Tribute (Yanni album)
# Tribute (Yanni album)

Tribute is the second live album and third concert film by Greek keyboardist and songwriter Yanni, released in November 1997 on Virgin Records. It was recorded at the Taj Mahal, India in March 1997 and the Forbidden City, China, in May 1997, both featuring Yanni performing with a seven-piece band, choir, and 27-piece orchestra.

Tribute went to No. 1 on the Billboard Top New Age Album chart and No. 21 on the Billboard 200. The concert film was released in December 1997. In March 1998, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling one million copies in the US. Yanni supported the album with the Tribute World Tour between January and July 1998, after which he put his career on a two-year hiatus.

## Background

In 1994, Yanni released his first live album, Live at the Acropolis, which saw him perform with his band and orchestra at the Herodes Atticus Theatre in his native Greece. It became his best selling album of his career with 4 million copies sold in the US alone. Yanni was influenced to perform at such locations while visiting his father in Greece following the success of the Acropolis concerts, who thought it was a shame "After going so far with my music, not to take it all the way around the world." This led to Yanni's desire to stage concerts at other historic sites and the decision to perform in India and China, which he said took around two-and-a-half years to plan and cost around $4 million.

The shows at the Taj Mahal took place on three nights in March 1997, as part of celebrations around the fiftieth anniversary of Indian independence. A temporary concert site was constructed which involved the Indian army building bridges across the River Yamuna. The shows included a light display that marked the first time the monument was illuminated at night. The concerts were met with some protests against them, claiming the lighting and sound systems would harm the building and its surroundings. Some local farmers went so far to threaten to immolate themselves on the site, until a financial settlement between them, the Indian government, and Yanni was agreed upon. Yanni later said that the reports of immolation were rumours that were generated by the political dispute, and that he had met a group of local farmers and had tea with them which he said helped defuse the situation. "And they said 'no, we're not crazy.'" The Supreme Court of India threw out a case filed by the Archaeological Survey of India that tried to cancel the shows. A portion of the receipts was donated toward conserving the Taj Mahal, which is affected by smoke and brick kilns. The second concert was broadcast live on Indian television. Yanni was particularly nervous about presenting a setlist of new music and whether the Indian public thought what he did was "appropriate and respectful toward the monument."

The shows at the Forbidden City followed in May 1997 and took place at the courtyard at the Imperial Ancestral Temple. This marked the first time a Western artist in modern times was permitted perform at the location. The project began after Yanni received an invitation from the China National Culture and Arts Corp. Before the Forbidden City was chosen, locations by the Great Wall of China and the Temple of Heaven were possible candidates to stage the shows. The show's promoters asked for 5,000 seats, but they had to settle for around 4,000, hundreds of which were reserved for Chinese officials. A request to beam lights from inside the temple outward was denied. The crew were instructed to have the sound no louder than 40 decibels. Before the show, Yanni performed sold out shows at arenas in Shanghai and Guangzhou. Later in 1997, Yanni deemed the audiences as the best of his career.

Yanni hired Armenian conductor Armen Anassian for the tour "on faith"; he had not seen Anassian perform before. The conductor recalled being sceptical about the tour, "But the truth is, it happened. We did it" and said it was a "life-changing experience."

## Album

### Critical reception

Professional ratings :

| Review scores ||
| - | - |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| AllMovie | |

In a review by Jonathan Widran of AllMusic, "Yanni's gargantuan popularity unfortunately makes him an easy target for those who see his orchestrally inspired works as glorified musical wallpaper. But if they'd listen for the whole picture before judging, it would be clear that he brings classically influenced symphonic qualities to modern instrumental music; it's highly charged film scoring, only without the movie. The musical images comprising Tribute and the photos in the packaging come from the famous places that not only inspired it but at which it was performed: India's Taj Mahal and China's Forbidden City. While conventional string and brass instruments lead the way, Pedro Eustache's bamboo sax and Doodook and the gypsy-flavored lead violin of Karen Briggs supply appropriate dashes of Eastern culture. "Waltz in 7/8" combines the traditional western rhythm scheme with Eustache's exotic flute improvisation. As always, Yanni plays keyboards, but he's more a ringmaster/conductor of an inspiring, symphonic brew that includes gospel and flamenco (with rousing vocals and an accompanying guitar textured over a mid size string section), powerful violin/funky sax duets (the core of the seven-minute "Renegade"), improvisational trumpet ("Dance with a Stranger"), and an intoxicating weave of an orchestra with upward climbing operatic voices. Yanni and friends tap on another culture on the closing track, the previously recorded African tribal piece "Niki Nana", which features Eustache's percussive flute and a hooky wordless vocal chant from a gospel-flavored, female choir. As we see from the other artists this month, there are many ways to build musical bridges between East and West; Yanni's approach is spiritual grandeur in a beautiful, theatrical setting."

