Where are they now? - former Yes members
This page last updated: 9 May 2024
Bruford does research, writes and gives talks, and oversees
archival and re-releases, but he retired from performance (Oct
2017 interview: "I no longer perform, practice or teach on
the instrument."; 2015
interview: "I have not been playing any music. I've not
touched the drums for five years."). However, he has occasionally
performed more recently. He made a surprise appearance at the Aug 2023 John
Wetton memorial concert, drumming on "Let's Stick Together"
(originally by Roxy Music) with Chris Difford (Squeeze;
vocals, guitar), Phil Manzanera (ex-Roxy
Music; guitar, backing vocals), Guy Pratt (worked with Pink Floyd, Madonna, The Orb; bass)
and a saxophonist, keyboardist and backing vocalist from the Paul
Green Rock Academy. Then, in Feb 2024, he played a full set in a
guitar-led jazz trio in Windsor, UK. Ed
Percival reported on Facebook, "They did a mix of jazz
standards, plus their on take on Dvorak's New World, and some
tunes written by the guitarist. They did a Bruford tune called
"In a Ghost Garden"." In a Feb
2024 interview, Steve Howe described how Bruford "did
stop playing" for many years, but that Bruford has spent "two
years re-learning".
There is a Bill
Bruford fan convention in Tokyo, Japan on 16 Jun 2024, which
will include a Q&A with Bruford and performances by 2 UK
tribute bands. Then, on 29 Jun, he is in
conversation with Anil Prasad in New York, NY, followed by
ProgJect in concert with a set including material from Bruford's
back catalogue (Yes, King Crimson, Genesis, UK, Bruford). There
is then a second night with the same format on 30 Jun in
Philadephia. Bruford is also attending the 3rd
International MoonJune Festival 18-22 Sep 2024 in Spain,
presumably again in conversation.
He also attended the premiere of the new surround mix
of The Yes Album: see the
blog.
Compilations, re-releases and archives
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Out is Live at the
Schauburg Bremen 1987 (Moosicus), on digital, from
Bill Bruford's Earthworks. The recording comes from a
November 1987 Radio Bremen broadcast. Digital release was in
Nov 2022, but the CD was delayed until early 2023. The band
consisted of Bill Bruford (acoustic and electronic drums,
percussion), Mick Hutton (double bass), Django Bates (keys,
tenor horn, trumpet) and Iain Bellamy (saxes). Tracks:
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Many years back, Phil Manzanera's website
described a possible archival collection entitled Rare
Two including material with Bruford, but news of the
release was withdrawn. In Apr 2003, bassist Bill MacCormick
answered a question about the relevant sessions on the Phil
Manzanera/Roxy Music forum saying:
Some of the early sessions for the Listen Now album [...] involved Bill Bruford + Phil, [Brian] Eno and me (not sure about Eddie [Jobson] though he certainly played on other sessions). These tracks were never used though I believe Phil still has the 24-track masters somewhere. Every now and then we talk about what we might do with them. We haven't come up with an answer yet.In a Jul 2008 blog, Bruford said: "I think Voiceprint is about to release a live Gong album from the short time I was with them, but you'd have to check their website". As yet, there has been no announcement from Voiceprint or successor Gonzo. Bruford played with Gong for a few months in late 1974. An example set from Dec 1974 went: "Invocation", "Master Builder", "A Perfect Mystery", "Never Glid Before", "White Christmas", "Solar Musik Suite", "Flute Salad", "Oily Way", "Inner Temple", "Outer Temple", "Sprinkling of Clouds". King Crimson Various Crimson re-releases and archival releases continue. Bruford was interviewed for a documentary film on the band, also described here. The David Cross Band released Ice Blue, Silver Sky (Noisy Records) on 3 Nov 2023, including new versions of Crimson's "Exiles" and "Starless". They tour in 2024/5 playing all of Larks' Tongues in Aspic plus further 1970s King Crimson material. There are 5 Polish dates 21-25 Feb 2024, 4 South American dates 19-23 Aug, a European show 20 Sep, then 33 US/Canadian dates 26 Sep-3 Nov, followed by further US dates Jan/Feb 2025. John Kelman is writing a book about King Crimson and connected acts, based on material he's written for the All About Jazz website over the years through Panegyric Publishing. |
| Kaye is in CIRCA: with Billy Sherwood. Jay Schellen
(drums) and Jimmy
Haun (guitar) make up the rest of the current band.
They have a new album "nearly complete" according to a Mar
2023 interview with Sherwood by Aymeric Leroy (author of "Yes").
