Prog Polls - 25 More Keyboardists?

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25 More Keyboardists?

Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Polls
Forum Description: Create polls on topics related to progressive music
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=52944
Printed Date: February 23 2025 at 04:27
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Topic: 25 More Keyboardists?

Posted By: RoidRageOnStage
Subject: 25 More Keyboardists?
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 11:05

* Sorry for those who didn't get their favourite keyboardist/organist in this poll, since the maximum of poll choices is 25 every musician I planned for this poll can't be in here and I stripped it down to the exact 25.

I do hope you find someone to vote for.

I'm much aware that polls like this have been done over and over and over again... you don't need to inform me about that.

You're voting for the musician, NOT the band: the name of the band is only there so you can find your favourite easier.

You're voting on the musician and his talent/style/sound of wich you like the most

Only one vote by each AP user.

Optional: Tell us who you voted for and why.

The reason I didn't make the list look better like having it in alphabetic order or such is that it makes you read a little further before jumping on your obvious choice.

Please keep it adult and don't bash each other.

This poll is also a follow-up to my first thread about the same subject but with lesser known/famous keyboardist/organist http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=52941 - http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=52941

Don't forget to vote now!

Replies:

Posted By: febus
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 11:10

Looking at my avatar, you may have an idea who i voted for!!

Posted By: Padraic
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 11:11

From this list, Emerson.

Posted By: febus
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 11:11

Peter Hammill???? you are sure you didn't mean Banton!

Posted By: RoidRageOnStage
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 11:12

febus wrote:

Looking at my avatar, you may have an idea who i voted for!!

You don't say

Good choice

Posted By: Padraic
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 11:13

febus wrote:

Peter Hammill???? you are sure you didn't mean Banton!

Hammill plays piano, so maybe he did mean it.

Posted By: febus
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 11:13

Glad to see Lutz Rahn mentioned

.....NOVALIS is such a wonderful band!

Posted By: iguana
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 11:16

20 yrs. ago: emo/wakey

10 yrs. ago: jobson/lord/downes (where is he?)

now: wright/banks

go figure.

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progressive rock and rural tranquility don't match. true or false?

Posted By: RoidRageOnStage
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 11:17

Actually I meant Hammill... Banton is awesome though, Hammill is credited as playing keyboard too or am I just of the hook?

Posted By: RoidRageOnStage
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 11:19

febus wrote:

Glad to see Lutz Rahn mentioned

.....NOVALIS is such a wonderful band!

Cool to hear so and yes... Novalis is very wonderful

Posted By: Bern
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 11:30

RoidRageOnStage wrote:

Actually I meant Hammill... Banton is awesome though, Hammill is credited as playing keyboard too or am I just of the hook?

Yeah he does play keys too but Banton was the main keyboard player in VdGG.

I would have voted for him he was there because of his really unique style actually.

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RIP in bossa nova heaven.

Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 11:33

You know, on a typical day, I might go with Rick Wakeman- I believe he is one of the most technically proficient masters of the instrument.

But today, the day after I just finished writing my review of Masque :

http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=187256 - http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=187256

and watching them play "The Pinnacle" on the video here:

http://www.progarchives.com/media.asp?id=1019 - http://www.progarchives.com/media.asp?id=1019

I'm pleased to vote for Kerry Livgren- holding down the fort with not just a few keyboards, but a Les Paul too!

I'm actually about to go running and listen to the entire double CD remaster of Two for the Show. That gives me a two and a half hour workout, although I might pass out during "Closet Chronicles."

Posted By: RoidRageOnStage
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 11:35

Bern wrote:

RoidRageOnStage wrote:

Actually I meant Hammill... Banton is awesome though, Hammill is credited as playing keyboard too or am I just of the hook?

Yeah he does play keys too but Banton was the main keyboard player in VdGG.

I would have voted for him he was there because of his really unique style actually.

If I could change the poll since it's still in an early stage I'd do it for you but I guess that's impossible right?

Too bad

Posted By: RoidRageOnStage
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 11:37

Epignosis wrote:

You know, on a typical day, I might go with Rick Wakeman- I believe he is one of the most technically proficient masters of the instrument.

