Ethnicity (album)

Ethnicity is the eleventh studio album by Yanni, released on February 11, 2003 by Virgin Records. It peaked at #27 on Billboard's "Top Internet Albums" chart and at #27 on the "Billboard 200" chart in 2003. It also peaked at #1 on the "Top New Age Albums" chart in 2004.

Background
Ethnicity features greater use of vocals, percussion, and exotic rhythms, which were influenced by Yanni's period of travel during his hiatus between 1998 and 2000. As Yanni is unable to read music, he wrote and recorded demos of the album's tracks at his home studio in Florida, after which he employed transcribers and copyists to write the individual parts for the session musicians.

Reception
Backroads Music/Heartbeats wrote that the album was musically quite diverse, stating that "Though Yanni is widely known as one of the most popular purveyors of New-age music, there's actually quite a bit going on here."

Personnel
Music
 * All music composed and arranged by Yanni. (except "Jivaeri")
 * Pedro Eustache – Flutes, World Reeds, Duduk, Argul, Uilleann pipes, Chanter, and Saxophone.
 * Karen Briggs – Violin

Vocals
 * Alfreda Gerald (also lead vocals on "The Promise", "Tribal Dream", and "Never Too Late")
 * Michelle Amato (also lead vocals on "For All Seasons", "Almost a Whisper", and "Jivaeri")
 * Yanni (also lead vocals on "Never Too Late")
 * Noelani Brock (also lead vocals on "Written on the Wind")
 * Regina Acuna-Williams
 * Peter Lehman
 * Randy Nichols
 * Suzy Park
 * Kurt von Schmittou

Lyrics
 * Lyrics for "The Promise" and "Almost a Whisper" by Pamela McNeill.

Production
 * Engineered and mixed by Yanni at his private studios.
 * Assistant engineer: Anthony Stabile
 * Mastered by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering, Hollywood, California.
 * Recorded and mixed on a Soundtracs DPC-II Digital Console
 * All piano tracks were recorded on a Yamaha CFIII 5, 9' Concert Grand

Featured tour musicians
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Band

 * Charlie Adams: Drums
 * Michelle Amato: Vocalist
 * Alfreda Gerald: Vocalist
 * Karen Briggs: Violin
 * Victor Espinola: Harp
 * Pedro Eustache: Flute, Duduk, World WWs, Sop. Sax
 * Ric Fierabracci: Bass guitar
 * Ramon Flores: Trumpet
 * Ming Freeman: Keyboards
 * David Hudson: Didgeridoo
 * Bradley Joseph: Keyboards
 * Dan Landrum: Hammered Dulcimer
 * Armen Movsessian: Violin
 * Walter Rodriguez: Percussion
 * Samvel Yervinyan: Violin


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Orchestra

 * Violins: Kristen Autry, Robert Berg, Erica Walczak
 * Violas: Eugene Mechtovich, Llona Geller
 * Celli: Alexander Zhiroff, Sarah O'Brien
 * Harp: April Aoki
 * Oboe: April Cap
 * French Horns: Jim Mattos, Kristin Morrison
 * Trumpets: Kerry Hughes
 * Trombones: Wendell Kelly
 * Orchestrator: Jeffrey Silverman
 * }

Tour Production

 * Personal Management: Danny O'Donovan, Danny O'Donovan Entertainment Group
 * Business management: Seven Eight, Inc., Tom Paske, George Veras, Diane Kramer, Anda Allenson, Richard Allenson
 * Tour & production manager: Michael Weiss
 * Production supervisor: Anthony Stabile
 * Personal assistant to Yanni: Don Bath
 * Road manager: Craig Yun
 * Stage manager: Richard Bray
 * Production coordinator: Kathleen Kronauer
 * Tour accountant: Richard Allenson
 * Tour security: Jason Temke
 * Lighting director: Bud Horowitz
 * Yanni's wardrobe designed by Nolan Miller
 * Costume design/wardrobe: Jennifer Jacobs, Thomas Wells