----------------------------------------------------- AUGUST 5, 2002 ----------------------------------------------------- Source: New York Post http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/46209.htm YES, They Were Excellent at Jones Beach By Dan Aquilante  When you listen to Yes, you've got no question that the quintet has total mastery over the music. Unlike younger jam bands who trip their way through music, Yes -- at Jones Beach Saturday night -- made it feel as if every note was planned, each transition calculated, every tempo change measured. One reason that the tunes were symphonic tight was that the band truly knows itself -- this Yes line-up mirrors the '72 roster, with Steve Howe on guitar, Rick Wakeman playing keyboards, Jon Anderson singing, Chris Squire thumping bass and Alan White drumming. White has the most difficult job in Yes. He has to play odd and straight meters at the same time, set intricate tempo changes and maintain a rhythm cycle over the course of epic length songs. He provided the framework for nearly every song. He was outstanding. The same could be said for all of the Yes men. Whether Howe was plucking a mandolin, caressing a classical guitar or swiping at his six-string electric, the bug-eyed picker was inspired. Then there was Wakeman, who dealt speed, precision and heart in the keys. It was a performance that made you want to shake his hand -- because he was so impressive and to check if he has six fingers per hand. It wasn't a perfect show. The band rolled over and played dinosaur dead on a cover of Simon & Garfunkel's "America." They've been doing this song for years, and it continues to sounds like a mess. Yes should just say no to "America." Yes fans will argue the intricacies of this concert, but few would disagree that the end-show finale of "Roundabout" and "Yours Is No Disgrace" was where the goodness peaked. The band is probably sick and tired of playing those old songs, yet the guys presented them with the kind of care that said thanks to an audience that's stuck with them for more than 30 years. YES Tonight at Radio City Music Hall. Tickets: $40-$90. Sixth Avenue at 50th Street. Close Window YesInThePress.com For site comments, problems, corrections, or additions, contact YesinthePress@aol.com