From: jakubec@mprgate.mpr.ca (Trent J Jakubec)
Subject: CONCERT: Kitaro/Jon Anderson: Vancouver Canada
Reply-To: jakubec@mprgate.mpr.ca (Trent J Jakubec)
Organization: MPR Teltech Ltd.
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 16:32:53 GMT
Followup-To: rec.music.misc


The Georgia Straight had a short interview with Kitaro and Jon Anderson
about the tour via teleconference between Vancouver, Los Angeles and Denver.
The tour is only 6 cities long.  Given the post on the show in the 
San Francisco area, I assume that they are covering the coast. (Vancouver,
Seattle/Tacoma, Portland, The Bay Area (San Francisco), Los Angeles and
San Diego would be my best guess for itinerary.)

The show was possible since there was a window where the two could perform
the material from Dream live.  They are currently busy with many other 
projects.  They did not mention Kitaro's but Jon's were a score for a
Las Vegas computer-art show, an album recorded with Vangelis over two years
ago due out soon, another Yes album, and composing an album based on the
works of Carlos Castnada.

Kitaro/Jon Anderson - Orpheum Theatre, Vancouver BC Canada - 13 October 1992 

The show was approximately 130 minutes (2 hrs 10 min) in length with one
short break for the encore and band presentation.  The band consisted of
8 stage members (drums, percussion, bass, guitar, two on keyboard and two
Japanese violinists) plus Kitaro (keyboards) and Jon (keyboards and effects)
plus an additional off stage keyboard player.

One side note, the only vocals/talking that Kitaro did was to introduce the
band members.  Unfortunately, he was over powered by the music and all he
said was their names.  The one that was the clearest has me stumped.  He 
announced the two Japanese violinists by single names only.  One I believe
was Midori.  Now I have seen her before with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
but I could not confirm by appearance that it was her.  If anyone happens
to find out, let me know.

The show was obviously under the control of Kitaro.  He at times conducted 
the players, but they all had sheet music to follow (and by their expressions
it was quite obivous that they were following it).  The stage was simple,
Kitaro and Jon in front, the keyboards, violinists and guitar raised, and
then the drums bass and percussion in the back on a third tier.

The material appears to have been drawn mainly from Dream and Kojiki.  There
was one other track that I recognized, but cannot recall which album.  Jon 
mentioned that one track was from a Japanese movie score, and that most of the
material was new.  He also spoke some lyrics for a piece that never made 
it into the song and a sort of lead in to the feel for the song.

The format of the show was an opening piece with most of the band and Jon 
walking in late to sing some vocals which appeared to have been an overlay
to a track written without vocals.  Kitaro then walked off, the final band
members were added and Jon did a Yes track and I believe an old Jon & Vangelis 
track (which the Georgia Straight mentioned would be done).  Kitaro
returned to perform a track from Dream with Jon and then Jon left.  Kitaro
performed non-stop for probably 90 minuites, before Jon returned for another
couple of tracks (including the movie track).  They left for a rather short
time and returned for another track from Dream(?) and Kitaro introduced the
band and then ended with Kitaro playing the large drum sitting in the 
back behind the bassist.

The stage effects consisted of lighting.  There was a fog machine, but it
was hardly used.  The lighting was not critical in the performance and given
all the lights for sheet music, it was hard to create scenarios with all the
extra white light.

Overall, I was happy to have seen some of these tracks performed live, but I
was not sure if Jon really belonged on the same stage.  True his vocals were
appropriate, but I would have rather had Kitaro just continue the atmosphere
created after Jon left the first time.  I also got the opinion that some 
of the audience showed up just because Jon was appearing (given the hand full
of Yes t-shirts in the crowd.)  I was also happy it was in the Orpheum (which
is where the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra plays) since anywhere else would
have caused poor acoustics and wrecked the performance.

Would I recommend this performance to anyone, I am not sure.  If you have 
never seen Kitaro, it is worth it.  I have never seen him so I jumped at the
opportunity since I do not know if I would ever see him again.  If you are
wanting to see Jon, then this is probably not what you expect.  Pick up 
Dream first, and then if you like what he does there (he appears in less that 
half of the album) then go.

If you have any questions, please ask.  I hope this answers the one fellow
who posted earlier.

Trent



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