Who should have replaced Wakeman?

Basically I'm asking if you think Moraz was the right man to replace Wakeman & if not who should have got the job? Obviously it's an hyperthetical question as some guys on the list wouldn't have left the successful bands they were already in.

Personally, I think Moraz did a great job but the keyboards aren't as profound as on previous Yes albums. Also, I don't think the chemistry was right with him in the band as he didn't stay around for long. What do you guys think?

 

Well, Moraz did a great job, but he's to loud, Jobson would have been great, but I voted for Vangelis..more melodic approach with him, I think. The others were occupied at the time, but if I had a wish I would say Jon Lord out of those last ones, but he wouldn't have made it, I'm afraid. Nor Bardens or Van Leer, nor Banton either, I'm afraid. The first five would have made it, not the rest (musically, that is) Emerson...welll....he's too much alike Wakeman, no thrill...

I voted for Moraz obviously for his work on Relayer. I understand Rod Argent (The Zombies & Argent) was offered the job but refused in order to front Argent. It would have been interesting to see how that would have turned out.

THIJS VAN LEER would have been great with YES, bringing in his classical influences, much less flashy, but adequate talent, and imagine YES with FLUTE!!!!

Moraz did fine though.  Relayer is 4th best Yes Album.

Edited by NetsNJFan

Dallas Bryan wrote:

Patrick blew Ricks socks off on Relayer! Rick had to come running back for Going for the One, which Patrick wrote most of and Rick stood in for. Patrick is a much more rounded keyboardist than Rick ever dreamed of being !

Agree with most of this statement.

Patrick Moraz has IMO a better style and more coherent formation than Rick, in Relayer he was great, better than almost anything Rick did with Yes except Close to the Edge, but when I saw Moraz playing that solo in the middle of Yes at QPR discovered he was even better than I thought, he sounded much better than Rick ever did, no capes, dramatic effects, ambulance sirens or strange sounds, just old plain piano played with the greatest skill I could imagine.

The problem with him was that he entered to a band that was formed by a group of friends, plus the fact he is anti charismatic when Rick is almost a second frontman, neither his character was easy because he was used to be a soloist and the main attraction, he wanted a separate dress room when all Yes members used only one for all the band,

But most important he wanted a compositional freedom that Yes wasn't willing to give him.

Iván

Rick van der Linden is the only other guy who could have fit into the Yes scheme without being a glory hog like Emo, Pat or Jobson. RvdL had the chops; he could've covered everything and made his own contributions, no problem. Clavinet, Moog/synths, piano, organ...he did 'em all. Banks and Bardens would not have been good fits. '77 is about the time Trace was done with and he went back to Eskeption. I'm sure van der Linden would've joined Yes, instead, had he been extended an offer.

I would say Jobson as well.Moraz didn't do badly though.

Keith Emerson would have been interesting!

Too much solos would be the problem! Leaving John Anderson really cheesed off!

I'll have to vote for Moraz, if it wasnt for him would Relayer be as good? Its got his stamp on it for sure. Peter Bardens might be interesting, but to my mind no ones got that Complex sound of Patrick!