But today, the day after I just finished writing my review of Masque :

http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=187256 - http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=187256

and watching them play "The Pinnacle" on the video here:

http://www.progarchives.com/media.asp?id=1019 - http://www.progarchives.com/media.asp?id=1019

I'm pleased to vote for Kerry Livgren- holding down the fort with not just a few keyboards, but a Les Paul too!

I'm actually about to go running and listen to the entire double CD remaster of Two for the Show. That gives me a two and a half hour workout, although I might pass out during "Closet Chronicles."

Sounds fantastic

Good choice too!

Posted By: Bern
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 11:37

RoidRageOnStage wrote:

Bern wrote:

RoidRageOnStage wrote:

Actually I meant Hammill... Banton is awesome though, Hammill is credited as playing keyboard too or am I just of the hook?

Yeah he does play keys too but Banton was the main keyboard player in VdGG.

I would have voted for him he was there because of his really unique style actually.

If I could change the poll since it's still in an early stage I'd do it for you but I guess that's impossible right?

Too bad

No you can't but don't worry about it. Plenty of awesome keyboard players in there.

A tie between Chick Corea, Keith Emerson, Kerry Minnear and Mike Ratledge for me.

Actually, no, I'll go with Corea for the shear amount of quality work.

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RIP in bossa nova heaven.

Posted By: RoidRageOnStage
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 11:44

Bern wrote:

RoidRageOnStage wrote:

Bern wrote:

RoidRageOnStage wrote:

Actually I meant Hammill... Banton is awesome though, Hammill is credited as playing keyboard too or am I just of the hook?

Yeah he does play keys too but Banton was the main keyboard player in VdGG.

I would have voted for him he was there because of his really unique style actually.

If I could change the poll since it's still in an early stage I'd do it for you but I guess that's impossible right?

Too bad

Thanks nice to hear so

Though I must say it did bring me down a little... I was going to put my vote on VDGG too, now I don't know...

WOW!

Good choice, when he's improvising he put all in here on their buttoms... a real madman there!

Posted By: Jozef
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 11:49

Tony Banks. Great solos on "In the Cage", "Robbery, Assault, and Battery", and the various segments of "Supper's Ready".

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Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 12:23

Kerry Livegren?

Please man, he only played aditional keys, his main job was in the guitar, Kansas keyboardist is Steve Walsh.

From this list I'm between Patrick Moraz and Jurgen Fritz.

I'll go for Patrick, not only for his perfect technique (Vittorio Nocenzi, his only rival is not here

) but because he was the only man able to replace Wakeman in Yes, Emerson in The Nice (Refugee) and Mike Pinder in The Moody Blues.

Iván

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Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 12:33

Ivan_Melgar_M wrote:

Kerry Livegren?

Please man, he only played aditional keys, his main job was in the guitar, Kansas keyboardist is Steve Walsh.

From this list I'm between Patrick Moraz and Jurgen Fritz.

I'll go for any of both.

Iván

For the purposes of this poll, it's irrelevant that he might play, in your words, "additional keys;" he's still an incredible player. Steve Walsh isn't even listed in this poll. And you should remember Livgren wrote many of the parts for Walsh to play.

Could you say that Livgren played additional keys on his solo work too? Don't those count when considering his worth? Ever heard One of Several Possible Musiks?

Posted By: crimhead
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 12:41

Too many on this list and some left off as well.

I went with Emerson though.

Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 12:44

Epignosis wrote:

[

For the purposes of this poll, it's irrelevant that he might play, in your words, "additional keys;" he's still an incredible player. Steve Walsh isn't even listed in this poll. And you should remember Livgren wrote many of the parts for Walsh to play.

As far as I know this means songwritter, not Keyboardist.

But, it's your poll.

Iván

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Posted By: TGM: Orb
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 12:47

My favourite ever organist is VDGG's Hugh Banton. Giving the vote to Ratledge this time... love that fuzzed up hammond.

Posted By: Padraic
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 12:51

TGM: Orb wrote:

My favourite ever organist is VDGG's Hugh Banton. Giving the vote to Ratledge this time... love that fuzzed up ~~hammond~~ Lowery.

Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 13:15

There are a lot of favourites in the list, but this time I went for Jon Lord, the king of the Hammond organ. However, since my friend Pat kept remarkably quiet, I'll ask the burning question... Why no Dave Stewart? Cry

Posted By: RoidRageOnStage
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 14:55

Raff wrote:

There are a lot of favourites in the list, but this time I went for Jon Lord, the king of the Hammond organ. However, since my friend Pat kept remarkably quiet, I'll ask the burning question... Why no Dave Stewart? Cry

I love Hatfield & The North.

I'd planned to have him in this poll too... this poll was huge (I know this is quite big now also), there was many names... as said I shortened it down to the maximum allowed 25 choices.

Since this poll isn't what everybody hoped... I did it in under an hour and I'll soon add new polls (without wrongs), shorter polls... that I'm allready working with.

Posted By: Astrodomine
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 15:07

Minnear! I love his style :)

Posted By: b_olariu
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 15:07

Wow, you have made quite a list here, very hard to choose, simply amazing all. But if I try I end up voting Kerry Minnear (Gentle Giant) - unmatch musician, simply on of the best music ever has and still have.

Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 15:09

No criticism of your poll intended, Roid... On the contrary, it is an excellent poll, and a welcome diversion from the usual "Emerson vs Wakeman" stuff. However, Dave Stewart is such a revered player that his absence was bound to be noticed. Keep up the great work, though Thumbs Up

Posted By: The Pessimist
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 15:23

Gona give another vote to Kerry Minnear. His independence is unmatched. Honourary mention to Rick Wakeman as well.

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"Market value is irrelevant to intrinsic value."

Arnold Schoenberg

Posted By: RoidRageOnStage
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 15:25

Raff wrote:

No criticism of your poll intended, Roid... On the contrary, it is an excellent poll, and a welcome diversion from the usual "Emerson vs Wakeman" stuff. However, Dave Stewart is such a revered player that his absence was bound to be noticed. Keep up the great work, though Thumbs Up

I know mate that mate

When I realized I could as a maximum made a list of 25 musicians, I knew I couldn't even made the poll I wanted to made.

Sitting there with my list done and taking musician after musician off it wasn't very fun, now when the poll is done I'm thinking: why didn't I add him or him else than him?

So for the future... prolly tomorrow

I'll come up with shorter polls yet as good.

Thanks Raff, hehehe... that's why I started my polls... not that that polls are bad though short and can sometimes be quite boring.

Believe me, Dave Stewart will soon be in a new poll near you

Thanks, I'll do my very best.

Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 15:28

Just for the record, since you're relatively new here.. I am a woman, one of the very few here LOL

! Thanks a lot anyway, and keep it up!

Posted By: AlexUC
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 15:40

Oh, great to see a poll with such a variety of great keyboardists!! Great work my friend!!

Luckily, my all time favorite is on the list: Chick Corea Thumbs Up

However, very hard to choose, having Lutz Rahn and Thijs Van Lee, two of my personal favorite too!!

It's a shame that there were no 26th place for Dave Stewart Cry

(however, having Corea in there, nothing would have changed for me LOL

) but you've made a great interesting selection!!

-------------
This is not my beautiful house...

Posted By: RoidRageOnStage
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 15:45

Raff wrote:

Just for the record, since you're relatively new here.. I am a woman, one of the very few here LOL

! Thanks a lot anyway, and keep it up!

...hope I can call you mate anyway

Every mans dream - A woamn with good music taste

You're welcome

Posted By: RoidRageOnStage
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 15:51

AlexUC wrote:

Oh, great to see a poll with such a variety of great keyboardists!! Great work my friend!!

Luckily, my all time favorite is on the list: Chick Corea Thumbs Up

However, very hard to choose, having Lutz Rahn and Thijs Van Lee, two of my personal favorite too!!

It's a shame that there were no 26th place for Dave Stewart Cry

(however, having Corea in there, nothing would have changed for me LOL

) but you've made a great interesting selection!!

Thanks... there's more polls coming up, keep an eye out

Chick Corea is superb... as I said to another user in this poll earlier today: When it comes to improvisations Chick Corea is putting all the other musicians on their bottoms, madman and genious.

There will be other polls, Dave Stewart is going to make it to the next one

Thanks for the words mate

Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 16:11

Ivan_Melgar_M wrote:

As far as I know this means songwritter, not Keyboardist.

But, it's your poll.

