KEITH EMERSON BAND: THREE FATES PROJECT

I am not much of a fan of most orchestral renditions of classic prog rock. Earlier albums, many with some of the original band members adding tracks, rendered classics by Yes, Genesis, Jethro Tull, to name a few, into syrupy muzak.

Well. This album is different. A number of orchestrators, including Keith Emerson himself, managed to capture the spirit of the original ELP pieces, while infusing some surprises, and even some whimsey into the scores. The power of the orchestra is supreme in this recording, and it seems Mr. Emerson approves.

The disappointment comes from Emerson himself. While he's there on most tracks, adding piano, organ and synthesizers, there is very little of the fire in his fingers that made the classic ELP so much fun. I know he still has the magic. I've seen him with his recent band, and he can still light up the keyboards (literally and figuratively).

The Endless Enigma is split into two parts. The first has the orchestra showing just how beautiful this Emerson piece is. On the second part, Emerson and Marc Bonilla join in, but the orchestra still powers the piece. Another high point is Bonilla's American Matador, where the orchestra also raises the recording above the original.

There are a few new pieces on the album. Two pieces by Bonilla show that he is no slouch in orchestral composition, while Emerson's one new track, After All Of This, is much too sedate for my tastes.

The best piece is Tarkus. The orchestration here is superb, and even Emerson gets a bit excited when playing. This track is a masterpiece.

In 2008 Keith Emerson released the first album under the name of The Keith Emerson Band (featuring Marc Bonilla), and it was a good one, easily the best album Emerson had put out (under any name) since the 1992 reunion with Lake and Palmer (resulting in Black Moon), and also one of the better albums he has put out since ELP's qualitative decline in the mid 70's. This strong, self-titled Keith Emerson Band studio album was then followed by an excellent live album (and video) in 2010 featuring a storming concert performance recorded in Moscow with songs from the new album as well as many rocking renditions of classic ELP songs. Staying true to the originals, yet at the same time going beyond them in adding an extra element in Bonilla's electric guitar playing, this was a recipe for success and Emerson had not sounded more in his element for a long, long time.

In the light of the above, this second Keith Emerson Band studio disc is a definite disappointment. Both Keith and Marc Bonilla are reduced to supporting roles here, leaving the main spotlight to the Munchner Rundfunkorchester conducted by Terje Mikkelsen. This is what I would like to call "Orchestral Rock", which is not Symphonic Progressive Rock--huge difference! Keith plays piano and some synths, Bonilla adds some electric guitar, the drums are handled by Troy Lucketta (and Toss Panos on one track), and Travis Davis plays bass.

The material consists of some orchestral re-workings of old ELP classics like Tarkus, Endless Enigma, and Abbadon's Bolero, as well as adaptations of Classical music (previously performed by ELP) like Fanfare For The Common Man. Malambo is another Classical piece that also was included on both The Keith Emerson Band studio album and the Moscow live album. Interestingly, The Three Fates are not here.

I am not fond of such orchestral Rock in general, and even though this album is actually a reasonably good example of that and a moderately pleasant listen, it is far from essential. In every case I would say that there are better versions than these orchestral re-workings. I hope The Keith Emerson Band returns with a proper new studio album featuring all new material in the style of their first. This one is for fans only.