best progressive keyboardists

Then you've missed my point. Which was that Keith exclusively plays on the foreground, and dares not relinquish his position where Rick does. Rick however, makes his parts even more impressive when he dóes step to the foreground!

ELP is NOT the greatest progband. They are great though.

I guess keyboard players fall into two broad categories:

Virtuoso players who perhaps crave the limelight, and who's solos are frequent and often lengthy. I'd include Wakeman, Emerson, Bodin, Vangelis, etc. in this category.

Players who create layers and atmospheres for the rest of the band to develop. I'd include Banks, Moraz, Pinder, Hensley etc. in this category.

Clearly there will be a fair bit of crossing over between the two, and players in either category may be more technically gifted than others.

My personal vote would go to Clive Nolan (Arena, Pendragon etc.), who for me manages to cover both categories better than anyone else. I'd readily acknowledge that he's probably not the "best" if it came to a "I can do something you can't do" contest, but what he does works for me.

Anyone who doesn't think Keith Emerson is a mighty talent will get a well earned clip round the ear from me!

The 'also rans':

Rick Wakeman (tried hard to be Keith Emerson but never quite made it,bless him)

Francis Monkman (great talent,unfairly overlooked)

Eddie Jobson (has done both prog and 'new age' really well)

Vangelis (another fantastic talent although his prog credentials may be a little 'fuzzy')

Tony Banks (great composer and pianist/organist but what about those synths,then Tony?)

Kerry Minnear (maybe the only serious challenger to Keith Emerson as a 'multi keyboardist')

Martin Orford (great player and composer)

Par Lindh (very original stylist.Manages not to be an 'Emerson clone' despite his obvious reverence for said musician)

Rick Wakeman (tried hard to be Keith Emerson but never quite made it,bless him)

Rick's never tried to be anybody but himself. Rick's one of the very best, and while I do prefer Keith for piano (though Rick's output is far more prolific), I prefer Rick for Minimoog/synths action. Both guys are great on clavinet, but concerning the incredible "Ice Run" from White Rock, I'd give the nod to Rick. And Rick's also got the edge when it comes to speed (though speed isn't what I really listen to keyboardists for...guys like Vitalij Kuprij make me sick...speed w/o taste). 

I felt the same way about Tony Kaye, since he was the main reason I came to love Yes in the beginning... Unlike most, my favorite song on "The Yes Album" was "A Venture"...that beginning would suck me in every time.

So it took me a while to get use to Rick Wakeman, and even longer to Patrick Moraz... but they both grew on me after awhile.