Credit: Lee WilkinsonLongtime Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman is preparing a new concert album and video called Live Portraits that documents a March 2018 performance at Lincoln Cathedral in London at which he showcased many songs that appeared on his 2017 solo instrumental collection, Piano Portraits.
Like the Piano Portraits album, the concert featured reworked renditions of some of his favorite classical pieces, as well as various well-known rock and pop songs, including some tunes on which he originally performed. Among the latter are Yes’ “Wonderous Stories,” Cat Stevens‘ “Morning Has Broken” and David Bowie‘s “Life on Mars” and “Space Oddity.”
You can check out a video preview of Live Portraits at Wakeman’s recently launched official YouTube channel, as well as a clip from the concert showing Rick playing a cover of the Beatles classic “Eleanor Rigby” and an intro segment in which he discusses the classical composer he salutes in his version of the Fab Four tune. The YouTube channel also features a video boasting outtakes from the Live Portraits DVD.
Wakeman has a PledgeMusic page promoting Live Portraits where fans can pre-order signed and unsigned copies of the CD/DVD version of the release, and a variety of other autographed and collectible items.
Rick also is planning a special screening on his YouTube channel featuring 10 of the performances from the Live Portraits DVD recently chosen from a list of 14 songs by fans via an online poll. People who subscribe to Wakeman’s YouTube page will be notified when the screening, which will be viewable for 48 hours, will go live.
As previously announced, Rick’s current band, Yes Featuring Anderson, Rabin and Wakeman, is celebrating Yes’ 50th anniversary with a tour that includes a U.S. leg that kicks off August 26 with a show in West Hollywood, California.
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