fav prog solo projects

Peter Gabriel, of course. He's probably the best example (along with Sting) of someone making a solo career as successful and distinctive as the work he did in the band.

This is a difficult one Jon Anderson's Olias was great Peter gabriel's first three were fine fine albums and Fish's Visual,Raingods and Fields were great especially Raingods but for me it has to be the Hamiill man. The magnificently talented Peter Hammill i love the Silent Corner best but hold Fireships The Roaring Forties and Clutch  very close to my heart haven't really heard Incoherence yet

Perhaps "turned his back" was a bit too harsh Ivan. I enjoyed Gabriel's odd numbered albums (1,3, so) much more than the even numbered ones.

Gabreil's first album understandably had the most in the way of Genesis trademarks, but I wasn't too keen on his world music outings.

I'm struggling though to think of examples of his solo work which were very prog. I always felt that his solo compositions were generally more akin to "songs", with simple structures, and little instrumental elaboration. Any particular tracks you would cite as good examples? I'll give you "Here comes the flood"! (I guess if you were to compare Gabriel's solo work with Collins' though...)

I agree about Hackett and Phillips, altough I reckon Hackett was a bit too prolific at times. His great diversity of material does him credit, but there must be few who enjoy everything he's done.

Tony Bank's solo work is to my mind under-rated. Admittedly, he's had the odd bummer ("The fugitive"), but "A curious feeling" and "Still" for example were very good.

I also love Peter Gabriels solo stuff.  I don't rate what I like on how prog it is, just on whether or not it gets my attention.. and I like to hear it in my head...

My favorite Gabriel:

• Solsbury Hill
• Red Rain
• Mercy Street
• Don't Give Up
• Games Without Frontiers

Good thread, Philippe !

Maire Brennan from Clannad lead an interesting solo career, blending new-age, celtic folk and african traditional music (at least on her first solo album).

Sandy Denny released some gorgeous albums after she left Fairport Convention.

Marcus Viana from Sagrado Coraçao da Terra was interested in New Age and released some great albums, among which 'Pentanal suite sinfonica' and 'Maktub'.

Billy Cobham proved he was able to write good compositions in his own solo career.

Steve Morse is an incredibly talented songwriter and everything he released after the Dixie Dregs disbanded is good.

David Sancious (Bruce Springsteen) released some fabulous records (which should have a place in the progarchives database, Max !) in the second half of the seventies. 'True stories' is a mix of Yes-like prog-rock and soul music.

Didier Malherbe (Gong) released an intersting album in the early nineties 'Fluvius' with african and indian traditional instruments, and followed in the same way with the hadouk (contraction of two words applying to instruments : hajouj and doudouk) trio.

Ron Jarzombek (Watchtower) perfectioned his technical abilities and added a jazz influence to the trio he formed in the mid-nineties, Spastic Ink, whose album 'Ink complete' is highly recommended to all fusion afficionados.

James Labrie (Dream Theater) collaborated with Trent Gardner of Magellan to produce a project named Mullmuzzler, whose first album features some of his best vocal performance and is pretty good.

Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull) released one good album 'Divinities : twelve dances with God', on which he only plays the flute and is accompanied by an orchestra and some percussions performed by Duane Perry.

threefates wrote: I also love Peter Gabriels solo stuff.  I don't rate what I like on how prog it is, just on whether or not it gets my attention.. and I like to hear it in my head... My favorite Gabriel: Solsbury Hill Red Rain Mercy Street Don't Give Up Games Without Frontiers

Quite right Three Fates (3 f8's).

As someone who enjoys among other things a good John Denver album (did I just admit that?), I agree that there's a whole world of music beyond prog.

I think with Gabriel it's just disappointing that someone who was a key participant in some of the best prog albums ever made, has not had the desire to create or even re-create that type of music to any great extent since.

Any critisism I have of his solo stuff relates to what he has done though, not what he has not.

           ZAPPA--HE HE

• Fish (one of my favorite lyricists)
• Roger Waters (surprisingly not around)
• Sting
• Peter Hammill
• EROC