----------------------------------------------- JULY 1, 2001 ----------------------------------------------- Source: Beyond Music http://www.beyondmusic.com/html/PR.shtml YES RAISES THE BAR WITH NEW ALBUM MAGNIFICATION  Groundbreaking Rockers Continue to Innovate with Symphonic Collaboration Legendary rock band YES, regarded by music aficionados worldwide as musical innovators, continue to raise the bar with their groundbreaking new album, MAGNIFICATION, set for release on October 2. Although several rock and pop artists have recorded albums accompanied by a symphony, YES becomes the first to involve a conductor, award-winning composer/conductor Larry Groupe', in writing, arranging and producing the entire project. Never before has a rock or pop artist integrated classical orchestration for the entire creative process. "Working with YES has been the fulfillment of a long-time dream," says Groupe', who has composed, conducted and produced over 80 recordings. "I've been a YES fanatic from early on because of the 'bigness' of their sound. I've always thought of them as being the leaders of orchestral rock - classical rock as opposed to classic rock. Working on this album has been one of the most creatively rewarding projects I've ever been involved with." MAGNIFICATION goes hand-in-hand with the YESSYMPHONIC tour, which launches July 25 in San Diego, CA and hits 32 North American cities before heading overseas in September. The incorporation of a symphony with their world tour is also a novel concept, as, unlike most artists who do a handful of dates with an orchestra by simply adding symphonic arrangements to their existing repertoire, the members of YES - Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Chris Squire and Alan White - along with Larry Groupe' and the San Diego Symphony, have collaborated on striking, new compositions that will debut during the tour. "YES music has always lent itself to classical orchestrations and symphonic instrumentation, so much so that people have been asking us for years when we were going to tour with a symphony," says YES bassist Chris Squire. "We realized that touring with a symphony only partially fulfilled what we do. In order to provide the complete YES experience, we felt it only appropriate to make an album of new music to go along with the tour. We've been thinking about this for a number of years and finally took the time to do it exactly the way we wanted." Close Window YesInThePress.com For site comments, problems, corrections, or additions, contact YesinthePress@aol.com