As he greeted his New York fans, he noted that the Jones Beach Theater is a “magical place,” and he shared that he and his orchestra have been coming to New York for the past 15 to 20 years. His Long Island set was highly eclectic, where he performed old songs, newer tunes and everything in between. He went on to play for well over 2.5 hours.
Vocalists Lauren Jelencovich and Lisa Lavie delivered on “The Keeper,” which is off his new album Sensuous Chill, and he dedicated the moving composition “Felitsa” to his late mother, which was a fitting tribute.
After “Acroyali,” he shared the beautiful story behind “Nightingale,” and how he was inspired to write the song simply by hearing a bird sing, which ironically enough was a nightingale. The performance was brilliant and earned him and his orchestra a lengthy round of applause. Yanni truly makes music that transports one to different realms.
The esteemed Greek-born pianist dedicated “Until the Last Moment” to his father Sotiri, and recalled that he was inspired to write it thanks to all the philosophies that his father taught him in his early years; moreover, he noted that it is a song about not taking things for granted in life.
Yanni collaborated with acclaimed drummer Charlie Adams on “Marching Season,” which featured an exquisite drum solo towards the end, which was sheer perfection. Jelencovich and Lavie emerged as musical sirens on “Ode to Humanity” thanks to their atmospheric voices. He was able to get all of the crowd on their feet, on the upbeat yet powerhouse “Niki Nana,” which earned them a standing ovation. Yanni closed with his signature tune “Santorini,” which was a musical masterpiece that left fans yearning for more.
The Verdict
Overall, Yanni put on a remarkable concert at the Nikon at Jones Beach Theater. He and his 13-piece orchestra were able to touch the hearts of their New York audience, and he proved to be a true song stylist. He allowed all of his world class orchestra members to shine on their musical instruments, as well as songstresses Lauren Jelencovich and Lisa Lavie on their soprano vocals. His live show earned an A rating.
For more information on Yanni and his tour dates, check out his official website.