Kaye and Sherwood recorded a song with Scott Walton: see
under Sherwood. Brian Chatton (ex-Warriors, ex-Flaming Youth, ex-Jackson Heights, worked with Jon Anderson) had a number of songs on his MySpace page that were produced by Kaye. Kaye was also helping Chatton with some videos to accompany his autobiography "Rolling with Rock Royalty" (Facebook), now out. Chatton has talked about releasing further songs with Kaye. |
Roslyn, NY, 1 Aug 1972:
1. "Black and White"
2. "There No More"
3. "Monday Morning Eyes"
4. "Small Beginnings"
5. "Children of the Universe"
6. "Lifetime"
CD 2:Hempstead, NY, 18 Jul 1972:CD 3: Indianapolis, IN, 7 Dec 1972: |
Burbank, CA, 9 Oct 1973:It seems to have been put together with Ray Bennett. He said of the release, "What 'Think Like A Key Music' set out to do here [...] is to gather together whatever was left out there of live FLASH stuff regardless of quality and present it in the best possible way. Whatever improvements could be made to the audio were done. Quite a bit of it is rough sounding, but I found that even with the poor sound issues there was something coming across of the live experience. [...] A fair bit of this material was fan-recorded, probably on cassettes, some possibly from rough mixing board recordings; some is much better studio type quality, and some has been online for years on obscure websites, but in the worst possible form � awful sound [...] So all that has been cleaned up and the sound mastered as well as possible. [...] Other than the 'In Public' CD [...] this new set is it as far as we know. Pretty much all that there is of live FLASH performance." The release comes with a 32-page booklet with band interviews, unpublished photographs, and a tour itinerary.
17. "Dead Ahead"
18. "Psychosync"
Miami, FL, 26 Oct 1973:
19. "Children of the Universe"
20. "Black and White"
Cape Cod, MA, 24 Aug 1973:
21. "The Bishop"
22. "Manhattan Morning (Christmas '72)"
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The
New Empire "Knights of the New Empire" from the album is also included on Perdomo's 2 Sep 2022 compilation Covers (just under the title "Knights"). Other newsBanks can be heard speaking on Yesterdays' A Moonlit Night in Budapest, out 22 Sep 2023. The album was recorded on Yesterdays' 2007 tour in Budapest, when they played with Harmony in Diversity (performance released on The Complete Recordings) and Flamborough Head (who have also released their performance on the night as a live album). At the end of Yesterdays' performance, Pete got on stage to praise the band and his words are included at the end of this live album. |
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The Syn's Flowerman
� Rare Blooms from The Syn (Grapefruit)
compiles all surviving 1960s recording by the band, plus
some additional material. Banks and Chris Squire are on
most tracks. In content, it is basically a re-release of
most of disc 1 of the out-of-print 2004/5 release Original
Syn; there are no previously unreleased
tracks. See
details under Chris Squire. The release omits the
disc 2 tracks recorded in 2004 with Banks (guitar), Steve
Nardelli (vocals), Martyn Adelman (drums), Gerard Johnson
(keys) and Steve Gee (bass). These have had a separate
2023 digital release as Illusion (Cherry Red
Records). Tracks: "Illusion" (14:17), "Grounded 2004"
(5:05), "Time and a Word" (4:59), "A Tide in the Affairs
of Man" (7:45), "Time and a Word (Reprise)" (3:37). The
last three are one continuous piece. Buy from Amazon (UK)
#ad. The Syn's "Flowerman"
has also been re-released as a 7" single: again, see
under Squire. |
I�m [...] planning to do some concerts by myself. More than ever, I�m back in the saddle to record. I have multiple projects in the pipeline, and they will come out as they come out. I also have some classic music in preparation, and some other new stuff that�s going to knock your socks off.In a Jan 2017 interview, he said, "I'm playing seven hours a day, and I'm also recording every day and every night[.] I've composed many hundreds of pieces of music."
[...]
I have other symphonic works [in development; in addition to A Way to Freedom] as well, including the completion of my �Children�s Concerto� for orchestra. I�ve added some orchestral colors to it�but I like to keep some mystery about what I�m doing!
I have also been expressing myself by writing poems, either in French or in English. And I�ve already recorded some of them. And I�ve almost completed a double CD with my other group in Switzerland [possibly a reference to Random Kingdom]; that�s going to come out..probably not this year [2015] or next year [2016], but after that. I have at least two other albums schedule to come out. But for now, MAP is taking priority
[...]
Because my children are grown up, and because I�m not committed, contracted yet � yet! [laughs] � to tour with a big band with my music, I have more time. And I�ve developed a very interesting studio here in Florida.
Live
Moraz was interviewed,
but didn't perform, at NAMM 2024 on 26 Jan. The Bob Moog
Foundation exhibit about him was also shown.
Moraz performed at ProgStock
2023 on 8 Oct 2023, opening for Utopia. He was also doing an
interview session with a film screening on 6 Oct.
Moraz played a benefit
show for
5 local musicians affected by Hurricane Ian in Nov 2022 in
Florida.
Band projects
Moraz and Ronnie
Ciago (Facebook) (ex-CIRCA:, Brand X, worked with Bill
Ward, Mick Taylor, Jaco Pastorius, Robert Downey Jr.; percussion)
have been working on an album together; one piece with Ciago
appeared on Moraz's solo album Change of Space. Ciago said
on Facebook in late Sep 2011: "there is also 2 Moraz & Ciago
cd's due out in the next few months, Patrick Moraz & Ronnie
Ciago "Live On The Radio" and The new studio cd ( Moraz &
Ciago ) with known guest musicians."
Solo albums
It was a balance between the two [beginning with Moraz' compositions or not]. We played together and jammed and so on. The music was composed, first and foremost. Actually I composed more than nine pieces � at least fourteen pieces � and then I let him choose the ones that felt the most comfortable. [...]Moraz also said they are "discussing and planning how we�re going to do" live dates, continuing, "Not only promotional dates, but proper concerts."
