LINK: Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman and Howe review

Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman and Howe was a spin off of the progressive rock band Yes. They werent around long, eventually merging into the main band for one big tour and album. For long-time Yes fans, though, the group was a return to the more progressive rock side of their sound, in opposition to the more pop-oriented music produced by the Trevor Rabin led version of Yes. This album is a live recording from their only tour, and the second official live album from that tour. While there is plenty to like here, its not without its problems. 

First, just having live performances from this tour is great. The show was magical and thats captured here. Secondly, this set is more representative of the tour than was the first official live album. Thats because that disc featured Jeff Berlin on bass as he replaced Tony Levin for a few shows when Levin was hospitalized. So, for that reason alone this is recommended. This live recording was done for the BBC and unfortunately there are a few audio issues. Also, theres a bit of mix up where one song is presented out of sequence. Still, the packaging which includes a reprint of the tour program and a DVD styled box, the addition of a short DVD documentary and the performance itself all add up to an exceptional release thats highly recommended. It would have been nice if the sequence had been fixed, though. That seems like an easy one to repair by either correcting the track listing or moving the misplaced song back to its original location. 

Long time fans of Yes will certainly find this a must have. It probably wouldnt be the best first introduction, though, as the earlier live album is a more polished product. Those looking for the more accurate representation of the tour, though, surely will prefer this version. 

Rating: 9/10

http://www.musicemissions.com/artists/albums/index.php?album_id=16132