# Ethnicity (album)

Ethnicity is the eleventh studio album by Yanni, released on February 11, 2003 by Virgin Records. It peaked at #27 on Billboard's "Top Internet Albums" chart and at #27 on the "Billboard 200" chart in 2003. It also peaked at #1 on the "Top New Age Albums" chart in 2004.

## Background

Ethnicity features greater use of vocals, percussion, and exotic rhythms, which were influenced by Yanni's period of travel during his hiatus between 1998 and 2000. As Yanni is unable to read music, he wrote and recorded demos of the album's tracks at his home studio in Florida, after which he employed transcribers and copyists to write the individual parts for the session musicians.

## Reception

Professional ratings :
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | (?) |
Backroads Music/Heartbeats wrote that the album was musically quite diverse, stating that "Though Yanni is widely known as one of the most popular purveyors of New-age music, there's actually quite a bit going on here."

## Personnel

Music
* All music composed and arranged by Yanni. (except "Jivaeri")
* Pedro Eustache – Flutes, World Reeds, Duduk, Argul, Uilleann pipes, Chanter, and Saxophone.
* Karen Briggs – Violin
Vocals
* Alfreda Gerald (also lead vocals on "The Promise", "Tribal Dream", and "Never Too Late")
* Michelle Amato (also lead vocals on "For All Seasons", "Almost a Whisper", and "Jivaeri")
* Yanni (also lead vocals on "Never Too Late")
* Noelani Brock (also lead vocals on "Written on the Wind")
* Regina Acuna-Williams
* Peter Lehman
* Randy Nichols
* Suzy Park
* Kurt von Schmittou
Lyrics
* Lyrics for "The Promise" and "Almost a Whisper" by Pamela McNeill.
Production
* Engineered and mixed by Yanni at his private studios.
* Assistant engineer: Anthony Stabile
* Mastered by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering, Hollywood, California.
* Recorded and mixed on a Soundtracs DPC-II Digital Console
* All piano tracks were recorded on a Yamaha CFIII 5, 9' Concert Grand

## The Ethnicity concert tour
### Set List

| "On Sacred Ground" "Felitsa" "Keys to Imagination" "If I Could Tell You" "Playtime" "Enchantment" "Rainmaker" "The Promise" "Within Attraction" "Aria" Intermission "For All Seasons" "Nightingale" | "Dance with a Stranger" "Jivaeri" "Never Too Late" "Nostalgia" "Marching Season" "Acroyali/Standing in Motion" "Niki Nana" "World Dance" "Reflections of Passion" "Santorini" |

### Featured tour musicians

| Band Charlie Adams: Drums Michelle Amato: Vocalist Alfreda Gerald: Vocalist Karen Briggs: Violin Victor Espinola: Harp Pedro Eustache: Flute, Duduk, World WWs, Sop. Sax Ric Fierabracci: Bass guitar Ramon Flores: Trumpet Ming Freeman: Keyboards David Hudson: Didgeridoo Bradley Joseph: Keyboards Dan Landrum: Hammered Dulcimer Armen Movsessian: Violin Walter Rodriguez: Percussion Samvel Yervinyan: Violin | Orchestra Violins: Kristen Autry, Robert Berg, Erica Walczak Violas: Eugene Mechtovich, Llona Geller Celli: Alexander Zhiroff, Sarah O'Brien Harp: April Aoki Oboe: April Cap French Horns: Jim Mattos, Kristin Morrison Trumpets: Kerry Hughes Trombones: Wendell Kelly Orchestrator: Jeffrey Silverman |

### Tour Production

* Personal Management: Danny O'Donovan, Danny O'Donovan Entertainment Group
* Business management: Seven Eight, Inc., Tom Paske, George Veras, Diane Kramer, Anda Allenson, Richard Allenson
* Tour & production manager: Michael Weiss
* Production supervisor: Anthony Stabile
* Personal assistant to Yanni: Don Bath
* Road manager: Craig Yun
* Stage manager: Richard Bray
* Production coordinator: Kathleen Kronauer
* Tour accountant: Richard Allenson
* Tour security: Jason Temke
* Lighting director: Bud Horowitz
* Yanni's wardrobe designed by Nolan Miller
* Costume design/wardrobe: Jennifer Jacobs, Thomas Wells