Greg and I and John Avila, we can now play that music with our eyes closed! We can play it the way it is [written], but we can also jam. And that�s what we will do for the next album. We are really, really determined to put out a bunch of albums together. We had so much fun making this album
I want to keep it a surprise. But what I can tell you is that it�s not just one CD, one album. It�s a bunch of different works for myself at the piano, with a band, with a trio, orchestra and choirs. That�s why it�s taking so long. In this kind of work, you can never say exactly when it�s going to be ready.In an interview circa May 06 (Notes from the Edge #299), Moraz said:
A WAY TO FREEDOM seems to be taking a long time to come out. It's not the lack of material, but more about the inherent inertia which has surrounded the project from the beginning. I have lots and lots of recorded material already, but I never seem to be able to put the finishing touch to the production as a whole.
In an Aug
2013 interview, asked about the project, Moraz replied:
It�s still on the front burner, it�s just that I�ve got different projects and different productions that take precedence. [...] I�ve got several pieces that I�ve had rendered for a symphony orchestra and percussionists and a jazz brass band. All of the music is written and arranged; it�s on paper. It�s just that it takes time. I could have finished it and released it, but in some way I have been enjoying my right to be a little bit of a perfectionist. (Laughs.)
Asked about the project in the late 2014 interview, Moraz said,
"I am in the finishing stages of A Way To Freedom, because
I've got some other productions that take precedence. [...] that's
going to be my solo album. I've been working on that for several
years on and off."
A Jun
2014 interview described it as "due in the very near
future". It also describes as upcoming Cantata, a piece
for a soprano-alto-tenor-bass choir in 7 movements, "paying homage
to 'Our Planet.'" The latter was previously described on Moraz'
website as EcoCantata. His site website also said Moraz is
"progressing in the compositional development, production and
"finition" of a "Futuristic Ballet" and other works featuring
electronic arrangements as well as innovative, rhythmic
instrumentation and acoustic orchestrations."
Patrick
Moraz and Human Interface toured in 1983, with a set including
all of Story of i. The band consisted of
Moraz, Tim Franklin (bass, vocals), Paul Parker (drums), Jim
Gentry (guitar, vocals) and Michael Franklin (keys, vocals).
(Michael and Tim Franklin are currently working with Jon
Anderson.) On 11 Dec 2022, M Franklin said
on Facebook, "We have a video tape of the whole show. I
hope re-master and re-render this year [2022]. [...] Recorded
at The Beacham Theater in Orlando in 1983."
Other news
Moraz guested on the 10-track album Not in
Kansas Anymore, the posthumous and only solo album by Robby
Steinhardt (ex-Kansas, worked with Jon Anderson),
released Oct 2021. Steinhardt was working on the album in his
final months before his death in May 2021. The album was produced
by Michael Franklin (works with
Jon Anderson), with many of the players from Jon Anderson's
1000 Hands: Chapter One and the associated touring
band. The music was mostly written by Michael and Tim Franklin,
with Steinhardt given co-writing credit for his input too.
Moraz covered Jean-Michel Jarre's "Oxygene (Part 4)" on Synthesizer Classics (Cleopatra Records), out Aug 2022: see on main page for details. Moraz appeared on 1 track each of the three latest Prog Collective albums from Billy Sherwood, Dark Encounters (due Mar 2024), Seeking Peace (2022), and Songs We were Taught (2022): see main page for details. Moraz appears on "Pigs (Three Different Ones)" on the Cleopatra Records release, Animals Reimagined � A Tribute to Pink Floyd: see on main page for details.
In the late 2014 interview, Moraz described another project:seven years ago, I had a project [...] �Seven Days a Week: Music on the Road From A to Z,� [...] I was seeing real people in real time, and the idea was to record in one week, in seven days � actually seven different CDs, one CD every day with a different theme every day. I kind of started to prepare production, because it�s a rough animal to do that, but as of yet I haven�t had the chance to complete such the project. But it�s still in the future works, as a future operation.
In the Oct 2010 Classic Rock
Presents... Prog, Moraz says:
I am so busy right on many
projects. They vary from rock to classical. Right now, I'm
working with some extraordinary musicians in Tampa, Florida.
Moreover, there are various reissues being planned. And I'm
currently writing my autobiography, when I will reveal the truth
of what happened with Yes.
Moraz played on sessions for bassist Dave LaRue (The Dixie Dregs, John Petrucci) for a second solo album that has yet to appear.
Moraz was in Refugee and their track "Ritt Mickley" is on the 4CD
Round
and Round � Progressive Sounds of 1974 (Esoteric
Recordings, ECLEC42831), due 30 Jun 2023.
Longer term plans
Moraz has talked of multiple further
projects, but many of these appear to be some way from producing
any output. He has plans for a third "Future Memories" show,
which he discusses in a new interview on a forthcoming DVD
release of the first two "Future Memories" TV programmes (see below). Moraz has also been
working on an album with Michel Sanchez (Deep Forest)
for some time. A report circa Feb 2005 said that Moraz has
two electronic albums close to completion, one of which seemed to
be the one with Sanchez. It is unclear whether the other was A
Way to Freedom, with Armen or some other project.
Moraz has expanded "Modular Symphony (1st Movement)" from his 1987 Human Interface album into an entire piano concerto, which he intends to release at some point according to a Mar 2005 interview.
