Yanni Voices: A Review

Never having listened to Yanni’s music, I wasn’t sure what to expect from Yanni Voices, a collaboration between the veteran instrumentalist and four young vocalists. Adjectives I would use to describe the songs include soaring, passionate, energetic, and rich.

Here is an overview of the project:

Yanni, in collaboration with legendary producer Ric Wake, has discovered and developed four of the most extraordinary young voices in music today. Two years in the making, Yanni returns to the global stage with a dazzling new tour. For the first time ever, Yanni re-interprets his classic compositions and debuts new music introducing show-stopping vocalists Nathan Pacheco, Chloe, Ender Thomas and Leslie Mills.

Nathan, Chloe, Ender, and Leslie are not only amazing vocalists, they also wrote the lyrics to the songs they sing.

Nathan Pacheco is a Washington, D.C., native with the voice of an opera singer and the ability to write songs in Italian, Spanish, or Portuguese; talented is an understatement. Do I understand what he’s saying? No. Do I care? Not really. His voice is beautiful in any language. The opening song, “Enchantment,” he says “takes the passion of about a hundred love songs and just puts it into one;” it is simply beautiful.

Ender Thomas is a Venezuelan-born singer whose passionate Latin vocals shine on both solo and duet performances. He is a favorite of my children.

Chloe is a twenty-year-old Florida native with a sultry and soulful voice. One of her songs on Yanni Voices, “Kill Me with Your Love,” is featured as the Feedback Track this weekend (April 11 & 12) on Smooth Jazz Top 20.

Leslie Mills is a Kentucky native whose sweet voice graces some of the songs that seem to stick with me and play on repeat in my head: “The Keeper” and “Before the Night Ends.”

I have enjoyed this CD and listen to it a lot while working on the computer or in the car. It has a unique sound and the different songs and vocalists compliment each other well.

The biggest surprise has been my kids’ reaction to the music. I watched part of the PBS concert the night it premiered and set it to record. Even when I was listening from the next room, my kids were still watching and dancing. They loved it! The next night they played the concert again and staged a show of their own. We all have our personal favorites, which interestingly enough include each of the singers. When we get into the car, my kids ask to play the CD. We would love to see the tour in Atlanta.

I overheard my twelve-year-old daughter tell the other kids: “Mom met those guys! I saw them on her Flickr.” (I had the pleasure of meeting the two male singers at BlissDom in February.)

The Yanni Voices CD and bonus DVD are available at Amazon for $12.99.