Apart from the reference to both some of the lyrics in "The Remembering" on TftO and "Sound Chaser" ("as nature relays to set the scene..."), I've come to believe there might be a reference to the Beatles' "Revolver". "Revolver" referred to the album as an object revolving on a record player, "Relayer" may be a description of the album as something that relays musical ideas, thoughts, etc.
Calyx (Canterbury Scene) - http://www.calyx-canterbury.fr
Legends In Their Own Lunchtime (blog) - https://canterburyscene.wordpress.com/
My latest books : "Yes" (2017) - https://lemotetlereste.com/musiques/yes/ + "L'Ecole de Canterbury" (2016) - http://lemotetlereste.com/musiques/lecoledecanterbury/ + "King Crimson" (2012/updated 2018) - http://lemotetlereste.com/musiques/kingcrimson/
Canterbury & prog interviews - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdf...IUPxUMA/videos
I never gave it much thought, but with the cover depicting some ancients on horseback navigating a narrow passage, I always thought the relayer was akin to the Greek messenger who runs all the way to Athens to relay the news of the battle's outcome to the city leaders. A quick search reveals this to be Pheidippides, and connects him to Marathon running. At any rate, the Yes crew are on horseback, but I always imagined the task as similar, due to the artwork.
Steve discusses Relayer and Alan's status in this new interview:
http://northernlifemagazine.co.uk/steve-howe/
“Oh yes. We love Alan sticking at it, he’s a real trooper. He’s had his health issues and we work with Alan so that he’s not loaded with the whole set. We have Jay Schellen again doing large parts of the set. This time Alan will be performing in both parts of the set and the encore – he always does the encore.”
I always forget they played with Vangelis for a bit before Patrick. I think it was the Dan Hedges Yes bio where Steve talks about Vangelis's drumming during those sessions haha. He made it sound like it was terrible but Vangelis was all in on going at the skins haha. I wish the interviewer had asked something like, so Jon Davison is a really nice guy and sounds a lot like Jon given he has the same natural range, but his voice is much thinner than Jon Anderson's. Given Jon Anderson sounds amazing now, did you ever think of asking Jon Anderson to be a part of the tour? Since he wrote a lot of the music with you and of course is the original voice of Yes who has talked about wanting to tour again with you, it might be nice, don't you think?"
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Blogdegezou, the accompanying blog: http://bondegezou.blogspot.com/
"We had this original sound, full credit to Chris Squire and Jon Anderson, Bruford and Tony Kaye, originally, who was just great and, of course, our other player…”
The quote about Vangelis is a little intriguing. Howe implies that the material rehearsed with Vangelis had no relation to what ended up on "Relayer". I find this intriguing. This would mean that what Wakeman had heard of the material being intended for the next album, which he has said contributed to his leaving (and, it seems, not turning up on the first day of rehearsals as he was supposed to), was also not anything that made it to "Relayer" ? Also, Moraz has told this story about his first day of playing with Yes - that Vangelis' gear (Fender Rhodes, string synth, Minimoog) was still set up in the room, and that the other four immediately played him a work in progress version of "Sound Chaser" (to which Moraz supposedly then contributed the introduction on the spot). It's difficult not to think that some incarnation of "Sound Chaser" had been played with Vangelis.
Howe also implies that he and Jon had written "To Be Over" when Moraz arrived, and then (with Moraz) they wrote the rest of the album. This contradicts earlier statements indicating that a lot of "Relayer" had been composed pre-Moraz, including as a quartet with no keyboards, which accounts for the harder-edged sound.
Calyx (Canterbury Scene) - http://www.calyx-canterbury.fr
Legends In Their Own Lunchtime (blog) - https://canterburyscene.wordpress.com/
My latest books : "Yes" (2017) - https://lemotetlereste.com/musiques/yes/ + "L'Ecole de Canterbury" (2016) - http://lemotetlereste.com/musiques/lecoledecanterbury/ + "King Crimson" (2012/updated 2018) - http://lemotetlereste.com/musiques/kingcrimson/
Canterbury & prog interviews - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdf...IUPxUMA/videos
Sadly, I don't hold much hope for this. One of the things that made Relayer what it was, was that Moraz was as credible a jazz player as he was classical/progressive.
I just don't think that Downes has that combination in him, with no disrespect intended. Becoming a credible jazz player is no mean feat...
John Kelman
Senior Contributor, All About Jazz since 2004
Freelance writer/photographer
Agreed, although Downes surprisingly was in a late incarnation of Gary Boyle's Isotope !
Henry has been keeping (sort of) alive the hope of a last-minute announcement that Moraz would appear as special guest for the tour, which for me was the only this could be made to work (other than Alan White letting Jay Schellen play "Gates" and "Sound Chaser" and just doing "To Be Over").
No disrespect to Downes, but his talents lay elsewhere than in this fusion-y area of prog, his above-mentioned Isotope credentials notwithstanding.
