Jon and the ensemble will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the project by performing the album in its entirety, along with other classics and surprises.
The 2022 tour is a resumption of the tradition started in 2005 when Jon toured with Paul Green's original School of Rock all stars.
These early shows, over 30 in total between 2006-2008, were nothing short of magical, and now Anderson returns to continue that magic with a set of Yes classics, deep cuts, mash ups, and solo works, all with lush arrangements featuring choral singing, horns, and all the other benefits of having a backing band with 25 young musicians.
“Having done a few of these songs in the past with Jon and my students, I couldn’t wait to add them to the current show,” says Green. “Once we did 'Close to the Edge' and 'And You and I' on our Florida run in April, I was reminded of the magic of hearing these songs recreated by young musicians…They really capture the frenetic energy of the original recordings. Then when I heard it was the 50th anniversary of the album I just knew we had to do the whole thing. Jon agreed.”
"There are so many wonderful moments in my musical life, and being on stage with these young teenagers performing classic Yes songs makes me so happy and proud,” says Anderson. “It's a marvel and a tremendous pleasure for me. They are a joy to be with and so much fun. I am grateful, thankful and feel very blessed to be able to sing along with them. Janee and I love them all. Love and light."
A founding member of Yes – who formed in London in 1968 – Anderson has had multiple stints with the progressive rock legends through the years.
“Close To The Edge” featured the lineup of Anderson, guitarist Steve Howe, bassist Chris Squire, keyboardist Rick Wakeman and drummer Bill Bruford; the band’s fifth studio album delivered Yes their highest-charting record at the time as it reached No. 4 in the UK and No. 3 on the US Billboard 200.
The current edition of Yes are also scheduled to perform “Close To The Edge” on a 10-date UK and Eire tour that will begin in Glasgow on June 15; shortly after the band announced that drummer Alan White would miss the trek due to “health issues”, the veteran rocker passed away peacefully at his home on May 26 at the age of 72.
Pick up your copy of “Classic Yes” here.
Jon Anderson
with The Paul Green Rock Academy
2022 US tour
Jul 07 - Plymouth, NH @ The Flying Monkey Performance Center
Jul 08 - Beverly, MA @ The Cabot
Jul 13 - Huntington, NY @ The Paramount
Jul 14 - Montclair, NJ @ Wellmont Theater
Jul 16 - Ridgefield, CT @ Ridgefield Playhouse
Jul 17 - Sugar Loaf, NY @ Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center
Jul 20 - Glenside, PA @ Keswick Theatre
Jul 22 - Kent, OH @ The Kent Stage
Jul 23 - Des Plaines, IL @ Des Plaines Theatre
Jul 27 - Greensburg, PA @ The Palace Theatre
Jul 30 - Milwaukee, WI @ Pabst Theater
Aug 03 - State College, PA @ The State Theatre
Aug 06 - Albany, NY@- The Egg
See also:
Yes drummer Alan White dead at 72
Yes drummer Alan White to miss upcoming UK tour
Yes reschedule Relayer European tour for third time
Yes debut video for The Quest track A Living Island
Search Yes at hennemusic
