A thread for keyboard players

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 kineto_zetetics wrote:

Alex, I wonder if you have done your homework here.

Firstly, I don't give a monkeys about the degree of discomfort/pain suffered by a performer, for me its the sonic product that is the bottom line. However, in terms of suffering with performance inhibiting problems I think KE has really been through the mill during the last 15 years with his numerous operations etc.

In terms of technique I partly agree. Emerson has been sloppy in terms of articulation, timing and phrasing since the early 90s. HOWEVER! If you go back to his halcion days (e.g. The 'Pathetique' from 'Elergy', or 'Karn Evil 9' from BSS) the standard of execution is outstanding. Have you heard "Elergy"?

Back in the early 70s Wakeman did some well planned and truly melodic solos (e.g. The solo from Jane Seymour during the 'King Arthur on Ice' gigs).  Since this period it is my contention that most of his solos are unplanned and have little in terms of over-arching trajectory. I've seen him play several times in recent years (last time at 'The Robbin' (Bilston)) 6 months back.  I suggest you listen to Emerson's solo from "Stones of the Years" (on the "Welcome Back My Friends triple album). It has a superb emotive trajectory and resolution.
Another key difference in the approach of these two players is the degree of tonality. Whilst Wakeman esentialy deals with scales and arpegios that would have pleased Mozart, Emerson has a wider tonal palette that certainly encompasses the innovations of the 20th century. Check out "The 3 Fates" (from the first "Emerson, Lake and Palmer" album for its block use of forths and seconds or "Creole Dance" for the use of  tone clusters and extended 11th chords.

Don't misunderstand me - I've loved Wakeman for a long time and have been blown away by some of his work. However, there are (for me) many more memorable Emerson moments. I really think that you should go back and listen to the first five ELP albums and the last 3 Nice albums and then re-evaluate.

Thanks for the tip about the conservertoire. Ii was thinking of hiring a singer from there to record my latest project so that's a useful bit of inside info.

Cheers
KZ 
Sunny Bournville

Oh boy, you assume that because I'm still at school that I still do homework 

As for the classic Wakeman vs Emerson debate (which has been going on for years no doubt), I still think that as a musician that tidiness and emotion are everything. Don't get me wrong, I love Keith's solos in Stones of Years and KE9, but i think Wakeman is slightly more inventive, even though his solos don't take as much from jazz as Emerson's. He has a unique finger position also that I find very interesting indeed, and it opens him up to more interesting stuff than Emerson's traditional style. I also saw a youtube video of Keith doing a similar thing to Oscar Peterson with a piano blues improvisation, and I was not impressed. It was a load of random notes strung together with the odd melodic bassline thrown in here and there, also musically quoting from Take A Pebble. There is not one thing Wakeman has done that hasn't impressed me.

I've also recently discovered Kerry Minnear, and I think that he should be mentioned somewhere along the lines  perhaps i'll make a poll about it...