Iván

I should point out that the poll asked us for our pick- I already noted in my first reply to this poll that Rick Wakeman is my choice in terms of technical prowess. But the more I listen carefully to Kerry Livgren's output on keyboards (not only for Kansas, although he composed all the songs on Somewhere to Elsewhere, which has some fantastic keyboard parts- and he wrote these before Steve Walsh even heard them), the more interested I become. So for this poll (not, "who's the best," but "who's your pick"), I picked Livgren.

Besides, I don't think my one vote will do much damage.

Posted By: RoidRageOnStage
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 16:23

Epignosis wrote:

Ivan_Melgar_M wrote:

As far as I know this means songwritter, not Keyboardist.

But, it's your poll.

Iván

Someone is always up to sabotaging on this forum... I was a member here in 2003 I guess... about 5 ½ year ago (my nickname was something with Kraut in it... shall see if I can find it), I did go my way because of the forum part here was like a mad playground for deranged monkeys who was throwing feces at each other.

No it won't do damage... but in some users brains it seems it allready has done some damage (prolly not, guess it was like this before that post).

Posted By: BroSpence
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 00:31

Matt Fischer had some great keyboard work. Very moody.

Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 02:05

RoidRageOnStage wrote:

No it won't do damage... but in some users brains it seems it allready has done some damage (prolly not, guess it was like this before that post).

Giving an opinion is not sabotage, if you want to receive only praises and not people who disagree with you, then DISCUSSION forums are not our option.

Never said the poll was bad or anything similar I only had my doubts about Kerry Livegren, that's not attaking you or your poll, only giving an opinion.

BTW: 5 1/2 years ago, this site didn't existed

Iván

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Posted By: RoidRageOnStage
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 02:54

Ivan_Melgar_M wrote:

RoidRageOnStage wrote:

No it won't do damage... but in some users brains it seems it allready has done some damage (prolly not, guess it was like this before that post).

Giving an opinion is not sabotage, if you want to receive only praises and not people who disagree with you, then DISCUSSION forums are not our option.

Never said the poll was bad or anything similar I only had my doubts about Kerry Livegren, that's not attaking you or your poll, only giving an opinion.

BTW: 5 1/2 years ago, this site didn't existed

Iván

I don't care if people speak their mind... you can say anything you want to me, it's realy ok (belive me I can take it).

I don't even care if people think this poll sucks (I like it, otherwise I wouldn't have doe it), I know there are wrongs in it, I know it's missing out on a big amount of great musicians, one more thing there aren't musicians from all sub genres but then I've only picked out of genres that I know some of and love to listen to.

I jumped you because I got a bit angry since to me you did jump on another user in here and since I started the poll to me it's me that have to keep it friendly... maybe you didn't but I just want everybody to be friends in here, I'm all for opinions but it would be great if we could be more friendly in the way we say things.

Btw Kerry Livegren nearly wrote the whole Leftoverture album on his own, his a good musician aswell... you're voting for the musician in here not the band named in the brackets.

I was way wrong, it seemed like it was that long time ago... it realy did... I thought my account was deleted though it wasn't but I'm not going to use it, my old account was started May 30 in 2005.

I hope I'm going to have a better visit this time around and that I don't bore myself to death

Posted By: ghost_of_morphy
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 02:57

I just can't ever bring myself to vote against Emerson in polls like these.

Posted By: King Crimson776
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 03:05

Out of your list Keith Emerson, but Neal Morse should definitely be on here.

Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 04:02

RoidRageOnStage wrote:

I like polls also, made three lately, about Kansas, STYX and Peter Gabriel, and there I received really hard posts, but never cared.

Please, nobody is jumping at anyone, just giving an opinion.

Btw Kerry Livegren nearly wrote the whole Leftoverture album on his own, his a good musician aswell... you're voting for the musician in here not the band named in the brackets.

I believe he was a great musician and songwriter, I'm a Kansas fan (Not a Proto Kaw BTW), but I don't believe he's more than a good keyboardist

I was way wrong, it seemed like it was that long time ago... it realy did... I thought my account was deleted though it wasn't but I'm not going to use it, my old account was started May 30 in 2005.

I hope I'm going to have a better visit this time around and that I don't bore myself to death

Only get used, people will agree and disagree, there's no problem in that.

