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Yanni: Ethnicity

 A l b u m   D e t a i l s


Label: Virgin Records
Released: 2003.02.11
Time:
 57:51
Category: Easy Listening
Producer(s): Yanni
Rating:
Media type: CD
Web address: www.yanni.com
Appears with:
Purchase date: 2015
Price in €: 1,00





 S o n g s ,   T r a c k s


[1] Rites of Passage (Yanni) - 4:35
[2] For All Seasons (Yanni) - 5:37
[3] The Promise (Yanni/P.McNeill) - 3:42
[4] Rainmaker (Yanni) - 5:36
[5] Written on the Wind (Yanni) - 3:57
[6] Playing by Heart (Yanni) - 4:37
[7] At First Sight (Yanni) - 5:14
[8] Tribal Dream (Yanni) - 5:35
[9] Almost a Whisper (Yanni/P.McNeill) - 3:51
[10] Never Too Late (Yanni) - 5:01
[11] Playtime (Yanni) - 5:29
[12] Jivaeri [Jiva-Eri] (Traditional) - 4:37

 A r t i s t s ,   P e r s o n n e l


Yanni - Keyboards, Arrangements, Engineer, Mixing, Producer

Pedro Eustache - Flutes, World Reeds, Duduk, Argul, Uilleann pipes, Chanter, and Saxophone
Karen Briggs - Violin

Alfreda Gerald - Lead Vocals on [3,8,10], Vocals
Michelle Amato - Lead Vocals on [2,9,12]
Noelani Brock - Lead Vocals on [5], Vocals
Regina Acuna-Williams - Vocals
Peter Lehman - Vocals
Randy Nichols - Vocals
Suzy Park - Vocals
Kurt von Schmittou - Vocals

Anthony Stabile - Assistant Engineer
Chris Bellman - Mastering
Norman Moore - Art Direction, Design

 C o m m e n t s ,   N o t e s


Engineered and mixed by Yanni at his private studios. All piano tracks were recorded on a Yamaha CFIII 5, 9' Concert Grand. Recorded and mixed on a Soundtracs DPC-II Digital Console. Mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering, Hollywood, CA.



Ethnicity finds Yanni exploring familiar thematic territory (diversity + harmony = international brotherhood) in search of fresh musical ideas. The result is career recording No. 13 (minus all those redundant compilations), which is likable though maybe a star shy of exceptional. While ethnicity is the theme, the prevailing sound is contemporary and attractively rhythmic with modest world music and classical accents. Notable are Yanni's extensive use of female voices (heard on 10 of the 12 tracks; two selections, in fact, feature straightforward lyrics) and the disc's vivid, sparkling production. Yanni offers an assortment of moods, from the celebratory, planetary-choir sound (think Adiemus) on "Rites of Passage" to pulsing, Deep Forest-like tribal chants, which sometimes click ("Tribal Dream") and sometimes seem forced, a little Yanni-come-lately ("Never Too Late"). High points are the didgeridoo-driven "Rainmaker" and the ethereal "At First Sight." Overall, the disc's sound tilts more toward the heroic than the romantic (a good trend), though some pieces (particularly his mini-operettas) seem overly polite and a little starched. Even so, Ethnicity is a compelling effort that indicates Yanni is, happily, keeping in touch with his more adventurous musical instincts.

Terry Wood - Amazon.com



Though Yanni is widely known as one of the most popular purveyors of New Age music, there's actually quite a bit going on here. In addition to the Greek keyboard whiz's usual arching, romantic melodies there are a host of other musical elements present. ETHNICITY is an eclectic mix of the operatic (check out Michelle Amato's pipes on "For All Seasons" and "Almost a Whisper"), the electronic (the pulsing, almost Moroder-esque sequencers on "Play Time" and "Written on the Wind"), and the ancient (the chanting on "Tribal Dream," the timeless-sounding flute work that permeates the album). Keying in on the album's title, the closing tune "Jivaeri" is a traditional Greek ballad that touches on Yanni's personal roots while still remaining very much of a piece with the rest of this sonically diverse offering.

AllMusic Review



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. 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.

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".

In a review by Backroads Music/Heartbeats, "Though Yanni is widely known as one of the most popular purveyors of New-age music, there's actually quite a bit going on here. In addition to the Greek keyboard whiz's usual arching, romantic melodies there are a host of other musical elements present. Ethnicity is an eclectic mix of the operatic (check out Michelle Amato's pipes on "For All Seasons" and "Almost a Whisper"), the electronic (the pulsing, almost Moroder-esque sequencers on "Playtime" and "Written on the Wind"), and the ancient (the chanting on "Tribal Dream", the timeless-sounding flute work that permeates the album). Keying in on the album's title, the closing tune "Jivaeri" is a traditional Greek ballad that touches on Yanni's personal roots while still remaining very much of a piece with the rest of this sonically diverse offering."

wikipedia.org
 

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