Although he has no immediate plans, in his Mar 2005 interview, Moraz talked of his willingness to do a video or film project based on his solo album The Story of i. In his NftE interview (Jan 2001), he said, "I've also been writing and researching some stories. I'd like to do a movie of THE STORY OF I either in 3-D computer graphics, an animated version, or the real thing. I have also written a couple of other movie scripts; one is a science fiction story and the other is about the life and times of a composer who lived three hundred years ago." In an earlier interview (Oct 2000), he said: "I have just about 30 other projects that I have already composed, I've composed hundreds of pieces of music in the last 9 years. [...] I have also, maybe, studying to get a commission for a symphony orchestra perhaps in europe for next year [2001]." At some point, he has been planning to do a charity Christmas album.
| Rio Rabin's new solo album, Rio, was released 6 Oct 2023 on InsideOut (announcement video). In an interview in the Apr 2020 issue of Prog, Rabin said he was working on a new solo album with vocals (in contrast to the largely instrumental Jacaranda). On 26 Dec 2022, in a comment replying to a post on the Trevor Rabin Fans Facebook group, Rabin said, "It is done [...] record company is done". He also announced the title, which is his granddaughter's name (Ryan's daughter). Rabin plays most of the instruments on the album, including drums in places, while drums are otherwise by Lou Molino III (ex-Yes ft ARW), with Vinnie Colaiuta (worked with Billy Sherwood, Frank Zappa, Joni Mitchell, Sting) on "Push". (There were reports that son Ryan was also on drums, but he is not on the album.) Rabin also painted the cover (originally called Absinthe). Rabin produced, engineered and mixed, while Paul Linford mastered the album. Tracks:
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sorry i've been missing in action,,,.but I have been 24/7 on the new solo album, and it's turning into something pretty cool.In Sep 2014, Rabin said the album will have "some surprise guests" and described 3 drummers will be involved, Lou Molino (who had already recorded parts, and previously played on Jacaranda and with Anderson Rabin Wakeman), son Ryan Rabin and an as yet unnamed drummer. Recording sessions continued in Sep 2014. In Aug 2015, he posted to Facebook:
I was hoping i'd be closing in by now.
Ufortunately it'll take a but longer. It's just taking time to let it all happen the right way. But i'm quite excited with where it's going.
I'm about half way through and very happy. Bare with me.
Sorry there's been little on the new album.A Jun 2015 interview described him as "now writing an album of all-original rock material and considering a tour." However, in Feb 2016, he said (again on Facebook) that he was "just working crazy at the moment" and "putting my solo album on hold". This appeared to be connected to the ramping up of activity by Anderson, Rabin & Wakeman. Back in Feb 2014, Rabin said on Facebook:
I'm had to take some breaks to fulfill some film obligations.
But it's going great, I wish it was happening a little faster.
I would say I'm half way there and will be back at it next week.
speak soon. all the best
I've completed 2 tracks for my next solo album.Journalist Jon Kirkman said on Facebook (Jan 2014) that Rabin is keen to get the rock album out within 2 years and he already has some material for it. On Facebook in Feb 2014, Rabin talked of having completed two songs in the style of Can't Look Away and 90125.
I wasn't sure what shape my voice would be in, as singing is something I do little of with scoring (or on Jacaranda), ... but voice exercises and singing a lot,....i'm in good shape.
Happy so far, ...long way to go!
Bonamassa will perform at least 14 new and extended versions of his songs with this nationally renowned orchestra. Unlike most concerts featuring a rock band and orchestra, this concert will be driven by the orchestral arrangements written by some of the world's leading classical composers as well as Hollywood�s leading movie orchestrators.Following pandemic disruption, Bonamassa played a one-off live show on 9 Aug 2023 at the Hollywood Bowl, with the LA Philharmonic Orchestra, which was to be filmed for a live release. String arrangements were by Rabin, David Campbell (worked with Rush, Ariana Grande, Muse, Aerosmith, and his son Beck), Calvin Turner (Bonamassa's bass player) and Jeff Bova (worked with Katy Perry, Celine Dion, Cher). Campbell conducted. Set: with band: "Evil Mama", "Dust Bowl", "Love ain't a Love Song", "I Want to Shout About It", "Heart That Never Waits"; with orchestra: "When One Door Opens (Overture)", "Curtain Call", "Self Inflicted Wounds", "No Good Place for the Lonely", "Ball Peen Hammer", "Last Matador of Bayonne", "Prisoner", "If Heartaches were Nickels", "Ballad of John Henry"; encore: "24 Hour Blues", "Sloe Gin".
Each composer will orchestrate one or two songs of their choice. The direction of the songs will be set by the orchestrator and producer with Bonamassa performing both electric and acoustic guitar, and singing within those confines. You will be able to hear the desperate addiction in "Sloe Gin", the ferocious animated realism of a desperate train journey in "Slow Train", the Rodrigo-like Spanish influences in "The Last Matador" and majestic landscapes to create a spectacular music event for lovers of all kinds of music.