### RIAA certification

Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) Gold and Platinum database entries:

* (G=Gold, P=Platinum, M=Multi-Platinum)
* YANNI TRIBUTE 03/11/98 VIRGIN P ALBUM SOLO Std
* YANNI TRIBUTE 03/11/98 VIRGIN G ALBUM SOLO Std

## Video

### Track listing

* "Deliverance"
* "Adagio in C Minor"
* "Renegade"
* "Waltz in 7/8"
* "Tribute"
* "Dance with a Stranger"
* "Nightingale"
* "Southern Exposure"
* "Prelude"
* "Love Is All"
* "Niki Nana (We're One)"
* "Santorini"

## Personnel

Music

* Yanni – keyboards
* Karen Briggs – violin, chorus on "Niki Nana (We're One)"
* Daniel de los Reyes – percussion, chorus on "Niki Nana (We're One)"
* Pedro Eustache – flute, soprano saxophone, bamboo saxophone, duduk, quena, Chinese flute, ney, bass flute, chorus on "Niki Nana (We're One)"
* Ric Fierabracci – bass guitar
* Ming Freeman – keyboards
* David Hudson – didgeridoo
* Ramon Stagnaro – guitar, charango, chorus on "Niki Nana (We're One)"
* Joel Taylor – drums
* Alfreda Gerald – vocals, lead vocals on "Niki Nana (We're One)"
* Vann Johnson – vocals, lead vocals on "Love Is All"
* Jeanette Clinger – vocals
* Catte Adams – vocals
* Armen Anassian – conductor, violin on "Tribute"
* Clif Foster – first violin, concertmaster
* Beth Folsom – violin
* Julian Hallmark – violin
* Sayuri Kawada – violin
* Neal Laite – violin
* Ann Lasley – violin, chorus on "Niki Nana (We're One)"
* Will Logan – violin
* Julie Metz – violin
* Pam Moore – violin
* Cheryl Ongaro – violin, chorus on "Niki Nana (We're One)"
* Delia Park – violin, chorus on "Niki Nana (We're One)"
* Irina Voloshina – violin
* Corinne Chapelle – violin
* German Markosian – viola
* Eugene Mechtovich – viola
* Cathy Paynter – viola, chorus on "Niki Nana (We're One)"
* John Krovoza – cello
* Sarah O'Brien – cello
* Lisa Pribanic – cello
* Alexander Zhiroff – cello
* Gary Lasley – contra bass, chorus on "Niki Nana (We're One)"
* April Aoki – harp
* Cheryl Foster – oboe
* Matt Reynolds – French horn, chorus on "Niki Nana (We're One)"
* James Mattos – French horn
* Paul Klintworth – French horn
* Doug Lyons – French horn
* Luis Aquino – trumpet
* Kerry Hughes – trumpet
* Rich Berkeley – trombone
* Dana Hughes – trombone, bass trombone

Production

* Yanni – production, arranger, engineer, orchestrations
* Anthony Stabile – assistant engineer
* Tommy Sterling – assistant engineer
* Paul Sarault - monitor engineer
* Curtis Kelly - monitor engineer / technician
* Jeffrey Mark Silverman – orchestrations

## The Tribute World Tour 1998

### Dates

1997-1998

### Cities

For cities, see below

### Set list

* "Deliverance"
* "Adagio in C Minor"
* "Renegade"
* "Waltz in 7/8"
* "Tribute"
* "Dance with a Stranger"
* "Within Attraction"
* "Aria"
* "Keys to Imagination"
* "Nightingale"
* "Southern Exposure"
* "Marching Season"
* "Nostalgia"
* "Prelude/Love Is All"
* "Acroyali/Standing in Motion"
* "Reflections of Passion"
* "Niki Nana (We're One)"
* "Santorini"

### Tour production

* Business Manager: Tom Paske
* Video Director/Producer: George Veras
* Tour Accountants: Diane Kramer, Pete Dorsey
* Yanni Management Tour Support Staff: Anda Allenson, Richard Allenson

