THE MOST TECHNICALLY PROFICIENT PROG ROCK BAND

Well, since we're technically talking, you can't have a "technical skill" thread without at LEAST one mention of DREAM THEATER.

Rush, Yes, Asia

Edited by video vertigo - May 09 2006 at 02:24

DEEP PURPLE - throughout their long history purple have always had the most proficient players in their midst, most recently Steve Morse, a very gifted guitar player in his own right, and Don Airey, who on keyboards is a worthy successor to the classicly brilliant Jon Lord, one of the best hammond players ever. no other group has attempted to merge themselves with a full orchestra, i thought the results debatable but the group were pleased, they pulled off a technical miracle! their most popular album "machine head" was recorded in less than perfect conditions, though remains a technical masterpiece, from the opening bars Blackmore and Lord are duelling and matching each other note for note at an amazing speed. AND available in 5.1 surround sound and SACD. need i mention the phenomenal skills of Ritchie Blackmore....very few guitarists have come close to match his phenomenal virtuosity, like Ian Gillan and Steve Morse he managed his own group very sucessfully for many years. Ian Paice is one if not THE most technically proficient drummers in the world, his "break" on Made in Japan is a joy, and Ian Gillan remains one of the most gifted voices in rock, his amazing screeeeeeeams have to be heard to be believed!!!! today the group get better and better, hardly a duff album (maybe one or two, material which most top groups would have given their back teeth for) in their entire catalogue. so there you have it - my case for Deep Purple, the most technically proficient band of all!  

Edited by mystic fred - May 09 2006 at 03:38

video vertigo wrote: Rush, Yes, Asia

mystic fred wrote: BaldFriede wrote: Gong.   WHY??.................i've never heard Gong.

Can someone define 'Technically profficient' I know what it means to me, but there may be some people here who are just inclined to mention their favourite bands.

If by 'technical profficiency' we mean most complex/difficult to excecute musicianship, then the most profficient artists are likely to be jazz/rock fusion bands like Mahavishnu Orchestra, Brand X etc. IMO.

The term could also apply to artists like Robert John Godfrey of The Enid, who is a respected composer and brilliant pianist.

I have to admit, even though I dont think they have an ounce of soul in their song writing, Dream Theater are probably among the most technically profficient rock musicians in the business.

I'd like to hear the views of 'technically profficient' musicians on this matter...

Dream Theater beats them all in this aspect. I don't know any guitarist with better technical skills than Petrucci, and the rest of the band are all extremely good on their instruments too.
Of course that doesn't mean that they are the best band.

Blacksword wrote: Can someone define 'Technically profficient' I know what it means to me, but there may be some people here who are just inclined to mention their favourite bands. If by 'technical profficiency' we mean most complex/difficult to excecute musicianship, then the most profficient artists are likely to be jazz/rock fusion bands like Mahavishnu Orchestra, Brand X etc. IMO. The term could also apply to artists like Robert John Godfrey of The Enid, who is a respected composer and brilliant pianist. I have to admit, even though I dont think they have an ounce of soul in their song writing, Dream Theater are probably among the most technically profficient rock musicians in the business. I'd like to hear the views of 'technically profficient' musicians on this matter...

My vote goes to Dream Theater - they don't have a weak link.  Each member is a master of his instrument (ooer) and if I had to compile a top 5 for each of those instruments in prog, they would all appear.  I kow that last sentence didn't make any sense, but you know what I mean

Even James is one of the foremost tambourinists in the arena of handheld percussion.

Syzygy wrote:   True, listen to Camembert Electrique and some of his solo albums for proof.   I'd also nominate (from the old school) Magma 1973/4 with the Vander/Top rhythm section, King Crimson's double trio line up (or just about any other), Zappa's touring band in the 1970s featuring Ruth Underwood Can Currently I'd say that the most technically proficient band around is probably Koenjihyakkei - Angherr Shisspa is an awesomely powerful album.

Magma in the "Live / Hhai" line-up was first class too, with a very young Didier Lockwood (he was 17 or 18 at that time.).