Once [...] we [ARW] do Europe [�] once that tour is finished, I'm actually going to start bookings [for film scoring]. So I've promised [new manager] Rich [Jacobellis] that when I come back, in between now and doing the next tour [26 Aug-9 Sep 2018] [�] I'll agree to start taking meetings, speaking to people and I'll phone my friends [like directors Renny Harlin and Jerry Bruckheimer]An Apr 2017 interview (conducted Mar) had laid out the following plan:
I�ve got two solo records which I�m scheduled to do and two scores which I�m not at liberty to mention [...] I pretty much signed on to them now, and so I�m pretty busy right up until the end of 2018 at this point.In a Jun 2017 interview, Jason Becker, who is having Rabin guest on a piece of his, said, "[Rabin] is working on a symphony now": I am unclear what that is, and whether it is related to solo work, film scoring or something else.
I did an instrumental album in 2012 [Jacaranda]. I wanna follow that up with another [instrumental] album, and I also do wanna do a kind of vocal rock album to follow up on [...] Can�t Look Away [...] obviously, a priority goal for us is ARW
I've had something on the burner for a long time, but I've never really got centered on it [...] I have an electric-guitar concerto. I'm calling it that, which might sound a bit posh, but it's just a classical electric guitar. What I have sketched out is for full orchestra and electric guitar. I've also included four bagpipes, which just sounded so great. It's a great combination, these very legato, almost sitar-ish guitars and the drone of the bagpipes, which is an extraordinary sound. I really want to come to terms with this guitar concertoAnd:
I'm also very determined to do a rock album, whatever that means, with singing on it.In a Jun 2012 interview, he said, "I will sing on a record in the future. I've started working on a followup to Jacaranda. I'm going to do a vocal." He also says, "I met with Robert Plant and we wanted to do something together, so I'd love to revisit that." And in another Jun 2012 interview, Rabin says, "I will sing soon! Yes, I will definitely be singing on my future albums and projects." And adds, "This album [Jacaranda] and the music I express on it is definitely a turning point for me. I will be far more creatively free from this moment on since creating Jacaranda." In my Jul 2012 interview with Rabin, he said: "I am so motivated by Jacaranda it certainly won't be 20 years between albums again." In an Aug 2013 interview, he said: "I am starting a new solo album as a follow up to Jacaranda".
| "Talking
to Yourself" (2:53; video)
was the third single from Carly Rae Jepsen's album The
Loneliest Time (604/School Boy/Interscope), out 21
Oct 2022. The single was released 16 Sep 2022, backed with
"Beach House" and "Western Wind". All three tracks were
then also included on the fourth single, "The Loneliest
Time" (with Rufus Wainwright), released 7 Oct. "Talking to
Yourself" was co-written and produced by Captain Cuts, who
are now Ryan Rabin (Trevor's son) and Benjamin Berger, who
also performed on the track. Trevor guests on a guitar
solo. Neither of the Rabins appear on any of the other 12
tracks (or 3 digital bonus tracks). The album was recorded
2020-2, largely in lockdown. The album made #16 in the UK,
#18 in Canada, #19 in the US, #37 in New Zealand, #52 in
Japan (#33 in digital albums), #61 in Ireland, #62 in
Australia, #94 in Spain, and #180 in both Flanders and
Wallonia (Belgium). It also made #39 on the German digital
chart. "Talking to Yourself" made #91 on the UK iTunes
chart. The album made #4 on the Canadian iTunes chart, #6
in Brazil, #7 in the US and Australia, #9 in the UK, #21
in Germany, and #26 in France. Rabin guested with Outlanders (alternate website, Twitter), a collaboration between vocalist Tarja Turunen (ex-Nightwish) and musician/producer Torsten Stenzel (York, worked with Mike Oldfield, Nelly Furtado, Joss Stone). The project, which was mainly recorded in Antigua, mixes electronic music, vocals and (electric and acoustic) guitars. The album uses some texts by Paulo Coelho. Marcelo Cabuli is the executive producer. The first single, "Closer to the Sky" (streaming audio; music video), featured Rabin and was released digitally 26 Nov 2021. There is also a 7" vinyl release, with a b-side of "Closer to the Sky (Dub Mix)". There was also a Scot & Millfield remix and a Beau Chapeau remix of the song, both also released in 2022. The song was written by Turunen and either Erik Nyholm or Stenzel (I've seen different reports), and is performed by Turunen (vocals), Stenzel (programming) and Rabin (guitars). It was recorded and engineered in Antigua by Stenzel, with the vocals recorded by Turunen in Marbella, Spain, and the guitars recorded and co-produced by Rabin. The song was produced and mixed by Stenzel, Turunen and MIC, and mastered by Tom Porcell. The band released 8 singles in total before an album, A Peaceful Place, out 23 Jun 2023, including on CD and curacao blue vinyl 2LP. Tracks:
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Rick Wakeman
and Rabin have both mooted the possibility an album together at
some point: see here for
details. Rabin also appears on a couple of tracks of
Wakeman's Unreleased Demos Volume 1, the third Caped
Crusader Collector Club release, with demos and more from the
1990s. He then also appeared on one track of the fifth Caped
Crusader Collector Club release, Rehearsals and Demos, on
another demo: see
under Rick Wakeman. Both Rabin and Wakeman are expected to
guest on Jon Anderson's 1000 Hands: Chapter Two, expected
in 2023: see
under Anderson.
