#jon davison

Song Review: Yes - “Aurora”

With ultra-slick production providing lift, the band that calls itself Yes announces the album it calls Aurora with the sprawling title track.

The Yes of 2026 is down to zero original members, but is anchored by the long-tenured, in-and-out-of-the-band guitarist Steve Howe, 1980s-lineup keyboardist Geoff Downes (Buggles, Asia) and singer Jon Davison, who sounds like a woman imitating Jon Anderson.

Bookended with orchestral intro and coda, “Aurora”’s is a toy box stuffed with sound that includes Davison singing in harmony and counterpoint with himself in pop-leaning vocal passages and Howe showing off metal, jazz and prog chops across the seven-minute runtime.

Given all the changes it’s gone through, and the period of two Yesses touring simultaneously, this iteration of Yes can still reasonably claim to be making Yes music. Fans could also argue “Aurora,” would have more credibility if released under a different banner.

Grade card: Yes - “Aurora” - C+

Jon Davison (born January 16, 1971) is an American singer, musician and songwriter who has been the lead vocalist of progressive rock band Yes since 2012.

In February 2012, Davison was announced as the new lead singer of Yes, replacing Benoît David, who left the group because of illness.[4] "Strangely enough, Jon's name came up when we started working with Benoit," Yes bassist Chris Squire recalled. "In fact, my friend, Taylor Hawkins, had been telling me for years: 'If you ever need a replacement (singer), I know exactly the guy.

(Left to right) Steve Howe, Geoff Downes and Jon of YES - FivePoint Amphitheatre; Irvine, CA (7-27-19). @yesofficial @asiageoff @originalasia @SteveHoweOne #JonDavison