Hammond Extravaganza Part 2 : A HAMMOND S

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RICK VAN DER LINDEN – An Ekseptional Trace


- Rick van der Linden’s father was a pianoplayer so it was not a surprise that young Rick took piano-lessons. Later he started to learn playing the organ and finally he went to the Haarlem Conservatory. He played in many bands and nightclubs and was impressed by Brian AUGER and especially Keith EMERSON. Rick got worldwide recognition with the ‘classic-rock formula’ from EKSEPTION but he wanted his own band to show his keyboard pyrotechnics. He founded TRACE with bass player Jaap van Eik (CUBY AND THE BLIZZARDS, The MOTIONS, SOLUTION, LIVING BLUES) and drummer Pierre van der Linden (TEE SET, BRAINBOX, FOCUS), a real Dutch supergroup! Now he got the opportunity to work out his own ideas with keyboard-dominated symphonic rock. In ’74 TRACE released their eponymous debut-album, in ’75 their second entitled "Birds" (Ian Mosley had replaced Pierre van der Linden) and in ’76 their third and final "Ladies". TRACE sounds like a kind of Dutch equivalent to early ELP but Rick has a wider array of keyboards, including Hammond B3 organ, Hohner clavinet and pianet, ARP – and EMI synthesizers, harpsichord, Solina string-ensemble, Mellotron and church organ. The music is a treat for fans from bands like The NICE, ELP, TRIUMVIRAT and early LE ORME. Despite good albums, great concerts and worldwide recognition, Trace didn’t work out the high expectations and the ‘supertrio’ dissolved in the late Seventies. 
- So we had to wait more than 30 years to enjoy this legendary Dutch formation on DVD but it was worth waiting although the running time of the Trace live footage (German tv programm Musikladen 1977) is a bit short, 25 minutes including the bonustrack. Of course the focus is on Rick playing in his ‘cockpit’, the nickname for his huge array of keyboards: choir-Mellotron and the Hammond organ (wonderful interplay with Jaap Van Eik his electric guitar) in King’s Bird, fluent Grand piano runs in Sculpture Bird, virtuosic Grand piano work on the Bechstein in Pathetique and beautiful play on Mellotron, ARP synthesizer, Hohner clavinet and swinging Hammond organ in Surrender. The bonustrack Medley features extra keyboardplayer Hans Jacobse, supporting Rick during his outstanding clavinet work, I love that often overlooked keyboard in progrock! The rhythm-section Jaap Van Eik and Ian Mosley plays fluent and adventurous, what an excellent trio this was and what a pity it was already over after a few years.
The second part of this DVD contains an Ekseption 2003 reunion concert featuring Rick his wife Inez on vocals in two songs. We can enjoy Rick playing on his ‘custom build church organ’, what a passion and skills and great to see him freaking out on the Hammond organ during songs like The Fifth Symphony and Fireworks. Very interesting is the Ekseption bonustrack from 1973 in which Rick delivers a spectacular version of JS Bach his composition Toccata In D-Fuga, one of the highlights on this wonderful DVD, to me it sounds and looks like a strong tribute to the late Rick Van Der Linden!
 
                                                  
Edited by erik neuteboom - December 19 2007 at 16:48

Hammond Extravaganza Part 2 : A HAMMOND S

— First review of this album —

ATOMIC ROOSTER

The Ultimate Anthology