Calyx (Canterbury Scene) - http://www.calyx-canterbury.fr
Legends In Their Own Lunchtime (blog) - https://canterburyscene.wordpress.com/
My latest books : "Yes" (2017) - https://lemotetlereste.com/musiques/yes/ + "L'Ecole de Canterbury" (2016) - http://lemotetlereste.com/musiques/lecoledecanterbury/ + "King Crimson" (2012/updated 2018) - http://lemotetlereste.com/musiques/kingcrimson/
Canterbury & prog interviews - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdf...IUPxUMA/videos
Where Are They Now? Yes news: http://www.bondegezou.co.uk/wh_now.htm
Blogdegezou, the accompanying blog: http://bondegezou.blogspot.com/
For a moment while I wrote the post above I'd forgotten about them doing "Gates" on the last US tour. Sorry about that. I remember hearing a recording and Downes did sound OK playing - at least, as OK as on the "Tales" material. "Sound Chaser" may present more of a challenge. I'm sure he's working hard on his chops as we speak.
Last edited by calyx; 01-07-2020 at 05:26 AM.
Calyx (Canterbury Scene) - http://www.calyx-canterbury.fr
Legends In Their Own Lunchtime (blog) - https://canterburyscene.wordpress.com/
My latest books : "Yes" (2017) - https://lemotetlereste.com/musiques/yes/ + "L'Ecole de Canterbury" (2016) - http://lemotetlereste.com/musiques/lecoledecanterbury/ + "King Crimson" (2012/updated 2018) - http://lemotetlereste.com/musiques/kingcrimson/
Canterbury & prog interviews - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdf...IUPxUMA/videos
I think it's possible that Moraz will guest at a show or many shows. I don't think it's likely at this point, but it's still possible. If it happens, it would be more likely for North American dates, which we expect in the autumn, than for European dates.
While Relayer has jazz elements, while it's the most fusion-y Yes album, it's not a jazz album. It's a prog rock album and, more or less, like other Yes albums. I reject the idea that there is some special magic to it that requires radically different keyboard skills. I think Downes will play it live as well as he plays Tales or Close to the Edge live (about which opinion varies).
I've never been able to find out much about his stint in Gary Boyle's band (technically post-Isotope). The Live at the BBC album sounds good to me, although as we've discussed, it's a dual keyboard line-up with Zoe Kronberger, so hard to work out what Downes is playing. John K: you keep saying Downes isn't a credible jazz player -- well, what do you think of Isotope and Gary Boyle's Live at the BBC?
Henry
Where Are They Now? Yes news: http://www.bondegezou.co.uk/wh_now.htm
Blogdegezou, the accompanying blog: http://bondegezou.blogspot.com/
I wasn't aware that he had been asked since Anderson's comments so directly expressed such desire at the end of last year. Honestly it should frustrate him. Anderson is a founding member and his voice is currently the stronger voice. Howe's unwillingness to work with Jon does a disservice to the music whatever he may say.
I'm holding out for the Wilson-mixed 5.1 super-duper walletbuster special anniversary extra adjectives edition.
I really like the image of Yes playing on Soul Train. I can just imagine if they were given enough time to play all of Gates. They certainly had the distinctive clothing and platform shoes ready to go!
Oh, I’ll want to hear it, if they release a live album ... but I’m not willing to take the bigger risk of paying for a concert ticket, especially because I really don’t like what I’ve heard from this lineup.
But I’ll give it a chance, even though I stand by my trepidation at Downes’ being able to pull it off. I’m less concerned about Gates than I am Soundchaser, where he’ll have to solo over Yes at its most fusion-informed best.
And to put it into perspective, while I like him better, I’d have the same wariness were Wakeman to be the keyboardist. He’s just not a jazz-credible player, while Moraz most certainly was. Now, if they brought in Moraz as a guest? That’s another thing entirely.
John Kelman
Senior Contributor, All About Jazz since 2004
Freelance writer/photographer
Where Are They Now? Yes news: http://www.bondegezou.co.uk/wh_now.htm
Blogdegezou, the accompanying blog: http://bondegezou.blogspot.com/
You are right: I have not seen Howe asked this question since Anderson made those comments (although I'm not convinced that Anderson's comments are any radical change of position for him). However, we can be 90% sure what Howe would say in response. It's not the job of an interviewer to berate a musician for choices the fans don't like. I have no interest in reading Howe's same frustrated answer.
Henry
Where Are They Now? Yes news: http://www.bondegezou.co.uk/wh_now.htm
Blogdegezou, the accompanying blog: http://bondegezou.blogspot.com/
I may be wrong but I can't see Anderson & Howe reuniting in Yes ever. If Steve lets Jon back in the door then he loses control and Anderson will try to dictate terms, it has nothing to do with Jon's voice or even the music, its politics, and the two of them just don't see eye to eye anymore sadly.
Just throwing this out there for anyone curious about Gates on the US tour. Gates around 1:05:00.
If anyone can get inside Howe's head the first few minutes, I'd love to know what you see in there. He seems to be yelling at the spotlight op to turn the light on, and when it comes on he gets mad and tells him to leave it off. Twice.
(edited to add that the first few minutes are a mess as Howe is playing sloppy while stomping around the stage mad at who knows what. Things come together around 1:07:47)
(edited again to laugh about Howe's obsession with the spotlight being on when he wants it off and off when he wants it on continues throughout the entire song. He's so weird.)
Last edited by jamesmanzi; 01-10-2020 at 12:28 PM.
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