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The Cornerstone of Your Prog Supergroup

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BrufordFreak View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BrufordFreak Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: The Cornerstone of Your Prog Supergroup
    Posted: January 24 2022 at 17:05
If you could create your own "fantasy league" all-star prog band--from all of prog's 56 years of history--who would be your one, key foundational member who would make the cornerstone of your band--the "franchise" player--the one to make it all work?

After you name yours, I'd love to see your reasoning for such a choice.

My cornerstone player would be Tony Levin because: 
 - he can get along with anybody
 - he can play any kind of music (included among his over 500 albums, are diverse artists such as Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Judy Collins, Cher, Alice Cooper, Buddy Rich, Lou Reed, Todd Rundgren, Seal, Gary Burton, James Taylor, Herbie mann, Sarah MacLachlan, Peter Frampton, Timm Finn, Richie Sambora, Dominique Vantomme, Peter Kater, Chuck Mangione, Larry Fast, California Guitar Trio, Al DiMeola, Phil Keaggy, Don MacLean, Lou Christie, Deodato, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Phobe Snow, Mike Manieri, Melissa Manchester, Burt Bacharach, Ben Sidran, Laura Nyro, Art Garfunkle, Jun Fukamachi, Peter, Paul & Mary, John Lennon & Yoko Ono, The Roches, Bill Chinnock, Roy Harper, Kazumi Watanabe, Warren Bernhardt, Joan Armitrading, Johnny Warman, Jules Shear, Mark Knopfler (Local Hero), Gowan, Frida, Catherine Lara, Tom Waits, Marshall Crenshaw, Brian Ferry, Andy Pratt, Rosie Vela, Warren Zevon, David Torn, Jill Jones, T Bone Burnett, Robbie Robertson, Julia Fordham, Richard Thompson, Ringo Starr, Stevie Nicks, Steps Ahead, Laurie Anderson, Jeanne Mas, Claudio Baglioni, Phil Manzanera, Paula Cole, Chris Botti, Andy Summers, Eros Ramozzotti, Kevin Maxx, Magellan, Gov't Mule, Steve Hackett (Genesis Revisited), David Bowie, Willie Oteri, Michael Whalen, Eddie Jobson, Jakko Jakszyk, Nad Sylvan, Marco Minneman, Alec Sebastien, Phil Collins, Katherine Kaye, Jerry Goodman, Brandon Flowers, Steve Thorne, Sarah Brightman, Days Between Stations, William Ackerman, Slow Electric, The Weepies, Ólafur Arnalds, Steven Wilson, Goatika Creative Lab, Randy Vanwarmer, Lara Fabian, Steve Howe, Mike Portnoy, Gigi D'Alessio, Gibonni, Jordan Rudess, Niyaz, David Sancious, Ivan Lins, )        
 - he works well in the studio or live on stage (and has been touring almost continuously with an amazing variety of bands for the past 50 years including many of those listed above), 
 - he has a great, fun-loving, personality, that does not get caught up in interpersonal squabbles,
 - he is a virtuoso musician (not just bass player) 
 - he is all business yet very adaptable to any recording, creative, touring conditions,
 - he is an incredibly adept and fast learner (has sat in on tours with Yes, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Sarah Brightman, James Taylor, Paul Simon, Richie Sambora, Ivanno Fossati, Carly Simon, Herbie Mann, Peter Frampton, Judy Collins, and many more)  
 - yet he is also very creative (is collaborative member of several outstanding bands, including Stick Men, King Crimson, Bruford-Levin Upper Extremities, Levin Brothers, Levin Torn White, Levin Minneman Rudess, Perfect Trio, and Liquid Tension Experiment as well as his own solo releases)
 - he has several very distinctive sounds (yet does not necessarily dominate the music, rather, blends in or helps create a very unique yet-always-interesting sound landscape)
 - is tireless, has boundless energy
 - LOVES music! (all kinds; is unafraid to try anything)

Drew Fisher
https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/
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JD View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JD Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 24 2022 at 17:32
Keith Emerson...for all the obvious reason I guess.

Pro's
Innovator
Composer
Multi-style player
Multitude of sounds
Has played with some of the best rockers in the world

Con's
He's dead

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Grumpyprogfan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 24 2022 at 19:29
Allan Holdsworth. Ponty, Gong, Soft Machine, UK, Bruford, solo, etc. He added class and enhanced everything he played on. A true innovator with an original sound. RIP.

