best progressive keyboardists

in no particular order

rick w - yes
rick w - pink floyd
ikey owens - the mars volta
patrick moraz - yes
jordan rudess - dream theater
kevin moore - dream theater
mike oldfield

 

RICK WAKEMAN, KEITH EMERSON, KIT WATKINS (Happy the Man, post-Bardens Camel), PETER BARDENS, STEVE WALSH, JORDAN RUDESS, KEVIN MOORE, MARTIN ORFORD (IQ), both NOCENZI brothers (Banco del Mutuo Soccorso), PATRICK MORAZ, CHRISTOPHER BUZBY (Echolyn), TOMAS BODIN (The Flower Kings), HUGH BANTON (Van der Graaf Generator) 

Edited by Cesar Inca

1.- Rick Wakeman and Keith Emerson are the best, but if I was creating a band wouldn't recruit them because ofv their huge egos. Great showmen and musicians.

2.- Par Lindh: Excelent keyboardist but only to play his music.

3.- Tony Banks: That's the man for a band, he sits behind his keyboards and doesn't worry about anything. The master of the Mellotron.

Iván

 

Thats actually funny... cause I've never heard anyone say that Keith was too technical before.  He's the one with no classical training really and most classical people tend to think he's sloppy, however I tend to think thats part of his charm. He's the greatest improvisor I've ever seen... and I guess its partly because of his insecurity... but along with Carl Palmer, he's got one of the most competitive natures I've ever seen... being on stage really brings out the wolf in him...

dropForge wrote: Sorry to have to say this, but your blind loyalty does you a disservice. Maybe if you decide one day to check out the world beyond that of the UK '70s proggers... Rick Wakeman. Motoi Sakuraba. Chick Corea. Patrick Moraz. Four keyboard players, right there, that are "near" Keith...if not better. Signed, A fellow ELP lover, just one who knows better.

You have a way of assuming things you know nothing about.. I'm sure I'm very well versed on who else is out there... just haven't heard anything that would make me say they rate with Keith.. and I've seen Rick play a couple of times recently.. as well as Chick Corea.. and I've also seen Keith play... very recently (not in the 70s).. and IMHO... they ain't close.

So as a fellow ELP lover... maybe you should get out of Cal... and actually see a live show.

For my money, I would say Tony Banks for his playing on the old Genesis records.  He created a great mood and atmosphere, always tasteful, almost never showing off.

Recently I've been all a buzz about the Nocenzi brothers in Banco.  How they compliment each other is joy to behold. 

Ulf

 

 

Tony Banks is the best keyboard player in rock IMO. I once heard him say that he had a better feel for harmony than melody, but I think he has written some of the most memorable melodies in rock music, and some of the most moving prog rock songs. His playing on 'The lamb lies down on Broadway' is breathtaking and very original. I also love his work on 'Wind & Wuthering' and '..ATTWT' On the older albums, he used the mellotron to tremendous effect. The opening chords to 'Watcher of the skies' still make me tingle today. 'The Lamia' 'One for the Vine' and 'Burning rope' are three of my favourite songs of all time.

Pete Bardens and Rick Wright also

Not that keen on Rick Wakemen, great musician, but I was never really bowled over by the sounds he chose to work with. They seemed very thin and tinny a lot of the time. Played some great music, though. Cant deny that.

I used to love the sound of Mark Kellys playing in Marillion, but that was probaly because it reminded me of Tony Banks.

threefates wrote: now thats a blatant overlook... Keith Emerson there's no one else near him..

Will you ever stop for voting for ELP  almost exclusively?  

I'd say.... Keith plays very loud and obese as it were. His keyboards constantly scream out as if trying to be bigger than the group, don't like that.

Now Rick Wakeman has this quality, he can stay in the background, often unnoticed unless one wonders where the keyboards have gone and discover them, and then does these great soloes as on Close... However, I don't think Wakeman is 'the greatest' as I don't know many keyboardists, it was merely to show Keith wasn't thát great.

ivan_2068 wrote: 3.- Tony Banks: That's the man for a band, he sits behind his keyboards and doesn't worry about anything. The master of the Mellotron. Iván

I almost never disagree with Ivan, but I have to say Mike Pinder is the mellotron grandmaster- while his playing was not at the level of many others, he was able to make that mellotron do things that nobody has ever equalled.

Can't argue about Banks, Emerson and Wakeman (especially their acoustic piano work). And Richard Wright has often surprised me with his ability and sound. Oh yeah, and I always liked Steve Walsh's playing too.

'In the cage' 'Suppers Ready' 'Cinema show' 'Firth of Fifth'

Further evidence, should it be needed that Tony Banks is top of the class.

In my humble opinion..