Rabin and Roger Hodgson worked together around the time Hodgson
turned down the idea of joining Yes, the collaboration yielding
"Walls" on Talk. Some of that material was recorded with
Squire, White and Kaye. Asked in the Sep 2020 SOAL
interview whether any of it might see release, Rabin replied
that he and Hodgson "always keep in touch". He continued, "we
really spent quite some time enjoying writing together and
recording stuff. A lot of it just never got finished. [...] That's
something that, y'know, maybe, at some point, Roger and I
should... y'know, time's getting on, so we should do it sooner
than later. [...] There's quite a lot of stuff that wasn't
finished and, we've always talked about, we should get this done,
finished, and forget about where, how it's gonna be done, let's
just do it and get it done." Talking on The Record Player podcast
(Sep 2023), it appeared nothing had happened since 2020. Rabin
said, "Nothing's finished and mixed," but that he would talk to
Hodgson about the material when he saw him in Oct 2023.
Gary May (Trevor's brother-in-law) said on Facebook in early 2015 how he had had "Trevor produce, orchestrate and play on one of my songs", with a photo taken in Rabin's Jacaranda studio in Oct 2014.
Rabbitt reunited as Rabbitt Reloaded for a South African tour
with original members Duncan Faure, Ronnie Robot and Neil Cloud,
but without Rabin, although Rabin is supportive of the project.
The new band was joined by Marius Marais. However, the tour was
postponed before starting following Robot suffering a hand injury.
In Aug 2021, Rabin sold his music publishing catalogue of 3528
pieces�including music with Yes, from his solo career and film
scores�to private equity firm Round Hill Music Royalty Fund
Limited. Round Hill got the writer's and publisher's share of the
catalogue and administrative control. Josh Gruss, chairman and CEO
of Round Hill, said, "We believe this is a particularly attractive
area in which to be increasing our exposure, as film and TV
performance revenues continue to increase in value."
I was supposed to have delivered the album for mixing by now but I decided at the last minute that 2 songs needed a rewrite (one quite substantially!)He tweeted on 16 Jul 2023: "Just received the first mix of the Anam Cara record. A few tweaks required but I can't express how pleased I am with this record. Still aiming for autumn release. Also spent the weekend with the wonderful @AnneSudworth discussing the artwork for the cover and booklet. He said 19 Jul on social media, "Hoping the final mixes will be complete by the weekend." In a Dec 2023 interview, Wakeman talks about almost finishing the album when he decided the chorus on one song wasn't good enough, thus delaying the album for further work on it. In that interview, he also described the album as "rock/celtic" and talked about Robert McClung (Telergy) guesting on violin. Other performers are guesting on sax and clarinet. He also explained the origins of the project:
Just finished the second one now so I think I�m finally there. Need to get everything to Karl [Groom] for mixing now!
It it came originally from a project I was doing 20 years ago with a young singer called Rachel, who was a a Welsh singer. And she just sang beautiful, lilting folk songs and she was a harpist. So the project originally started off at that. And I think it was her husband turned around and said to me, oh, if you do a project together, you should call it Anam Cara. And I said, well, what's that? And he said, well, it's Celtic for "soul friend" [...] you musicians, you're all like soul friends together because you don't know anything about each other when you first meet and you just create music together. [...] The project never really got going [...] We did a couple of demos, I think, and then it sort of fell apart. [...] [Later,] my management was saying to me, what, what do you want to do next?And I kept thinking to myself, I want to do that Celtic rock record again because I love [...] that Riverdance stuff. I love Clannad, all that. [...] And also I wanted to work with a female vocalist because I've worked a lot with male vocalists.He had described the project in his Nov 2022 newsletter thus:
I currently have about 3 records in the works but I decided to focus on the one which I have wanted to do for quite a while, Anam Cara. This was an idea for a project I wanted to do many years ago when I started working with the singer Rachel.I believe the other "records in the works" are Works for Art and Cultural Vandals: more on those below. Wakeman tweeted 7 Nov 2021, presumably about Anam Cara, "Starting the journey of working on a new album." This may also be the project alluded to on 21 Feb 2020, when he tweeted:
However, as that band dissipated and morphed in into the Oliver Wakeman Band and the Mother�s Ruin album, the ideas I had for this album were put on the back burner. So when I was in discussion with the management company about what was coming next, I mentioned this album idea and got the green light
[...] nearly all the music is written and I have David Mark Pearce doing the electric guitars, Steve Amadeo on bass and Scott Higham on drums. [...] There will be more announcements over the coming weeks about the vocalist and other musicians confirmed on the album.
[...] Anne Sudworth will again be providing one of her wonderful pieces of artwork for the sleeve. [...] Karl Groom [...] will be handling the mixing and mastering.
We are currently aiming for an early 2023 release date.
Busy trying to finish the writing sessions for my new album which will hopefully be out later this year [2020]. Had a breakthrough today writing the middle section for a piece I�ve been working on for some timeOliver's Oct 2018 Newslist also described three major projects. First, he wrote how, "I have been working on a new project which is very exciting and I have a meeting during this month to finalise the details and so look out for news in the next newsletter." It's unclear which project that was. Secondly in the Oct 2018 newsletter, he wrote, "I have also been working on a collection of instrumental piano pieces based on music I have written for my family or commissions for other peoples loved ones. I was encouraged to put it together following the nice comments from people who heard some of the pieces at the solo piano shows and by the people who have commissioned pieces from me. I am still working on it but it is coming together nicely and I am hopeful for a release in the New Year [2019]." This would appear to be the same album he described in an Aug 2018 tweet, saying he was, "currently looking into the release of a new instrumental album for later in the year [2018]". It would also appear to be the same project described in a 31 Oct 2018 tweet: "Starting to put some plan[n]ing for a new solo instrumental album due next year [2019]... more info soon." His Sep 2019 newsletter said:
Nearly ready to start working on the arrangements. Then comes the recording!