### Tour dates

| Date | City | Country | Venue |
| North America ||||
| March 1, 2003 | Las Vegas | United States | Mandalay Bay Events Center |
| March 3, 2003 | Dallas | United States | American Airlines Center |
| March 6, 2003 | Tampa | United States | St. Pete Times Forum |
| March 7, 2003 | Sunrise | United States | Office Depot Center |
| March 8, 2003 | Orlando | United States | Centroplex |
| March 9, 2003 | Jacksonville | United States | Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena |
| March 11, 2003 | Atlanta | United States | Philips Arena |
| March 12, 2003 | Nashville | United States | Gaylord Entertainment Center |
| March 14, 2003 | Dayton | United States | Ervin J. Nutter Center |
| March 15, 2003 | Buffalo | United States | HSBC Arena |
| March 16, 2003 | Columbus | United States | Nationwide Arena |
| March 18, 2003 | Indianapolis | United States | Conseco Fieldhouse |
| March 20, 2003 | Toronto | Canada | Air Canada Centre |
| March 21, 2003 | Cleveland | United States | Gund Arena |
| March 22, 2003 | Pittsburgh | United States | Mellon Arena |
| March 23, 2003 | Cincinnati | United States | U.S. Bank Arena |
| March 25, 2003 | Moline | United States | MARK of the Quad Cities |
| March 27, 2003 | Grand Rapids | United States | Van Andel Arena |
| March 28, 2003 | Chicago | United States | United Center |
| March 29, 2003 | Auburn Hills | United States | The Palace of Auburn Hills |
| March 30, 2003 | State College | United States | Bryce Jordan Center |
| April 1, 2003 | Rochester | United States | Blue Cross Arena |
| April 3, 2003 | Boston | United States | Fleet Center |
| April 4, 2003 | Montreal | Canada | Molson Centre |
| April 5, 2003 | Uncasville | United States | Mohegan Sun |
| April 6, 2003 | Manchester | United States | Verizon Wireless Arena |
| April 8, 2003 | Albany | United States | Pepsi Arena |
| April 10, 2003 | East Rutherford | United States | Continental Airlines Arena |
| April 11, 2003 | Washington, D.C. | United States | MCI Center |
| April 12, 2003 | Philadelphia | United States | First Union Center |
| April 13, 2003 | Uniondale | United States | Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum |
| April 15, 2003 | Richmond | United States | Richmond Coliseum |
| April 16, 2003 | Wilkes-Barre | United States | First Union Arena |
| April 17, 2003 | New York City | United States | Madison Square Garden |
| April 25, 2003 | Houston | United States | Compaq Center |
| April 26, 2003 | Bossier City | United States | CenturyTel Center |
| April 27, 2003 | Austin | United States | Frank Erwin Center |
| April 29, 2003 | Phoenix | United States | Dodge Theater |
| April 30, 2003 | Phoenix | United States | Dodge Theater |
| May 2, 2003 | San Diego | United States | Cox Arena |
| May 3, 2003 | Anaheim | United States | Arrowhead Pond |
| May 4, 2003 | Los Angeles | United States | Hollywood Bowl |
| May 6, 2003 | Fresno | United States | Selland Arena |
| May 8, 2003 | Sacramento | United States | ARCO Arena |
| May 9, 2003 | Oakland | United States | The Arena in Oakland |
| May 10, 2003 | San Jose | United States | Compaq Center |
| May 11, 2003 | Reno | United States | Lawlor Events Center |
| May 13, 2003 | Salt Lake City | United States | Delta Center |
| May 15, 2003 | Spokane | United States | Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena |
| May 16, 2003 | Portland | United States | Rose Garden Arena |
| May 17, 2003 | Vancouver | Canada | General Motors Place |
| May 18, 2003 | Seattle | United States | KeyArena |
| May 21, 2003 | Denver | United States | Pepsi Center |
| May 22, 2003 | Colorado Springs | United States | World Arena |
| May 25, 2003 | Las Vegas | United States | MGM Grand Las Vegas |
| May 28, 2003 | Ashwaubenon | United States | Resch Center |
| May 29, 2003 | Milwaukee | United States | Bradley Center |
| May 30, 2003 | Saint Paul | United States | Xcel Energy Center |
| May 31, 2003 | Madison | United States | Alliant Energy Center |
| June 1, 2003 | St. Louis | United States | Savvis Center |
| June 4, 2003 | Miami | United States | American Airlines Arena |
| North America ||||
| March 1, 2004 | Albuquerque | United States | Tingley Coliseum |
| March 7, 2004 | El Paso | United States | Don Haskins Center |
| March 9, 2004 | San Antonio | United States | SBC Center |
| March 11, 2004 | Oklahoma City | United States | Ford Center |
| March 12, 2004 | Valley Center | United States | Kansas Coliseum |
| March 13, 2004 | Omaha | United States | Qwest Center Omaha |
| March 14, 2004 | Kansas City | United States | Kemper Arena |
| March 16, 2004 | Fort Wayne | United States | Allen County War Memorial Coliseum |
| March 18, 2004 | Champaign | United States | Assembly Hall |
| March 19, 2004 | Louisville | United States | Freedom Hall |
| March 20, 2004 | Knoxville | United States | Thompson–Boling Arena |
| March 21, 2004 | Raleigh | United States | RBC Center |
| March 22, 2004 | North Charleston | United States | North Charleston Coliseum |
| March 24, 2004 | New Orleans | United States | New Orleans Arena |
| March 25, 2004 | Pensacola | United States | Pensacola Civic Center |
| March 26, 2004 | Tallahassee | United States | Leon County Civic Center |
| March 27, 2004 | Lakeland | United States | Lakeland Center |
| March 28, 2004 | Estero | United States | TECO Arena |
| March 30, 2004 | Columbia | United States | Colonial Center |
| March 31, 2004 | Charlotte | United States | Charlotte Coliseum |
| April 2, 2004 | Bridgeport | United States | Arena at Harbor Yard |
| April 3, 2004 | Providence | United States | Dunkin' Donuts Center |
| April 4, 2004 | Portland | United States | Cumberland County Civic Center |
| April 6, 2004 | Syracuse | United States | War Memorial at Oncenter |
| April 7, 2004 | Reading | United States | Sovereign Center |
| April 8, 2004 | Baltimore | United States | 1st Mariner Arena |

## Certifications and sales

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| United States | — | 324,000 |