Jon Anderson Olias Of Sunhillow

Short Stories is the debut album by Jon and Vangelis, the collaborative effort between Jon Anderson of the prog rock band Yes and electronic music pioneer Vangelis. This was not the first time that the two had worked together: Vangelis had auditioned to be Rick Wakeman's replacement in Yes in 1974, but the role was given to Patrick Moraz. In 1975, Jon Anderson sang on "So Long Ago So Clear" from Heaven and Hell.

Vocalist Jon Anderson and master synthesist/composer Vangelis draw upon their legendary individual histories and more than two decades of classic collaborations to create this very spiritual and musical synergy, which combines elements of rock, classical, symphonic, jazz, soul, electronic new age, and worldbeat. Best known, respectively, as the lead singer of Yes and the Oscar-winning composer of "Chariots of Fire," the duo has released several extraordinary tandem recordings over the years, beginning with the 1976 album Olias of Sunhillow. This is the sixth of the series, and was originally released in 1991…

While many Jon Anderson fans knew he had it in him to do something very light and airy and perhaps even without vocals (Olias of Sunhillow essentially led the way), the fact that it's something this light and airy is likely to come as a bit of a shock. Anderson presents the listener with a soundscape made up of long, sustained notes and drifting chords, a construction in which the few melodies present take minutes to work through – there's far more in common with the Hearts of Space catalog here than with much of Anderson's prior work, though the Vangelis influence is to be felt, too (especially on the quarter-hour "New Eire Land"). more…

Angelic voiced Jon Anderson may have achieved his greatest fame and accolades as lead singer of the legendary British progressive rock band Yes, but his solo ventures-from 1976's Olias of Sunhillow to his first Higher Octave release, the primarily instrumental Angels Embrace-have tapped into a more personal, spiritual side of his artistry. Anderson's two recent Windham Hill releases Deseo and Toltec expanded his cultural reach even further, establishing him as a masterful world music artist in the genres of Latin and Native American music. For The Promise Ring, which marks the debut of Higher Octave's new vocal imprint label Omtown, Anderson delves into his own heritage for a thrilling celebration of traditional Irish and Celtic melodies. more…