CHANGE WE MUST

IMHO CHANGE WE MUST is Jon Anderson's finest non-Yes piece of work. The use of classical orchestration, piano, choir, and some truly inspiring lyrics---which I believe are very near to the cumulative life's work of Jon's spiritual journey---make the music of this CD feel very close to the essence that is Jon Anderson. And Jon's vocals, as cited before me, among his best, come across as being so relaxed and effortless, so natural and sincere that they must be representative of the core of Jon himself. The true specialness of this music comes through in a personal story. When I first purchased this disc I played it round the clock for days. The first non-school day i had working around my house with my pre-teen daughters around brought about two separate, unique, and totally spontaneous events. My eldest daughter (8 at the time) asked for the lyric booklet. She sat on the couch reading, asking questions about the meaning while proceeding to memorize "Hurry Home" and "Change We Must." We played that disc for months. She even took it to school hoping that the school music director would pick up one of the two pieces for performance at a school concert. (To this day my daughter is in the school's choir, oboist in the band, and after six years of piano lessons, has taught herself to be proficient on flute, guitar, and percussion).

My other daughter is a dancer. Born dancing, she has channelled that energy and passion into ballet. During that same Saturday of playing CHANGE WE MUST on constant repeat, I kept wandering into the living room to find my 7 year old dancing. Every song had something to say to her, but, again, it was "Hurry Home" and "Change We Must" that drew her in the most. To this day this CD gets full attention, full smiles, and welcome invitation to be played through and through. (It even led to the eventual introduction to and curiosity for Yes music---through "Hearts").

IMHO, next to GOING FOR THE ONE, Jon's vocals are unsurpassed. The emotionality of "State of Independence" with its moving crescendo as the the Opio Singers join in engages the listener and preps him/her for a very unusual journey---one that is often surprisingly devoid of Jon Anderson's performing presence (due to the substitution of pianist Gwendolyn Mok and orchestral arrangements, yet satisfies on so many levels. The orchestral arrangements and Minimalist influence work! The instrumental performances are stunning---especially Mok, Sandrine Piau, the Opio Choir, bassist Steve Pearce, and guitarist Milton McDonald (outstanding "Change We Must" solo). Again, IMHO, the re-workings of "Hearts" and all four of the Jon & Vangelis pieces far surpass the originals. Most importantly, this is, IMO, an essential example of what Progressive Rock is all about: experimentation, collaboration, with virtuosic performances, all laying testament to the rollercoaster ride that is the human journey.

Though the CD does have lower points, still the lows exhibit progressive tendencies and creative courage to earn this CD four and a half stars; nearly a masterpiece; ages much better than many prog masterpieces.