I have continued to work on the collection of instrumental piano pieces based on music I have written for my family or commissions for other people's loved ones.Pieces on the album include "Lottie's Song" (for his daugher) and a new version of "November Wedding" (previously released on Trinity). In a Facebook broadcast in Apr 2020, Wakeman said he is currently working on the album, which will be called Works for Art. He was working towards a release for the end of 2020, with a cover by Rodney Matthews, but the album has yet to appear.
I have decided to include other musicians on the album (as it was originally going to be just myself on piano) as I feel that, with the way some of the pieces are developing, it feels more like the follow up to 3 Ages of Magick album I recorded in 2003. I think I have all the music now composed but the crafting and arrangement work has started in earnest. I am hoping that this will be out for Spring 2020.
Cultural Vandals is coming
along really well. We are currently discussing the options for
releasing it which will hopefully be towards the end of the year
[2011] or early 2012. I have been working on another project for
the last few months and I hadn't listened to it for a while. I
mentioned in my last blog that I always like to let albums sit
for a while and then revisit them to make sure that I am happy
with them. I sat and listened to it in full yesterday to see
what other work was required and it felt really good to me. I
can't wait to start recording [...] a finished version
Manzi was recording vocals with Wakeman in May 2012, presumably
for this project.
In a review of 2016 on his website, Oliver said, "There is my large scale musical project which I have been working on all year [2016] with a well known music producer and my business partner. We are confident that it will see the light of day this year [2017]." In a May 2018 tweet, he talked of "working on my next album rough mixes".
In a May
2009 interview, Oliver says:
I have a lot of solo material
that I'd like to record too � four very different albums' worth.
One will be a rock album, another Celtic rock, the third is a
rock opera, and the fourth is made up of piano pieces. I really
hope to start recording them before the end of the year [2009].
I like to use a studio in Virginia Water, Surrey, where I have a
great relationship with the engineer Karl Groom. I produce my
own recordings myself.
In the Jun 2008 interview, Oliver also said that he was "a fair
way through a solo project on the piano". Oliver had also started
work on a singer-songwriter-style album featuring various
musicians he has worked with over the years.
On 13 Mar, Oliver tweeted about being, "Back in the studio
working on the new @dexibellMI project..." Dexibell are an Italian
musical instrument company. Further details as to what this
project entails have not been forthcoming so far.
Oliver is available for writing commissions.
Live
Oliver Wakeman's Anam Cara were to play the Summer's End Festival
on 7 Oct 2023. However, due to a bereavement affecting a band
member, they had to postpone to the Winter's End Festival
in Chepstow, UK, and performed on 14 Apr 2024. The set was [SPOILERS�highlight to read]
"Moneyfacturing", "Dangerous World", "Run
for Your Life", "The View from Here", "1000 Autumns", "I Don't
Believe in Angels", "Miss You Now", Wakeman solo, "The
Forgotten King", "LJW", "Glimmer of Light", "Instead of My
Fear", "Mother's Ruin", "Words on a Page", "From the Turn of a
Card" (Ravens & Lullabies arrangement), "The Gift
of Love", "To the Moment", encore: "Coming to Town".
The band was Hayley Griffiths (vocals), Scott Higham (Pendragon; drums) and Oliver Day (guitars).
Wakeman said in the Dec 2023 interview, "if that goes well and it
and we feel like it's gelled properly, then I'd like to do a
little tour with it." To Prog magazine (Mar 2024 issue),
he added, "But if we do the whole record, I'm really going to need
some whistles and violins and all that stuff." In the Mar 2024
interview, he also said he "would love" to tour and will
go "wherever people want to hear it".
Rick Wakeman,
Oliver Wakeman, Gordon Giltrap (worked with Rick
Wakeman, Oliver Wakeman) and Carrie Martin
(worked with Oliver Wakeman) played a charity concert on
6 May 2023 in Tewkesbury, UK, entitled The
'Other' Coronation Concert. Oliver's son, Arthur, also
joined Oliver for one song. The event raised money for Milestone
and Cleeve Schools and nearly sold out. A second
show is planned for 22 Jun 2024, again with the two
Wakemans, Giltrap and Martin.
Oliver was also due to play with dad Rick at a proposed Apr 2024
performance of Rick's The New Gospels in an updated form,
under the new name of Christus, but I am unclear if that
is still going ahead: see under
Rick Wakeman for details.
Work with Rodney Matthews
In the Mar 2024
interview, Wakeman described working on 4 projects with illustrator and drummer Rodney Matthews.