### Tour dates

| Date | City | Country | Venue |
| - | - | - | - |
| January 17, 1998 | New York City | United States | Radio City Music Hall |
| January 24, 1998 | Sacramento | United States | ARCO Arena |
| January 26, 1998 | Worcester | United States | Worcester's Centrum Centre |
| January 27, 1998 | Philadelphia | United States | CoreStates Center |
| January 29, 1998 | Fort Lauderdale | United States | Dean E. Smith Student Activities Center |
| January 31, 1998 | Washington, D.C. | United States | MCI Center |
| February 3, 1998 | Fairborn | United States | Ervin J. Nutter Center |
| February 4, 1998 | Auburn Hills | United States | The Palace of Auburn Hills |
| February 6, 1998 | Cleveland | United States | CSU Convocation Center |
| February 7, 1998 | Buffalo | United States | Marine Midland Arena |
| February 8, 1998 | Pittsburgh | United States | Civic Arena |
| February 10, 1998 | St. Louis | United States | Kiel Center |
| February 12, 1998 | Indianapolis | United States | Market Square Arena |
| February 14, 1998 | Moline | United States | The MARK of the Quad Cities |
| February 17, 1998 | Knoxville | United States | Thompson–Boling Arena |
| February 18, 1998 | Louisville | United States | Freedom Hall |
| February 19, 1998 | Nashville | United States | Nashville Arena |
| February 21, 1998 | Grand Rapids | United States | Van Andel Arena |
| February 22, 1998 | Chicago | United States | United Center |
| February 25, 1998 | Anaheim | United States | Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim |
| February 27, 1998 | Inglewood | United States | Great Western Forum |
| February 28, 1998 | Oakland | United States | The Arena in Oakland |
| March 19, 1998 | Tulsa | United States | Tulsa Convention Center |
| March 20, 1998 | Phoenix | United States | America West Arena |
| March 22, 1998 | Reno | United States | Lawlor Events Center |
| March 24, 1998 | Sacramento | United States | ARCO Arena |
| March 25, 1998 | San Jose | United States | San Jose Arena |
| March 27, 1998 | Salt Lake City | United States | Delta Center |
| March 28, 1998 | Las Vegas Strip | United States | MGM Grand Garden Arena |
| March 29, 1998 | San Diego | United States | San Diego Sports Arena |
| April 3, 1998 | Portland | United States | Rose Garden Arena |
| April 4, 1998 | Spokane | United States | Spokane Arena |
| April 5, 1998 | Seattle | United States | KeyArena |
| April 6, 1998 | Vancouver | United States | General Motors Place |
| April 9, 1998 | Edmonton | United States | Edmonton Coliseum |
| April 10, 1998 | Calgary | United States | Canadian Airlines Saddledome |
| April 12, 1998 | Denver | United States | McNichols Sports Arena |
| April 18, 1998 | Lincoln | United States | Bob Devaney Sports Center |
| April 19, 1998 | Valley Center | United States | Kansas Coliseum |
| April 21, 1998 | Milwaukee | United States | Bradley Center |
| April 22, 1998 | Madison | United States | Dane County Coliseum |
| April 23, 1998 | Duluth | United States | Duluth Entertainment Convention Center |
| April 25, 1998 | Winnipeg | United States | Winnipeg Arena |
| April 26, 1998 | Fargo | United States | Fargodome |
| May 18, 1998 | Austin | United States | Frank Erwin Center |
| May 26, 1998 | University Park | United States | Bryce Jordan Center |
| June 2, 1998 | Rochester, NY | United States | |
| June 7, 1998 | Boston | United States | Fleet Center |
| June 8, 1998 | Hartford | United States | Hartford Civic Center |
| June 12, 1998 | Atlanta | United States | Coca-Cola Lakewood Amphitheatre |
| June 13, 1998 | Atlanta | United States | Coca-Cola Lakewood Amphitheatre |
| June 14, 1998 | Cincinnati | United States | The Crown |
| June 20, 1998 | Chicago | United States | United Center |
| June 23, 1998 | Syracuse | United States | Onondaga County War Memorial |
| June 26, 1998 | Uniondale | United States | Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum |
| June 30, 1998 | Montreal | United States | Molson Centre |
| July 3, 1998 | Quebec City | United States | Colisée de Québec |
| July 5, 1998 | Hamilton | United States | Copps Coliseum |

## Charts

Chart performance for Tribute :

| Chart (1998) | Peak position |
| - | - |
| Australian Albums (ARIA) | 48 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) | 16 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) | 11 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) | 27 |
| French Albums (SNEP) | 21 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) | 40 |
| Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) | 16 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) | 35 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) | 23 |
| UK Albums (OCC) | 40 |
| US Billboard 200 | 21 |
| US New Age Albums (Billboard) | 1 |

## Certifications

Certifications for Tribute :

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| - | - | - |
| Canada (Music Canada) | Gold | $50,000^^$ |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE) | Platinum | $100,000^^$ |
| United States (RIAA) | Platinum | $1,000,000^^$ |
| United States (RIAA) Video | 2× Platinum | $200,000^^$ |
| $^^$ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |||
