Yes in the Press: Yes Keyboardist and Newcomer Igor Khoroshev Becomes a Part of Yesstory

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2000
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Source: Mars Music

http://www.marsmusic.com/community/keyboardists/backline/igorkhoroshev/

Yes Keyboardist and Newcomer Igor Khoroshev Becomes a Part of Yesstory

By Tom Craig

Igor Khoroshev was only four when he began piano lessons, two years older than the newly formed progressive rock group Yes. Influenced by a wealth of classical composers such as Rachmaninoff, Stravinsky, Copland, Prokofiev, and Gershwin, he earned a degree in composition and conducting in his
native Russia before coming to the U.S. in the early 1990's. Igor then moved to Boston and began his professional career playing with such talented musicians as Brad Delp (Boston), Benjamin Orr (The Cars), and Charlie Farren (the Joe Perry Project/Farrenheit). Carl Jacobsen, who hired Igor to do some work for Cakewalk, passed a tape of his, Piano Works, on to Jon Anderson of Yes, who was coincidentally working with Cakewalk at the time. Igor was called to audition for Yes and soon became their keyboard player. A contributing member of the band, both in the studio and on the road, since Open Your Eyes, Igor brings his own style and expertise to the sounds and songs of classic and current Yes. The current Masterworks 2000 US tour is Igor's third with the band.

Tech Note: We were able to meet with Igor's keyboard tech, Will Alexander, to get the scoop on Igor's massive stage rig. Will has participated in quite a bit of keyboard history himself - not only is he the only person ever to have played with both Emerson Lake & Palmer and Yes, but he's also tech'd extensively over the last 20 years with the likes of Keith Emerson and Herbie Hancock, as well as being honored with the unique responsibility of keeping and maintaining Keith's famous Moog modular! Igor's 9-keyboard setup is indicative of the pure live performance that's integral to a Yes show. Nothing is sequenced, and only a couple of samples are used - everything else is played live. Thanks for taking the time to give us the grand tour, Will!

Keyboards (top to bottom, left to right)

* (A) Kurzweil K2500X Audio Elite System (Choir, Orchestra pads, Mellotron sounds)
* (B) Generalmusic Equinox Synthesizer (all-purpose stacked synth pad)
* (C) Yamaha EX7 Synthesizer (Ethereal Bells, Organ sounds)
* (D) Yamaha AN1X Analog Modeling Synthesizer (Analog synths and soft pipe organs)
* (E) Hammond XK-2 Digital Organ w/Voce Spin II Rotary Speaker Simulator
* (F) Kurzweil PC88 Performance Controller (Pipe Organ, Flute, Bell sounds,
and control of offstage rack)
* (G) Yamaha AN1X Analog Modeling Synthesizer (more Analog synths)
* (H) Blue Chip OX7 Tone Generator (Pipe Organ sound from "Ritual")
* (I) Yamaha EX5 Synthesizer
* (J) Yamaha P200 Digital Stage Piano (Pianos)

Microphones
    * Shure SM58 (x2)

Offstage
    * Korg TrinityPlus Music Workstation
      (played by Will himself, during the percussion ensemble solo in "Ritual")

Offstage Rack (top to bottom)
    * Furman PL8 Power Conditioner
    * E-MU Classic Keys Sound Module
    * Yamaha FS1R Sound Module
    * Korg Wavestation SR Sound Module
    * Yamaha TG500 Sound Module
    * Yamaha A3000 Sampler
      (reverse Piano sound for "Roundabout" intro and samples for "Owner of a Lonely Heart," which
       isn't on the set list this time around)
    * Yamaha MU90R Sound Module (x2)
    * Digitech Quad4 Multi-Effects Processor
      (detunes signal from the Hammond/Voce organ combination for added fatness)
    * Lexicon LXP15 Multi-Effects Processor
    * Mackie LM3204 Compact Line Mixer
    * MOTU MIDI Timepiece

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