Wakeman said, "The thing that I'm working on
at the moment is for a project called Squidd, which was his band
from the seventies", later describing this as "the next thing
that will come out from Rodney". Matthews drummed in Squidd, but
the band didn't release any material at the time. Wakeman
explained how Matthews said to him, "I've got these recordings
the band did, back in the seventies, for a radio show." Matthews
continued, "I'd really like to do these and write some new stuff
into these songs and [...] get them re-done." So, Wakeman has
"been working through all these old tapes" and "re-recording a
load of these parts [...] and writing new sections". Wakeman
continued, "We're writing new music for it, but of course I want
to write in the style of how the original band was." This means
that Wakeman is just using Hammond, Moog and piano.
Matthews had tweeted
about the project in Nov 2023, saying, "A new illustration for a
music project that I have just commenced with @OliverWakeman,
based upon ideas both musical and image-wise that I worked on in
the early 1970s but never recorded as an album!" He had earlier
mentioned this same illustration in his newsletter, where he said:
Work has now commenced on a new music project with Oliver Wakeman. This will most likely take the form of an album on vinyl and CD, with tracks influenced by my images. The twist with this one is that it will be retro, incorporating images and musical ideas that I first experimented with during the early 1970s � that definitely makes it �proggy�! Right now I am working on a new illustration for the booklet, titled �Armageddon sings as the Toad Conducts the Band�.
Wakeman and guitarist Jeff Scheetz are also
working with Matthews on a follow-up to 2019's Trinity.
Wakeman said in the Mar 2024 interview that both he and Scheetz
"have started writing for that".
Rodney and his wife Sarah re-did the 1978 children's book "Yendor",
originally by Graham Smith and Rodney. (Yendor is Rodney
backwards.) The book is out.
There is a CD
release with narration by Sarah, some additional
voice from Rodney, and a score by Wakeman. Tracks:
Wakeman was asked to do some
brief interludes between parts of the narration, but
decided to do a full score instead, which he worked on
without telling the Matthews of his plan. He then sent the
whole thing over, fortunately to a positive reception. The
original plan for the narration had just been a download
accompanying the book, but with a score, it was decided to
do a separate release. The audio version, with Wakeman's
music, was turned into an animation. The 17 minute "Yendor
- The Journey of a Junior Adventurer" was shown at
multiple film festivals, winning several awards. The
Matthews are working towards a second Yendor short
animation, with a story scripted specifically for the
film. In the Mar 2024 interview,
Wakeman confirmed that R Matthews "[i]s doing another
Yendor film" and that he will again do the soundtrack. The
fourth project with Matthews that Wakeman mentioned in
the Mar 2024 interview is "another CD one track thing
for something". Previously, Wakeman played on a
single from Rodney Matthews & Friends, "Lost
in the Wild Wood" (trailer),
now out. Performing were Tony Clarkin (Magnum;
guitar), Pete Coleman (English bagpipes, psaltery,
recorder, etc.), Bob Catley (Magnum;
vocals), Charlotte Dickerson (vocals), Wakeman
(keys), Roberto Vitelli (bass), Clare Hines (electro hurdy
gurdy) and R Matthews (drums). The lyrics are by R
Matthews, based on a quotation from Kenneth Grahame's "The
Wind in the Willows", with the music by Coleman, Clarkin
and Matthews. The single was produced by R Matthews and
executive produced by R & S Matthews, with art by R
Matthews and graphic design by R & S Matthews. Other
work
On 20 Jan, he had tweeted that he was "just finishing the writing for [...] a film soundtrack". On 3 Feb, he said on social media, "A weekend of working through all the final music edits for the new feature film I'm working on as it gets delivered to Karl [Groom] [...] on Monday for the mix to start." On social media on 14 Feb 2024, he described how he "was listening to the [...] master for the film soundtrack I've been working on for the last few months". Wakeman attended the film's premiere on 14 Mar 2024 at BAFTA in London. |
In the Mar 2024 interview, Wakeman said,
"There's a chance that there might be another one" (that is,
another film score).
Wakeman guests again on a project by Carrie Martin. He plays on 2
tracks of her album Evergeen
(earlier known as Beside the Evergreen; promo),
out on Psychotron Records, contributing piano and strings to "End
of Story" (based on Louise Swanson's novel of the same name) and
also appearing on the 8-minute track "Keep in the Light". Martin wrote
on Facebook in Nov 2022 about receiving Wakeman's parts for
"End of Story". Tracks:
Jeremy Richardson (John Hackett band; bass) and Wayne Proctor (drums) also appear. Ben Martin (Carrie's son) produced. Cover art is by Clare Roper-Paris.
Early May 2023, Oliver and dad Rick were both interviewed for a forthcoming documentary film about The Strawbs.
Re-visiting
older recordings
Oliver
was on initial album sessions for Yes's Fly from Here.
Material planned for Yes was re-used by Oliver for Ravens
& Lullabies ("From the Turn of a Card" and "Credit
Carnival") with Gordon Giltrap and planned to be re-used in Cultural
Vandals. Some years ago, he explained on Facebook in a
conversation with fan Sanders Thornburgh:
I got the rights back to my songs which will see the light at some point. Plans in the pipeline! I also have lots of demos of stuff from the FFH sessions [...] [including] the 2 songs I wrote and the one I co-wrote with Chris - a cool 10 minute piece.Much of this material was then released on From a Page. It is unclear if anything not used on From a Page will be used now.
Any news, additions or corrections, please e-mail Henry Potts. Thanks.