Tennessean Concert Review

Review: New age icon Yanni keeps focus on the music
By MELONEE McKINNEY
Staff Writer
There are a few things one might expect at a Yanni concert — like an orchestra, maybe a decent light show and of course the requisite amount of hair flipping and posing from the Greek piano man himself.
But at Wednesday night's show at Gaylord Entertainment Center, there were also some unexpected elements that added a little spice and color to the nearly three-hour performance.
There was the introduction of the Australian tribal instrument the didgeridoo, the friendly duel between the didgeridoo player and the percussionist who came down front to show off some moves from his former job as a lead in the production of Stomp, and the point in the show where musicians put down their instruments and dance seemingly because they wanted to, not because they were asked to.
And then there was the drum solo that would make any rock drummer stand back and take note.
Nashvillian Charlie Adams, who has played with Yanni for more than 20 years, stepped away from his massive drum rig at the back of the stage and came stage front to sit behind a stripped-down basic drum kit and after a few comical exchanges with Yanni, kicked into one of live music's tightest, most impressive drum solos that brought the crowd to its feet. Twice.
This tour, in support of Yanni's Ethnicity album, lived up to its name — literally. Yanni, who took time to introduce most musicians and would then tell from what country they hailed. There were representatives from Australia, Armenia, Paraguay, Venezuela and even Chattanooga, with hammer dulcimer player Dan Landrum joining Adams to represent the Volunteer state on this tour.
The music also held true to Yanni's ''one world'' vision. At any given time one could hear the didgeridoo, operatic voices, drums, a string section, a synthesizer, a Chinese flute and a dulcimer all in one song.
One thing Yanni has mastered in years of touring is to step out of the spotlight and let his group of extremely talented musicians take their turns getting recognition. Karen Briggs, Yanni's own lady in red, actually brought a little attitude to the violin, an instrument not known for being exciting. And she held her own in friendly exchanges between fellow violinists and saxophone player Pedro Eustache.
But there were definitely two kinds of fans at the Nashville show. There were those who love his music and there were those who think Yanni is a Greek god and they are not afraid to yell it out, even when he is trying to set up the next song.
Accustomed to this, Yanni handled the shout-outs with grace and managed to turn the focus back to the music. ¶ 5:04 PM