Review: Yanni's enriches his music with four vocals
Musician's risky experiment pays off with rekindled relevancy

By Robert Coleman

Special To The Tribune
Updated: 06/19/2009 02:17:54 PM MDT

If you have experienced a Yanni concert in the past, you may have been surprised by his concert June 17 at EnergySolutions Arena. The Greek creator of what he calls "contemporary instrumental" music has reinvented himself -- not only musically but also physically.

Drawing largely from his latest album "Yanni Voices," he and producer Ric Wake structured their entertaining show around four gifted singers, Chloe, Ender Thomas, Leslie Mills and Brigham Young University graduate Nathan Pacheco. The singers also contributed lyrics for new selections and added words to "Tribute" and other former instrumentals.

Yanni, sporting shorter hair and a clean-shaven face, beamed each time one of his singers took the stage, and they reciprocated creating an infectious positive vibe that lasted throughout the evening.

Venezuela-born Thomas, singing mostly in Spanish, exuded sensitivity and blended well with Chloe during "Until the Last Moment." Pacheco's operatic training and clear, lyric tenor voice brought the audience to its feet with "Amare Di Nuovo." The Brazilian-born singer also modulated easily into pop territory in duet with Chloe "In the Mirror," sung in English and Italian. His voice seemed to tire a bit before intermission but was refreshed when he returned after the break.

Mills impressed with "The Keeper" during the concert's second half. Both of the women singers have similar voices -- sumptuous and rounded in the low register with pleasing
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vibrato that gradually kicks in to warm high tones. Mills' long blond hair and stately look contrasted with Chloe's brunette coif and sensuous choreography.

This concert contained two elements that elevated it beyond performances of many other touring groups -- stylistic variety and depth of musicianship. This kept listeners interested throughout the program's generous 150 minutes of music.

Many selections featured extended solos highlighting the technical skills and musical integrity of orchestra members. One instrumental featured Yanni on piano with long-time friend Charlie Adams for a smokin' drum solo.

Other stand-outs were a Hawaiian harp solo played with the abandon of a heavy-metal guitarist and one of the encores, "The Storm." This rousing Yanni classic, based on a theme from Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons," featured dueling violinists with a pulsing disco-era beat.

With this show, Yanni has proven himself a fearless risk-taker, unlimited by preconceived boundaries. This experiment paid-off with rekindled relevancy and refreshing diversity.

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