Yanni - In Celebration Of Life (1991)

In Celebration of Life draws from four early Yanni albums -- Keys to Imagination, Out of Silence, Chameleon Days, and Niki Nana -- and also includes the new "Song for Antarctica," recorded for the Polar Shift benefit album. The collection is a solid overview of the new age composer's initial work, displaying all of the tenets that have made his music so popular over the years. Opener "Santorini" features a powerful, sweeping melody, while "Marching Season" is driven by the relationship between an urgent piano line and a surging, synthesized string section. "Keys to Imagination" begins in a contemplative mood, but by song's end features the galloping keyboards and crashing percussion typical of Yanni's work. Fans will have most, if not all of the material here, but newcomers might enjoy In Celebration of Life as an overview of Yanni's early work. Fans may also want to search out the Polar Shift compilation, which features "Song for Antartica," as well as music from heavyweights like Kitaro, Vangelis, and Enya.~In Celebration of Life Review by Johnny Loftus