------------------------------------------------- AUGUST 21, 2001 ------------------------------------------------- Philadelphia Daily News http://dailynews.philly.com/content/daily_news/2001/08/21/features/PBAR21F.htm WANT THE BEST IN PROGRESSIVE ROCK? YES! By Jose Antonio Vargas  vargasj@phillynews.com  In a musical era crowded by too many wannabes, you just can't say no to Yes, the legendary English rock band. Band members Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Chris Squire and Alan White are musical innovators, always pushing the envelope and stretching their creative muscles. Their current 20-city U.S. tour - which brings them to the Mann Center for the Performing Arts tonight - features a 60-piece symphonic orchestra. "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," said bassist and band co-founder Squire. "We finally took the time to do it exactly the way we wanted." Formed in 1967, Yes is one of the definitive bands of the '70s. It's known for combining rock with more complex, classical-sounding arrangements, creating a modern classical pop sound. Yes is considered by fans and critics alike to be the leader of progressive rock music for more than three decades. "Yes has aged better than fellow classic rock icons the Who and the Rolling Stones because its music has always been based on experimentation and virtuosity," raved the Chicago Sun-Times. Some of the band's most popular songs include "Roundabout," "I've Seen All Good People" and "Owner of A Lonely Heart." To date, Yes has sold more than 28 million albums worldwide, including "Fragile" and "Close to the Edge." And on Sept. 11, Yes raises the musical bar yet again as it releases a new album, "Magnification." Though many 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. Imagine if all bands, old and new alike, could be that original. Close Window YesInThePress.com For site comments, problems, corrections, or additions, contact YesinthePress@aol.com