Iván

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Posted By: Petrovsk Mizinski
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 04:07

Thijs Van Leer.
He's a quirky man, I dig that.

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Posted By: RoidRageOnStage
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 04:14

HughesJB4 wrote:

Thijs Van Leer.
He's a quirky man, I dig that.

Yes he is, quite a one of a kind

Posted By: Roj
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 07:02

Wha?? No votes for Eddie Jobson?? Time to put matters right, though it will make no difference in the result.

So many great keyboardists to choose from here Roid, but I've always loved Jobson's playing, although there hasn't been much output from him for so long. So I'll get Eddie off the mark. Don't think he'll beat Rick or Emo though.

Incidentally, I always thought Livgren played the majority of the keys in Kansas and that Walsh stepped up to the plate when the band were playing live and Kerry was on guitar duty. Guess I was wrong.

Posted By: AlanD
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 08:30

I'll go for Jon Lord and his customised 'Beast' - blew me away as a teenager!

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AlanD

Posted By: jimidom
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 08:46

I gotta go with Chick Corea, but I was happy to see Mike Pinder from the Moodies on this list.

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"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." - HST

Posted By: Rocktopus
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 09:06

RoidRageOnStage wrote:

Bern wrote:

If I could change the poll since it's still in an early stage I'd do it for you but I guess that's impossible right?

Too bad

No you can't but don't worry about it. Plenty of awesome keyboard players in there.

You can actually. Press post options and choose edit post.

Would have voted for Dave Stewart if he was in the poll. He's brilliant on loads of great albums in so many great bands. Egg, Hatfield, National Health, Khan, Steve Hillage, Bruford, and Arzachel... Quite an impressive list.

But I love Mike Ratledges playing just as much, so I voted for him.

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Over land and under ashes
In the sunlight, see - it flashes
Find a fly and eat his eye
But don't believe in me
Don't believe in me
Don't believe in me

Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 09:49

Ivan and I have butted heads before, right Ivan? Wink

Never any malice intended.

I just was thinking about a keyboardist who can craft interesting keyboard parts- not just improvise or play a trillion notes a minute.

I would also dispute that Livgren was only an "additional" keyboardist. Watch the live footage. So many times, Steve leaves his place behind his organ to fully assume a front man role, leaving Kerry to man the keys.

However, Steve Walsh could do a freaking handstand on his keyboard...

Posted By: Roj
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 10:24

Epignosis wrote:

I would also dispute that Livgren was only an "additional" keyboardist. Watch the live footage. So many times, Steve leaves his place behind his organ to fully assume a front man role, leaving Kerry to man the keys.

However, Steve Walsh could do a freaking handstand on his keyboard...

I had made a similar post earlier. I was always under the impression that Livgren was the main keyboard player whilst Walsh was the frontman who stepped up to the plate on the keys when Kerry was on guitar duties. Was it not Livgren who played the majority of the keys in the studio? Surely Livgren was only the "additional" guitarist, Rich Williams being the main man on guitar? Livgren is always credited as keys AND guitar, not the other way round.

However, I am no expert on Kansas and am happy to be corrected if I am wrong.

Posted By: Mandrakeroot
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 10:39

and

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Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 15:28

Roger (I feel like I've been mentioning this album quite a bit lately), but on the second disc of the new release of Two for the Show, the parts are mixed so that Kerry Livgren's guitar and keys are one side, and Rich Williams's guitar and Steve Walsh's keys are on the other (as I understand it). And you can clearly hear these parts separated with headphones. There are phenomenal keyboard parts on both sides.

The video here from the 1980 Audio-Visions tour of "No One Together" has Kerry on keyboards only, if I'm not mistaken, and it's fantastic piano playing.

Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 15:51

Epignosis wrote:

Roger (I feel like I've been mentioning this album quite a bit lately), but on the second disc of the new release of Two for the Show, the parts are mixed so that Kerry Livgren's guitar and keys are one side, and Rich Williams's guitar and Steve Walsh's keys are on the other (as I understand it). And you can clearly hear these parts separated with headphones. There are phenomenal keyboard parts on both sides.

