-II Digital Console
- All piano tracks were recorded on a Yamaha CFIII 5, 9' Concert Grand
The Ethnicity concert tour
Media Excerpts
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.[5]
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.[6]
Set List
- "On Sacred Ground"
- "Felitsa"
- "Keys to Imagination"
- "If I Could Tell You"
- "Playtime"
- "Enchantment"
- "Rainmaker"
- "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"
|
Featured tour musicians
[7]
Band
|
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
|
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
Tour dates
Date |
City |
Country |
Venue |
North America |
March 1, 2003 |
Las Vegas |
United States |
Mandalay Bay Events Center |
March 3, 2003 |
Dallas |
American Airlines Center |
March 6, 2003 |
Tampa |
St. Pete Times Forum |
March 7, 2003 |
Sunrise |
Office Depot Center |
March 8, 2003 |
Orlando |
Centroplex |
March 9, 2003 |
Jacksonville |
Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena |
March 11, 2003 |
Atlanta |
Philips Arena |
March 12, 2003 |
Nashville |
Gaylord Entertainment Center |
March 14, 2003 |
Dayton |
Ervin J. Nutter Center |
March 15, 2003 |
Buffalo |
HSBC Arena |
March 16, 2003 |
Columbus |
Nationwide Arena |
March 18, 2003 |
Indianapolis |
Conseco Fieldhouse |
March 20, 2003 |
Toronto |
Canada |
Air Canada Centre |
March 21, 2003 |
Cleveland |
United States |
Gund Arena |
March 22, 2003 |
Pittsburgh |
Mellon Arena |
March 23, 2003 |
Cincinnati |
U.S. Bank Arena |
March 25, 2003 |
Moline |
MARK of the Quad Cities |
March 27, 2003 |
Grand Rapids |
Van Andel Arena |
March 28, 2003 |
Chicago |
United Center |
March 29, 2003 |
Auburn Hills |
The Palace of Auburn Hills |
March 30, 2003 |
State College |
Bryce Jordan Center |
April 1, 2003 |
Rochester |
Blue Cross Arena |
April 3, 2003 |
Boston |
Fleet Center |
April 4, 2003 |
Montreal |
Canada |
Molson Centre |
April 5, 2003 |
Uncasville |
United States |
Mohegan Sun |
April 6, 2003 |
Manchester |
Verizon Wireless Arena |
April 8, 2003 |
Albany |
Pepsi Arena |
April 10, 2003 |
East Rutherford |
Continental Airlines Arena |
April 11, 2003 |
Washington, D.C. |
MCI Center |
April 12, 2003 |
Philadelphia |
First Union Center |
April 13, 2003 |
Uniondale |
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum |
April 15, 2003 |
Richmond |
Richmond Coliseum |
April 16, 2003 |
Wilkes-Barre |
First Union Arena |
April 17, 2003 |
New York City |
Madison Square Garden |
April 25, 2003 |
Houston |
Compaq Center |
April 26, 2003 |
Bossier City |
CenturyTel Center |
April 27, 2003 |
Austin |
Frank Erwin Center |
April 29, 2003 |
Phoenix |
Dodge Theater |
April 30, 2003 |
May 2, 2003 |
San Diego |
Cox Arena |
May 3, 2003 |
Anaheim |
Arrowhead Pond |
May 4, 2003 |
Los Angeles |
Hollywood Bowl |
May 6, 2003 |
Fresno |
Selland Arena |
May 8, 2003 |
Sacramento |
Arco Arena |
May 9, 2003 |
Oakland |
The Arena in Oakland |
May 10, 2003 |
San Jose |
Compaq Center |
May 11, 2003 |
Reno |
Lawlor Events Center |
May 13, 2003 |
Salt Lake City |
Delta Center |
May 15, 2003 |
Spokane |
Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena |
May 16, 2003 |
Portland |
Rose Garden Arena |
May 17, 2003 |
Vancouver |
Canada |
General Motors Place |
May 18, 2003 |
Seattle |
United States |
KeyArena |
May 21, 2003 |
Denver |
Pepsi Center |
May 22, 2003 |
Colorado Springs |
World Arena |
May 25, 2003 |
Las Vegas |
MGM Grand Las Vegas |
May 28, 2003 |
Ashwaubenon |
Resch Center |
May 29, 2003 |
Milwaukee |
Bradley Center |
May 30, 2003 |
Saint Paul |
Xcel Energy Center |
May 31, 2003 |
Madison |
Alliant Energy Center |
June 1, 2003 |
St. Louis |
Savvis Center |
June 4, 2003 |
Miami |
American Airlines Arena |
North America |
March 1, 2004 |
Albuquerque |
United States |
Tingley Coliseum |
March 7, 2004 |
El Paso |
Don Haskins Center |
March 9, 2004 |
San Antonio |
SBC Center |
March 11, 2004 |
Oklahoma City |
Ford Center |
March 12, 2004 |
Valley Center |
Kansas Coliseum |
March 13, 2004 |
Omaha |
Qwest Center Omaha |
March 14, 2004 |
Kansas City |
Kemper Arena |
March 16, 2004 |
Fort Wayne |
Allen County War Memorial Coliseum |
March 18, 2004 |
Champaign |
Assembly Hall |
March 19, 2004 |
Louisville |
Freedom Hall |
March 20, 2004 |
Knoxville |
Thompson–Boling Arena |
March 21, 2004 |
Raleigh |
RBC Center |
March 22, 2004 |
North Charleston |
North Charleston Coliseum |
March 24, 2004 |
New Orleans |
New Orleans Arena |
March 25, 2004 |
Pensacola |
Pensacola Civic Center |
March 26, 2004 |
Tallahassee |
Leon County Civic Center |
March 27, 2004 |
Lakeland |
Lakeland Center |
March 28, 2004 |
Estero |
TECO Arena |
March 30, 2004 |
Columbia |
Colonial Center |
March 31, 2004 |
Charlotte |
Charlotte Coliseum |
April 2, 2004 |
Bridgeport |
Arena at Harbor Yard |
April 3, 2004 |
Providence |
Dunkin' Donuts Center |
April 4, 2004 |
Portland |
Cumberland County Civic Center |
April 6, 2004 |
Syracuse |
War Memorial at Oncenter |
April 7, 2004 |
Reading |
Sovereign Center |
April 8, 2004 |
Baltimore |
1st Mariner Arena |
References
- ↑ Allmusic
- ↑ "Official biography". Yanni.com. Archived from the original on 2006-12-20. Retrieved 2006-12-21.
- ↑ "Chart history for Ethnicity". AMG. Retrieved 2015-04-28.
- ↑ Ethnicity (CD liner). Yanni. Virgin Records. 2003. 7-2435-81516-0-2.
- ↑ "Yanni Newsletter:Fall 2003; volume 8 number 2" (PDF). yanni.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-12-19. Retrieved 2006-12-21.
- ↑ Bream, Jon (2003-05-20). "This Week IN MUSIC". Star Tribune.
- ↑ Ethnicity World Tour 2003–2004 - Official concert program. Yanni. 2003.
External links