Yes 2007

The most influential and enduring progressive rock group ever, Yes has expanded the frontiers of musical onsciousness since 1968. Revered for instrumental virtuosity and bravura vocals in a signature sound fusing rock, classical, pop, folk, metal, and more, their sonically adventurous albums are matched in renown by the sheer force of their concert spectacles. Spanning 1969-2001, and a number of the band's legendary line-ups, this remarkable 2-CD compilation pulls masterworks from throughout their career for a revealing overview of their artistic evolution. 2-CD collections by legendary artists.

In many Yes fans' eyes, the group will never issue a live album better than their 1973 classic, Yessongs. But the group has issued quite a few subsequent live sets, and as evidenced by 2007's Live at Montreux 2003, Yes remain one of prog rock's top live bands. Live at Montreux features arguably their definitive lineup (Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Chris Squire, Rick Wakeman, and Alan White) and a few newer tracks are included, but Yes are no fools - they know that longtime fans expect to hear the classics. Nearly all of Yes' classics from the early '70s are here in solid/spirited renditions, including "Long Distance Runaround," "I've Seen All Good People," and "Roundabout"…

Ask Dave Brubeck who his favourite composer is and the answer always comes back: "Bach". This 2004 concert makes explicit the spiritual kinship between Papas Bach and Brubeck. The set opens with a fine performance of Bach's Concerto for Two Pianos, BWV1060, with Anthony and Joseph Paratore responding positively to Russell Gloyd's driving tempi.
The Paratore brothers have recorded the two-piano version of Brubeck's ballet score Points on jazz before, but this version with orchestral accompaniment is a reminder of how ingenious Brubeck's material is. A Prelude rich in references to Bach and Chopin becomes the basis for a dazzling set of variations - a swinging blues one moment, a highly creative fugue next - every note distilled through Brubeck's fertile imagination…

In a word: wow. Since their 1993 debut album, the Esbjörn Svensson Trio, or E.S.T., as it is usually called, have taken the jazz world by storm, winning numerous awards, playing sold-out world tours, topping the charts, and generally enjoying a popularity that's exceeded that of almost any other jazz group in years. The trio was also the first European jazz group to grace the cover of Down Beat magazine, which led to long discussions about the heritage of jazz and the validity of European jazz; and, naturally, it caused some listeners to perceive an artificial hype and discredit the band for simply not being as brilliant as everyone says they are. Well, do yourself a favor and do not listen to the detractors - listen to E.S.T.'s music instead, and this two-hour concert recorded on November 22, 2006 in Hamburg, Germany, is an excellent place to start…