Interesting issue, on the early days and even worst the first time David Ragsdale was a violin player, Steve was more of a showman, so he left the keyboards on stage and went for the mike, there's one VHS where he's dressed and dancing as david Lee Roth.

Only when his voice suffered, he started to leave Robby as the frontman and he sung more behind the keys as in Device Voice Drums

But I rely more in the studio albums, since the first one Stebve is especifically credited for organ and piano, while Kerruy with the generic term keyboards.

Kansas - Kansas

- Phil Ehart / drums
- Dave Hope / bass, backing vocals
- Kerry Livgren / lead & Rhythm guitar, backing vocals, keyboards
- Robbie Steinhardt / violin, lead vocals
- Steve Walsh / lead vocals, organ, piano, congas
- Rich Williams / lead guitar

Honestly Kerry did his main work as composer, being that he played guitar, but the lead guitar was always Rich and played keys, but Steve was the lead.

The video here from the 1980 Audio-Visions tour of "No One Together" has Kerry on keyboards only, if I'm not mistaken, and it's fantastic piano playing.

Nobody says he's not good, most members of big bands are good at

their instruments, bit not outstanding necesarilly. For example Peter Gabriel does an good job playing keys on the Secret World Tour on some tracks, but he's not a virtuoso, only supporting Jean Claude Naimro.

Maybe my prejudices come because Kerry almost destroyed Kansas during his fundamentalist days and the fact that I absolutely can't stand Proto Kaw.

Iván

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Posted By: MovingPictures07
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 15:55

Kerry Livgren is heavily overlooked.

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Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 16:37

Ivan, I think you're thinking of the much-maligned Live at the Whiskey concert, which happens to be one of my favorites, because it's so heavy- even though Steve looked like a complete moron in that getup. LOL

He was high on coke, too.

Anyway, it's fine if you think of Kerry as a composer- he is, and great at it- but in order to compose something (at least back in the 70s), it was generally true that you had to be able to play it. I realize Wakeman or Emerson could play circles around Livgren, but that's not why I voted for him. I voted for him precisely because of his compositional efforts as a keyboardist- look at how many solo albums Wakeman has. And how many of them suck?

Hint: I counted FOURTY-SIX studio albums from Rick Wakeman on PA that have less than a 3.00 rating, and that's not counting those that have a 3.00 rating. Fourty-six crappy albums from a fantastic musician.

So this is point- the guy may have the chops, but if he can't make anything anyone wants to listen to, what good is it if he can play it well (unless someone else is the brains behind the operation)?

I'll also admit that Proto-Kaw is hit or miss for me (although there are more hits than misses), but Christianity is far from the issue. I believe a Christian musician should profess their faith in their music and give glory to God- that's what Christianity's about, right?

I mean, I don't understand why it's so accepted that Livgren's early works about reincarnation and Urantia are so accepted, but as soon as he writes about Christ, he "almost destroyed Kansas?" Steve Walsh had problems with Livgren's mystical songwriting even before the latter became a Chrstian. If you ask me, Steve Walshs's need to be validated as a pop-rocker almost destroyed Kansas.

Posted By: RoidRageOnStage
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 16:39

Roj M30 wrote:

Wha?? No votes for Eddie Jobson?? Time to put matters right, though it will make no difference in the result.

Jobson is cool, glad you placed the vote on him

Thanks Roj, I don't think so either... you placed a vote on him and that's great though.

Posted By: The Quiet One
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 16:41

Excellent list, though there are too many I love, and they're too diverse on style, so there is really no preference over others..

No vote, once again.

Posted By: RoidRageOnStage
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 16:42

jimidom wrote:

I gotta go with Chick Corea, but I was happy to see Mike Pinder from the Moodies on this list.

Yeah Mike Pinder is great

Posted By: tszirmay
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 19:22

Polls such as these should omit Wakeman and Emerson (they are simply a notch a part) =too much technique, style and material. (Same goes for Bruford/Peart and Squire/Pastorius)

I went with my avatar too Eddie Jobson (Curved Air, Tull, UK, Roxy and solo) is just yummy.

Minnear, Ratledge, Moraz, Fritz etc... all deserve votes , they are progmeisters all.

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I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth.

Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 20:01

Epignosis wrote:

Ivan, I think you're thinking of the much-maligned Live at the Whiskey concert, which happens to be one of my favorites, because it's so heavy- even though Steve looked like a complete moron in that getup. LOL

There we have a difference, I can separete the composer from the kwyboardist.

For example, I belive (and verified with my mother who is a graduate concertist) that Patrick Moraz and Vittoorio Nocenzzi (Banco) are miles beyond Wakeman or Emerson in technique, so I always vote for them as keyboardoists. But I don't like a single Moraz solo lbum, so if you ask for songwritter, I go with Wakeman and Emerson without any doubt.

Hint: I counted FOURTY-SIX studio albums from Rick Wakeman on PA that have less than a 3.00 rating, and that's not counting those that have a 3.00 rating. Fourty-six crappy albums from a fantastic musician.

Wakeman had a problem, his contract with A&M was terrible, he thought he had ttime to make his own albums when the contract ended, but he had two heart attacks before he was 25, that scared the hell out of him, so he started to write popular albums when he could...What was popular? New Age.

But the few great Wakeman albums are cornerstones of Prog.

So this is point- the guy may have the chops, but if he can't make anything anyone wants to listen to, what good is it if he can play it well (unless someone else is the brains behind the operation)?

But the few excellent albums (at least 10) are fantastic and mopre than most musicians do in a lifetime career.

I'll also admit that Proto-Kaw is hit or miss for me (although there are more hits than misses), but Christianity is far from the issue. I believe a Christian musician should profess their faith in their music and give glory to God- that's what Christianity's about, right?

You want me to be honest? I only like what Livegren did with Kansas, none of his solo stuff, Proto Kaw or whatever is remotely good for me.

Now, Christian Rock, we had a long debate about this, and my position is that music must keep away from Evangelism and politics.

I believe that if an artist uses his music as religious propaganda (No matter what religion, even Catholic and I'm a Catholic believer), is no different from a TV jingle.

I mean, I don't understand why it's so accepted that Livgren's early works about reincarnation and Urantia are so accepted, but as soon as he writes about Christ, he "almost destroyed Kansas?" Steve Walsh had problems with Livgren's mystical songwriting even before the latter became a Chrstian. If you ask me, Steve Walshs's need to be validated as a pop-rocker almost destroyed Kansas.

I believe you're wrong.

Kansas was an excellent band until Walsh first and Steinhard after left, in that moment they started to sound as Christian Pop with Jon Elefante. The band was terrible, sounded worst than ever, all the personality left with Walsh and Robby

On an interview in http://parablemania.ektopos.com/archives/2006/06/phil_ehart_inte.html - http://parablemania.ektopos.com/archives/2006/06/phil_ehart_inte.html Phil Ehart who is also a Christian, is clear:

He reveals that he himself is a Christian, but he didn't think it was fair to the band members who didn't share Kerry Livgren's views to turn the band into what effectively was acting as a Christian band.

http://parablemania.ektopos.com/archives/2006/06/phil_ehart_inte.html - http://parablemania.ektopos.com/archives/2006/06/phil_ehart_inte.html

By Jeremy Pierce

But that wasn't all, after their worst album (Drastic Measures) and with contracts pending, Livegren, and Hope left the band and poor Phil Ehart stayed alone with Rich Williams.

Phil became producer, called Walsh who not only came, but brought Billy Greer to cover the hole left by Dave Hope, they recruited Steve Morse and later David Ragsdale, only then the band started to sound great again.

So, if somebody almost destroyed Kansas (First turning them into a Christian Pop band and later leaving the band with all his Christian army), is Kerry Livegren.

On the other hand, Walsh came back when the band needed him more.

Iván

BTW: We are kidnapping the poll with other issues Epignosis, so if you want to follow with this, better open a new thread.

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Posted By: jammun
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 21:17

Emerson. Others more skilled as performers and writers (Corea, for one) but, and I know I am sounding like a broken record, Emerson was the first rock keyboard player to attain status originally reserved for guitarists, bassists, drummers, etc. His influence cannot be underestimated.

Posted By: convocation
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 21:23

I am reluctant to reply negatively about Genesis, at least up to "Trick of the Tail", but Banks is really an amateur compared to Emerson. Of course, i would never disagree about the self-indulgence of his symphonic adventures. Still, Emerson is technically and artistically better than Banks can hope to measure up to.
This is only a comparison of two keyboardists, not bands.

Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 21:44

convocation wrote:

I am reluctant to reply negatively about Genesis, at least up to "Trick of the Tail", but Banks is really an amateur compared to Emerson. Of course, i would never disagree about the self-indulgence of his symphonic adventures. Still, Emerson is technically and artistically better than Banks can hope to measure up to.
This is only a comparison of two keyboardists, not bands.

I honestly doubt it:

Technically: I don't know, at that level you can't say who is better, except when the difference is too obvious (As in the case of Moraz), but as far as I know Banks has a more solid classical formation than Keith, being spectacular and pompous is not being better in all cases..
Artistically: Doubt it more, any person who has writen the music of most of the golden era Genesis songs, is less artist than nobody. As a fact, I believe there's no Emerson or ELP album that compares to Foxtrot or Nursery Cryme, and that's Banks music mostly.

My 2 cents

Iván

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Posted By: jammun
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 22:22

Ivan_Melgar_M wrote:

I honestly doubt it:

Technically: I don't know, at that level you can't say who is better, except when the difference is too obvious (As in the case of Moraz), but as far as I know Banks has a more solid classical formation than Keith, being spectacular and pompous is not being better in all cases..
Artistically: Doubt it more, any person who has writen the music of most of the golden era Genesis songs, is less artist than nobody. As a fact, I believe there's no Emerson or ELP album that compares to Foxtrot or Nursery Cryme, and that's Banks music mostly.

My 2 cents

Iván

Well there may be no ELP album that compares to Genesis' Foxtrot or Nursery Crime (strictly a matter of opinion, not a matter of fact), but at their best (a matter of opinion, again) ELP just is heads above Genesis.

Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 22:29

jammun wrote:

That's exactly the point, an agressive post against a memebr of a band some of us love can cause problems, because none of us has the same taste, I could still insist in how superior is Genesis FOR ME, and probably will end in a silly fight.

So before calling a first class musician an amateur, better think in what problems this may cause.

Iván

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Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 22:30

I agree, Ivan. Let us continue elsewhere. Will you start a thread please? I am interested in discussing this.

Posted By: jammun
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 22:37

Ivan_Melgar_M wrote:

jammun wrote:

So before calling a first class musician an amateur, better think in what problems this may cause.

Iván

Iván, it was not me who made the statement about Genesis (though I might well have

). My fault for jumping into the fray. I was just replying in Emerson's favor. I'm not calling any of these musicians amateurs. I already said E does not stand up to Corea as a player or composer, and there is much to question about his musical ethics (topic for a separate post). I still say he was the premier rock keyboard player of the era (and this goes back to the Nice days).

Posted By: Petrovsk Mizinski
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 22:38

Anyway, before the flames get too rough..
This thread needs more cowbell.

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Posted By: jammun
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 22:48

HughesJB4 wrote:

Anyway, before the flames get too rough..
This thread needs more cowbell.

Dutifully noted, Mississippi Queen queued for play

Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 22:53

jammun wrote:

Iván, it was not me who made the statement about Genesis (though I might well have

No Jammun, I don't believe your post was harsh, it was your opinion and said in a very educate way.

But if I followed replying, probably somebody with less respect than you (Could be a Genesis or an ELP fanboy), could have caused problems, and all cause by a rude post that wasn't your's.

Iván

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Posted By: jammun
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 23:10

Ivan_Melgar_M wrote:

jammun wrote:

Iván, it was not me who made the statement about Genesis (though I might well have

No Jammun, I don't believe your post was harsh, it was your opinion and said in a very educate way.

But if I followed replying, probably somebody with less respect than you (Could be a Genesis or an ELP fanboy), could have caused problems, and all cause by a rude post that wasn't your's.

Iván

Thanks, Iván. I just wanted to make sure it was clear I was calling no one an amateur. I respect all of these bands and their keyboard players, whether I like them or not (well maybe Kansas would be an exception

). I happen to play keyboards myself and unless we're talking Louie Louie, I unfortunately understand the complexity of their music. Which is why I love prog.

Posted By: Zargus
Date Posted: November 01 2008 at 06:52

Mike Ratledge (Soft Machine) from this list.

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