Pat Metheny would be my second choice.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dellinger Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 24 2022 at 19:45
Well, I can think of many dream line-ups, but one of the best, if not the very best, I don't have to imagine, for that is Yes, CttE line-up. So, who would we think was the cornerstone for that one? I guess most would say that it was Crhis Squire...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote richardh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 25 2022 at 00:26
Predictably from me, the late great Keith Emerson but second choice would be Steve Howe. Such a shame those 2 never worked together.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote chopper Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 25 2022 at 05:28
Any band needs a great drummer, so probably Bruford or Palmer.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Manuel Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 25 2022 at 05:48
Martin Barre. An underrated orchestrator, who can go from blues to rock, classic, jazz, etc.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Nogbad_The_Bad Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 25 2022 at 05:55
I'd probably go with Chris Cutler, the drummer of Henry Cow, he's got beautiful technique, has played with a ton of different bands and style, from what I've read he'd been a good organizer. 

Bruford i& Squire are certainly good suggestions. 

I'd love to suggest Fripp, and while he'd be great at leading in the short term the band would dissolve in 3 years.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BrufordFreak Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 25 2022 at 06:21
Originally posted by JD JD wrote:

Keith Emerson...for all the obvious reason I guess.

Pro's
Innovator
Composer
Multi-style player
Multitude of sounds
Has played with some of the best rockers in the world

Con's
He's dead


Keith was one of my top 5 considerations.

Drew Fisher
https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BrufordFreak Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 25 2022 at 06:22
Originally posted by Grumpyprogfan Grumpyprogfan wrote:

Allan Holdsworth. Ponty, Gong, Soft Machine, UK, Bruford, solo, etc. He added class and enhanced everything he played on. A true innovator with an original sound. RIP.

Pat Metheny would be my second choice.


Another artist I strongly considered. Ultimately I was able to eliminate hime cuz I just don't like a lot of the music he did once he became a solo artist.

Drew Fisher
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BrufordFreak Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 25 2022 at 06:25
Originally posted by Dellinger Dellinger wrote:

Well, I can think of many dream line-ups, but one of the best, if not the very best, I don't have to imagine, for that is Yes, CttE line-up. So, who would we think was the cornerstone for that one? I guess most would say that it was Crhis Squire...

Another artist I love and considered but rejected because he never demonstrated (to me) a desire, much less a penchant, for testing himself outside of his comfort zones. (E.g. Chris playing folk, pop, or jazz???) Plus, he was reputedly not a very team-oriented player. (Just ask Bill Bruford.)

Drew Fisher
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BrufordFreak Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 25 2022 at 06:27
Originally posted by Manuel Manuel wrote:

Martin Barre. An underrated orchestrator, who can go from blues to rock, classic, jazz, etc.

Sadly, this is an artist that is brought up frequently that I do not appreciate well enough. If it weren't so much for the fact that I find Jethro Tull music so irritating, I might explore more. Do you have any suggestions of his play outside of Tull?

Drew Fisher
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JD Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 25 2022 at 06:28
Originally posted by BrufordFreak BrufordFreak wrote:

Originally posted by JD JD wrote:

Keith Emerson...for all the obvious reason I guess.

Pro's
Innovator
Composer
Multi-style player
Multitude of sounds
Has played with some of the best rockers in the world

Con's
He's dead


Keith was one of my top 5 considerations.

Don't get me wrong....Tony Levin IS a tour de force on the rhythm section, and to be honest he was easily in MY top 5. I just felt Emerson had quite an edge as a composer.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BrufordFreak Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 25 2022 at 06:34
Originally posted by Nogbad_The_Bad Nogbad_The_Bad wrote:

I'd probably go with Chris Cutler, the drummer of Henry Cow, he's got beautiful technique, has played with a ton of different bands and style, from what I've read he'd been a good organizer.

 Now, this is a very interesting choice--and one worth following up on. I've loved the Henry Cow stuff I've stumbled across in the last 14 years but have never gone on an actual "Chris Cutler Quest." Perhaps it is time!

Bruford i& Squire are certainly good suggestions. 

I'd love to suggest Fripp, and while he'd be great at leading in the short term the band would dissolve in 3 years.

Bob and Bill, of course, were considered. Again, like Chris, I think them a bit too narrow-minded in their focuses. Yes, Bob did all that acoustic and pop-oriented stuff, and Bill did Yes, KC, solo, Earthworks and jazz, but still, I just think they're a bit too monochromatic for my purposes. I want my band to be able to play Prog Folk, Prog Electronic, Prog Metal, and Indo-Raga Prog as well as all the others. Plus, I'm not sure I think of either as great leaders. Strong willed, goal-oriented, yes, but somewhat reluctant collaborators.


