Rick Wakeman or Keith Emerson

At this point, I would say that KE is probably the more important of the two ... RW was in YES, and even he admits that too much of the music was filler and not that big a deal and that even things like TFTO were boring and whatever ... well, you and I know that TARKUS on the hands of Rachel Flowers, and several other pieces on her piano, are without a doubt some of the finest piano/organ concerts done in all of the 20th century, and since RW is not a great musician to see what has been done with KE's material, and show us that his compositional skills are more important than the 68 instruments he uses for one riff each!

As much as I like RW, and his playing is excellent, and probably more on par with classical musicians, in the end, his lack of respect, even in humor, for a lot of his work in that band, simply makes me think that he was there more for the "filler" than he was for the music, and of course,  he left and did not help establish even further and better that group's tradition. KE, at the very least, continued creating new material, and did not waver in his compositional skills ... the main difference being that one was being a serious musician and the other was just being a dressed up clown in the middle of so many keyboards, that made things look impressive ... today what he did can be done with 2 keyboards, probably one! With Keith's material in Rachel's hands, I see a lot more than just some small bit and piece supposedly about something or other ... listen to that piano, and you can't help think ... that is a massive piece of music! 

While I like RW's work in YES, I really can not say the same thing about him!

 

 

 

 

I voted Emerson, based on his work with ELP. 

But when I think about solo work, I prefer Wakeman.

So when I consider both careers in total, it's pretty much a toss up.  

BaldJean wrote: I'll give my usual answer: Barbara Dennerlein. Keith Emerson was a big fan of her, by the way

 

I love Barbara.

I wish Keith was still around.