Keith Emerson or Rick Wakeman?

Wakeman in a landslide. all respects for Keith, however!!

Nice poll. Emerson just takes it for being a little more adventurous. Both are incredible though 

^bad translation program?

dennismoore wrote: Ola Amigo, yes, I meant as a solo artist.  Live and on record!Rick has solo masterpieces!JourneyKing Arthur6 WivesKeith has very little solo fanfare.Estamos hablando de cosas diferentesYes, you are right ELP is a trio and keyboard driven at that.  So take away Emerson and it falls, but not to sell Greg Lake short, he had perhaps the best caliber voice in prog and wrote classics such as Take A Pebble & Knife Edge, not just those famous ballads.  I can't imagine Pirates or Tarkus without Greg.P.S. I voted for "both" but it is nice to see Emerson overtake Wakeman in the poll.  Keith Emerson's writing is a genuinely original style and his work could be analyzed endlessly. I would pick him if I were forced to, but I refuse as it would be pointless.   YES is my favorite band overall, so does that make me a Judas to pick Emerson?

Hello, this is out of toppic, but whenever I read you writing in spanish, I just can't help pronouncing it in my mind with that American (or Gringo) accent. I only hope you won't picture my posts with latin accent from now on

Ola Amigo, 

yes, I meant as a solo artist.  Live and on record!

Rick has solo masterpieces!

Journey
King Arthur
6 Wives

Keith has very little solo fanfare.

Estamos hablando de cosas diferentes

Yes, you are right ELP is a trio and keyboard driven at that.  So take away Emerson and it falls, but not to sell Greg Lake short, he had perhaps the best caliber voice in prog and wrote classics such as Take A Pebble & Knife Edge, not just those famous ballads.  I can't imagine Pirates or Tarkus without Greg.

P.S. I voted for "both" but it is nice to see Emerson overtake Wakeman in the poll.  Keith Emerson's writing is a genuinely original style and his work could be analyzed endlessly. I would pick him if I were forced to, but I refuse as it would be pointless.   YES is my favorite band overall, so does that make me a Judas to pick Emerson?

dennismoore wrote: Wakeman's work has more pomp and classical flair and dare I say fun?  Wakeman was obviously a much more successful solo artist able to carry a whole band by himself. Rick's compositions are much easier to play than Emerson's.

Puzzled by the comment that Wakeman was able to carry a whole band by himself. I presume you are talking about his solo band. I've seen both with their repective solo bands and they both carry their bands very obviously. If we are talking Yes and ELP then Emerson regularly had to carry ELP much more than Wakeman did in Yes. Yes existed quite happilly before Rick joined and has been more than able to cope without him after he left. ELP without Emerson? Well its never happened so its pointless musiing over it. Who could have replaced Emerson ? - Patrick Moraz who replaced him very successfully in Refguee (The Nice under a different name) and then replaced Wakeman in Yes. So in conclusion the best is ermm..Moraz ...no that wasn't the point I was making

elpprogster wrote: Mummy or Daddy?

This lad has it sussed. Which is more important to you?

Forgive me for saying but this is like choosing between Brahms & Beethoven. Perhaps the world will never see more great masters like Bach, Brahms & Beethoven, etc...but Emerson & Wakeman are as good as it gets in their time
(yes, I will also toss Tony Banks in there)

As a piano player who can play some of both Emerson & Wakeman, I can say:

Emerson's work is much more complex and harder to play. His writing is a thrill to analyze.  It almost sounds great on the staff, when you look at it.

Wakeman's work has more pomp and classical flair and dare I say fun?  Wakeman was obviously a much more successful solo artist able to carry a whole band by himself. Rick's compositions are much easier to play than Emerson's.

Emerson is the most diverse and proficient keyboardist I've ever known, and I can easily memorize his melodies. Wakeman, on the other hand, has crazier organ solos, especially the one on 'Close to the Edge'. I will go in the favor of emo over skill. Wakeman. 

Mr. RW

I never like these comparisons; to me Emerson and Wakeman are both excellent with different strengths and weaknesses, as with any human technician! But Emerson carried the band on his own (following Ritchie); Wakeman excelled at solo pieces within the framework (and comfort zone) of a full band. So Emerson (if I have to vote!).