Drew Fisher
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BrufordFreak Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 25 2022 at 06:36
Carl Palmer and Steve Howe are also admirable choices. Both for their obvious talents and versatility, Steve for his indefatigability (the guy's still pumping it out after almost 60 years!).



Edited by BrufordFreak - January 25 2022 at 11:07
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BrufordFreak Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 25 2022 at 06:37
Clapeverybody!

Edited by BrufordFreak - January 25 2022 at 11:09
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Grumpyprogfan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 25 2022 at 06:44
Originally posted by BrufordFreak BrufordFreak wrote:

Originally posted by Grumpyprogfan Grumpyprogfan wrote:

Allan Holdsworth. Ponty, Gong, Soft Machine, UK, Bruford, solo, etc. He added class and enhanced everything he played on. A true innovator with an original sound. RIP.

Pat Metheny would be my second choice.



Another artist I strongly considered. Ultimately I was able to eliminate hime cuz I just don't like a lot of the music he did once he became a solo artist.

If compositional skills are a requirement, Tony's output, (Stick Men, LTE, LMR, BLS) is lame, compared to Allan. Not sure how much he contributed to KC's music either.


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lewian Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 25 2022 at 06:47
The problem with this is that the very best are really strong personalities, and may not be able to accept anyone else leading. Fripp has played with many and is a genius, still a supergroup around Fripp is bound to play Fripp music and nothing else (of course there's some space for variation within Fripp music, but still). Levin or Bruford are better candidates for this task, having played with so many other geniuses. Still I was normally more convinced by them playing Fripp music rather than leading their own band (even though Bruford has some good stuff as band leader). I won't go for these rather obvious choices and explore something else.

The next candidate is from my favourite band, Jaki Liebezeit of Can. Outside Can Jaki has done a lot of stuff (very little if anything of which is on PA). If he were still alive, for sure he'd be up for team play, still his drumming is so characteristic that wherever he has his hands in sounds like him. The issue here is that he is really not a composer (also Holger has said that he's quite scary but I hope the others in the band are strong enough personalities that they can deal with that).

So I have my band headed by a surprise (?) selection, namely Kate Bush. Of course Kate is only known for her solo work, but many good musicians have contributed to it, so she can play well in a team, too, and I'd really be super curious what she could come up with having behind her a band full of prog genuises with their own strong ideas. One reason why I go for her rather than some of the seemingly more obvious candidates is that I'd expect this band to come up with a unique synthesis, something that is really different from what Kate as well as her collaborators have done up to now, so something that would make me really curious. I hope she'll accept Jaki as a drummer (Bruford is unavailable because he has to tour with different supergroups; also both Kate and Jaki are known for exercising witchcraft, so that'll be a good fit and they can hopefully keep each other within limits), and we can talk about the rest later.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Nogbad_The_Bad Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 25 2022 at 07:12
Originally posted by Grumpyprogfan Grumpyprogfan wrote:

Originally posted by BrufordFreak BrufordFreak wrote:

Originally posted by Grumpyprogfan Grumpyprogfan wrote:

Allan Holdsworth. Ponty, Gong, Soft Machine, UK, Bruford, solo, etc. He added class and enhanced everything he played on. A true innovator with an original sound. RIP.

Pat Metheny would be my second choice.



Another artist I strongly considered. Ultimately I was able to eliminate hime cuz I just don't like a lot of the music he did once he became a solo artist.

If compositional skills are a requirement, Tony's output, (Stick Men, LTE, LMR, BLS) is lame, compared to Allan. Not sure how much he contributed to KC's music either.



I much prefer Holdsworth as a sideman to a leader. I find his solo stuff way too self indulgent. He may have been too much of a tortured soul to lead a band.

Agree on the Levin solo material, I like it but its hardly ground breaking. Probably the ultimate perfect sideman.


Edited by Nogbad_The_Bad - January 25 2022 at 07:13
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JohnnyCanuck3 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 25 2022 at 08:05
My cornerstone for a super prog group would be Neal Morse.
Why?
1.  He's already a cornerstone for several groups, including Spock's Beard, Transatlantic, Neal Morse Group, Flying Colors, etc.
2.  He is obviously able to work with a diverse array of artists, as evidenced by the various groups he is in.  Seems to get along well with others, and seems to be well liked.
3.  A prolific songwriter and seems to be comfortable spending endless hours in the studio and/or on tour.
4.  A great musician, playing keyboards, guitar, mandolin, and who knows what else.
5.  Able to work in a number of different styles/genres of music.


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