HOUSE OF YES: LIVE FROM HOUSE OF BLUES

If you really want to venture with another line-up of Yes performing some of their classic stuffs, this live CD is worth your spending. Recorded during their performance at the House Of Blues, Las Vegas, in 1999, the band features Steve Howe on guitar, Igor Khoroshev on keys, Jon Anderson on vocals (percussion and harp, too), Alan White on drums and percussion, Chris Squire on bass, and Billy Sherwood on guitar. My reason to purchase the CD was clear: I want to hear classic stuffs and some new ones performed by new line up with new digital recording technology. Igor Khoroshev is a great keyboardist and he can replace Rick in this performance.

The set list for this performance includes five tracks from The Ladder, plus a smattering of classics. The show starts off with their classic track "Yours Is No Disgrace", performed smoothly and energetically. The performance is very attractive. When my favorite track "Homeworld (The Ladder)" is performed, I'm really happy as the song has been delivered flawlessly. "Perpetual Change" is one of my favorites and the band played it well. If I have to select the best of best cut for the live CD is the performance for "Awaken" from Going For The One album. Two factors why I think this is best of best: first, it's a great track with powerful composition and not straight forward structure, it offers a lot of variations. Second, I wondered how Igor would play the keyboard solo during quiet passage where only keyboard and Jon's triangle fill the music. Wow! Igor did his job really well! I salute him for his speedy fingers punched at his keyboard. This part has always been my ultimate enjoyment of this song. After this track was performed brilliantly, I don't actually really care about how other tracks would be performed. It's a masterpiece song. It's a legend.

It's an excellent addition to any prog music collection especially if you love Yes. Keep on proggin' ..!