Yes Music Podcast · Kevin Mulryne and Mark Anthony K

Steve Howe talks about his solo re-releases PLUS 'Yes Guess Who'! - 686

·1 hr 2 min·3 clips

Steve Howe links his solo gaps to Asia, GTR, AWH, Union, and rejoining Yes in 1995.

Steve Howe joins Kevin for an easygoing catch-up built around two re-releases, *Portraits of Bob Dylan* and *Natural Tambra*. The conversation starts with where those records sit in Howe's solo history. Kevin asks about the long gap between solo albums, and Howe points to his work with Yes, Asia, GTR, AWH and Union as the obvious reason. He also makes the point that the records were not really inactive at all. Some took years to finish, with ideas building over time before being shaped into release-ready albums. That leads into the productive period that followed, including Grand Schema and the start of the homebrew work. It feels less like a formal timeline and more like Howe talking through the shape of his catalogue. The middle of the episode shifts into instruments and arrangement. Howe and Kevin spend time on the mandolin and the mandola, and Howe is clear that he treats them as very different from guitar. He talks about the learning curve involved. He also says he does not try to push the mandolin into a predictable country identity. Instead, he prefers to blend it into the texture of the music or let it carry a melodic line. That gives the instrument the feel of part of the arrangement rather than a novelty. The discussion stays practical throughout. Howe sounds most engaged when he is describing how an unfamiliar instrument can open up a new colour. There is also a sense that he is happy to take the harder path if it gives him a better sound. The show gives that idea room to breathe instead of rushing past it. Later, the episode turns to the quiz segment *Yes Guess Who*. Kevin and Mark tally their answers as the game winds down. Mark lands on nine points and Kevin on ten. The friendly scorekeeping gives the ending a light competitive edge. It also fits the show's habit of turning fan knowledge into something playable. By the time it wraps, the episode has moved from catalogue history to craft talk and then into a bit of listener-friendly competition.

As heard by us

A warm, detail-rich conversation about Howe's solo records, instrument choices, and a playful quiz finish.

Steve Howe's solo catalogue anchors this episode, with Kevin looking back over the re-releases of Portraits of Bob Dylan and Natural Tambra and the long stretches when solo work had to sit alongside Asia, GTR, AWH and Union.

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Why you'd press play

You get Steve Howe on two re-releases and a Yes quiz at the end.

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