Favorite Member of Gentle Giant?

Pick one member.

So in tandem with my multi-thread Gentle Giant song poll, I decided to also do a smaller poll discussing who your favorite member is.

I like Derek Shulman because he has a cool voice and can play other instruments when a song needs another layer(him playing saxophones on In A Glass House title track and on Just the Same). However, I wonder why he does not usually play instruments, since most of the times he just sings.

I like Ray a bit, Phil did carry the winds pretty well before his departure, but the band seemed to release their classics without him(probably him being there was the reason for Octopus being the most popular album by them). Martin Smith did his job, but played quite mediocre solos(One of the best songs by them Nothing at All was a bit held back by it), and Malcolm Mortimore only played on one album. John Weathers seems to be a special drummer and also to me, he looks like a giant. I like Gary Green’s guitar playing too and really like his duets with Ray. Kerry has a warm voice and can also play keyboards great as well. He also can play the most instruments out the rest of the band.

Who is your favorite member of Gentle Giant?

Ray. Brilliant bass work.

Kerry!!

The one who plays bass. I think he's brilliant.

Oh man Phil Shulman for sure. When he left the band a good chunk of what I find so "magical" about Gentle Giant, left with him. The rich atmosphere and use of space, the warmth and lighthearted playfulness, the memorable tunes... I liked his singing voice and there's no clarinet, trumpet or mellophone to be heard after he was gone, is there? This doesn't mean I think the qualities I treasure were totally gone, but there's certainly less of it. Maybe they were changing with or without him I don't know. But post-Octopus has a colder, more sterile sound, and their compostions has less of a natural flow and feel to them - imo.

Saperlipopette! wrote: Oh man Phil Shulman for sure. When he left the band a good chunk of what I find so "magical" about Gentle Giant, left with him. The rich atmosphere and use of space, the warmth and lighthearted playfulness, the memorable tunes... I liked his singing voice and there's no clarinet, trumpet or mellophone to be heard after he was gone, is there? This doesn't mean I think the qualities I treasure were totally gone, but there's certainly less of it. Maybe they were changing with or without him I don't know. But post-Octopus has a colder, more sterile sound, and their compostions has less of a natural flow and feel to them - imo.

Gary Green

Minnear - great keyboards and interesting vocals that mix things up a little. Just huge in my book.

Kerry Minnear. I always loved his Style. He's one of my favourite keyboardists. Besides, the keyboards are my favourite musical instruments too.