Yanni - Tribute (1997)

The album's title is Tribute, but it just as easily could be called Spectacle. Everything here is done on a grand scale, from its ambitious staging areas (the Taj Mahal and China's Forbidden City re-creations) to its large gathering of instrumentalists (more than two dozen) to the histrionics of two impassioned vocalists on a pair of the album's 11 tracks. The only thing missing seems to be the maestro himself--so submerged is the visionary-keyboardist in the mix. The musician showcased most often on Tribute turns out to be energetic violinist Karen Briggs, a familiar figure by now to all who have watched Yanni's global ramblings on television. The compositions and arrangements, it seems, are intended to be the stars as Yanni lives out his Beethoven-like dream sequence. Stylistically, the music ranges from urban smooth jazz to earnest orchestral sweeps. A grand concept, but not an entirely great result. --Terry Wood