WELCOME BACK MY FRIENDS TO THE SHOW THAT NEVER ENDS

I am quite undecided about this album and its rating. It is the only live recording by ELP that I own but I heard a couple of them. This is by far the best one, technically and sonically, that ELP offered, at peak of their powers. Emerson proves to be the most proficient keyboard player in the progressive rock with no playing flaws, equally strong on piano, synths, Hammond and moog. Incredible soloing, fast technique (jazz purists would argue about the feeling) and mastering of simultaneous playing on multiple instruments. When you listen to "Piano improvisations", you must acknowledge the equlibristic left hand leaving most listeners speechless. Emerson is able to deliver energy, subtlety and class to his playing that is unmatched. The playing is a who-how reference album to prog keyboard playing. Drumming is another delicacy here, creative and dynamic that absolutely matches Emerson playing.

So why do I not give full 5 stars to this instrumental masterpiece? What disturbs me firstly, are the musical kind of moments in the overly long "Karn Evil 9" that makes listening incohesive. The band has ignored the first and the third album a bit too much and relied too much on "Brain Salad Surgery". Having "Trilogy" or "Abaddon's bolero" would add another dimension to the album. I never was in Lake's penned ELP material but here it balanced the decorating and full-blown Emerson stuff. My highlights are "Tarkus", "Piano improvisations" amd "Jeremy Bender" Highly recommended to all fans of keyboards in rock.