OFF THE SHELF

This is about as eclectic a collection that you could find. It has classical, Abbadon's Bolero, Pictures At An Exhibit, jazz, Au Privave, Rhythm-A-Ning, blues Walter L, southern honky tonk rock Straight Between The Eyes, Kenny G style fusion Asian Pear, romantic piano solo And Then January, Broadway America, and some unexpected cover songs.

In all of this, Emerson shows his versatility, excelling at any of the styles he undertakes.

The only really low point is his 1980's recording of excerpts from Pictures.... Like watching Ian Anderson in recent concerts struggling to hit notes that used to come easily to him, in this recording, you can hear Emerson simplifying many of the passages, to accomodate his wrist problems.

It's fun to hear an old recording of The Nice, playing an excerpt of Zappa's Lumpy Gravy. And the inclusion of Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll is so odd, it's funny.