Rick Wakeman is a constantly evolving enigma, even when he’s celebrating his past. His latest look back on his glittering career is a joyous piece of vinyl celebrating a time when a man would be considered foolish not to perform in a cape.
Borne out of his The Yes Suite, a medley incorporating themes from Yes classics, the Yessonata medley followed quickly, comprising more than 30 musical pieces stitched together elegantly and seamlessly.
It’s a wonderful idea, and reaffirms the strength of the classic Yes songbook, elegant and pared back, the twist of a familiar melody hooking you back into the original.
Equally good is the flip-side, The King Arthur Piano Suite, another singularly lovely, one-man take on the main themes and melodies from his The Knights Of The Round Table. It’s glorious, and comes a close second here only due to the indomitable face of the timeless Yes catalogue.
