Yanni - Very Best of Yanni (CD)

All Music Guide

A handful of his millions of fans worldwide are bound to not have every big Yanni hit in their collection, and so this collection -- perhaps the final Private Music greatest-hits collection, because there have been various others -- certainly serves a functional purpose. Because of the seemingly simple compositional nature of his tunes and his intense showmanship, the Greek-born keyboardist has inspired his share of detractors, too. But these songs, from the classically inspired "Aria" (first heard on a series of British Airways commercials) to the exotic, Middle Eastern-flavored "Looking Glass" and lush, percussive "Swept Away" proves that if he's not the world's greatest technician, he can definitely write a strong melody. And that's what pop music is all about. So lighten up. The solo piano number "One Man's Dream" is now a precious new age classic, as is "In the Mirror." These tracks make the most emotional impact, even though most of the songs here that made him most popular are a... bit more of the synth-created variety. If you are a big Yanni fan, check the track listing. Chances are you have all these songs somewhere else. Still a good primer on the man and his music. - Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide Read more Less