Keyboard solos

Supertramp - School, Child of Vision and Another Mens Woman

According to the web, the best keyboard players of the progressive rock era were Keith Emerson, Tony Banks, Billy Ritchie, Rick Wright, and RIck Wakeman. Funny thing is, I never heard any of them play what I'd call a great solo. The closest of the bunch has to be Rick Wakeman, he certainly seems to have the best technique of all the other candidates, and his clever use of sound textures by way of range of instruments is unsurpassed. Some of his solo pieces are outstanding, though mainly on his own without a band at all, clearly a different strategy, and not really accountable to anyone but himself. Although the only one of those nominees to actually carry a band on his own fully and properly (and the first to do so) was Ritchie (of Clouds), I would say that he is one of the poorest of the bunch when it comes to actual solos. Emerson, though fully deserving his accolades as King of the keyboards, often showed that solos weren't his strong point either. Rick Wright isn't really on a par with the others as far as technique and dynamics go, but he was unbeatable at soundscapes and atmosphere, solos weren't really ever his domain. Banks is another fine foot soldier of the keys, and can boast many fine moments in performance, but not in solos of any stature.

Solos are almost another context from what the keyboardist does in his other routine functions as part of the band. It's the moment when he stands apart from the others and takes centre stage. The content of the solo can't be just fast or flashy (though that can help!), it has to be meaningful. Personally, the finest piano solo I've heard in recen times is from a virtual pop radio song 'That's the way it is'. It sparkles and jumps and never settles into wondering what the next note is, it soars over the cliff and takes its chances. That's what I call a solo.

Sound Chaser absolutely!!!!!!!
Also DT has great Stuff, like Octavarium.

Oliver Wakeman live with Yes( currently check this one out "Starship Troopers" at the end. To die for..and one-handed!

JeanFrame wrote: According to the web, the best keyboard players of the progressive rock era were Keith Emerson, Tony Banks, Billy Ritchie, Rick Wright, and RIck Wakeman. ...

thehallway wrote: aginor wrote: Supertramp - School, Child of Vision and Another Mens Woman   Davies the blues piano man!   Reminds me of Billy Joel in AMW

Great to see Davies mentioned!!!

Did anybody listen carefully to back to school by JON and VANGELIS, there'sa flaming keyboard solo, coloured sound and great playing!!!

moshkito wrote: Hi,   Guys ... (and gals) ... good luck trying to elevate the music you like ... from "solo's" to the level of music ... the history of music is full of them soloists that no one can remember or name ... and the history of rock music will not be any different, specially if you call ot "progressive" or "prog", because in the end, if the solo is not a part of the music and able to extend the music into a realm that is much further than a "song" (meaning the 3 to 4 minute stuff) ... then you have lost the perception of what music means and what a lot of the folks out there are doing ... and one of the main reasons why so many of those musicians do not like the term "progressive" ... because it is not even close to what the real music inside those people is all about.   I take the artists side. You guys keep taking the side of the comercial definition and popular definition and think that it should be the rule. You are, by doing that, closing and preventing new music from coming to the forefront of your life and others. You might as well say ... you don't want it, because you do not allow anyone else to see or feel, or say, anything different!   Again, if you want solo's ... jazz is your music. If all "prog" is about is a "solo", then we are done labeling it "prog" because it is just another formula out there ... for something that you guys call "music".   Which I will not buy! And neither will many others!

I don't think most people on PA would elevate 'solos' to being the apex of the Progressive Rock genre Moshkito. My understanding of this thread is that the OP wished us to nominate keyboard solos in Prog that we particularly enjoy and admire. There's no harm in that is there? (let's not confuse the particular with the general) Where I would agree with you however is that the time-honoured tradition of the virtuoso 'heroic shredder' that has existed since the days of Lizst and Paganini via Satriani and Vai, is unhealthy tacky razzmatazz and does hinder the core communicative aspects of any underlying musical ideas etc

Not only on the solo subject, but a very underrated prog keyboardist is Kansas' Steve Walsh, often regarded more as a singer than as a keyboardist. But just listen to 'The Spider" in Point of Know Return.

Tarkus