Prog with acoustic piano
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Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Music Lounge
Forum Description: General progressive music discussions
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1851
Printed Date: August 18 2025 at 10:21
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Topic: Prog with acoustic piano
Posted By: Garofano
Subject: Prog with acoustic piano
Date Posted: October 14 2004 at 14:24
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Hi folks,
could someone recommend me some good prog band/CD width an essential acoustic piano passages? Thanks a lot |
Replies:
Posted By: benny bouncer
Date Posted: October 14 2004 at 14:27
| try Yes Acoustic....new DVD from Yes and its all acoustic, with some great acoustic piano playing from Rick Wakeman |
Posted By: Garofano
Date Posted: October 14 2004 at 14:33
| I was on concert in Prague and I really enjoy acoustic set, but Im looking for something new for me. Try something else. |
Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: October 14 2004 at 16:14
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I think Tony Banks played some great piano with Genesis. Notably the intro to 'Firth of fifth' on 'Selling england by the pound' as well as 'Anyway' and 'The Lamia' from 'The lamb..' ------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: October 14 2004 at 16:46
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Check out Ed Macan's band Hermetic Science's second album for the whole of Tarkus transcribed for grande piano. BTW Macan wrote the book Rocking The Classics - which had some interesting ideas about prog. |
Garofano wrote:Posted By: Carlos
Date Posted: October 14 2004 at 16:47
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TOTALLY AGREE WITH BLACKSWORD TONY BANKS' WORK WITH GENESIS IS SIMPLY SUPERB AND I WOULD INCLUDE A TRICK OF THE TAIL ALBUM TOO ------------- Democracy=A form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people... 
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Posted By: threefates
Date Posted: October 14 2004 at 17:12
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I think the first album by ELP.... it has the most beautiful acoustic piano passages ever... which I named myself after... The Three Fates...(parts 2 & 3) Also the piano solo on Take A Pebble... Then there's ELP's Trilogy.... The Endless Enigma.... ------------- THIS IS ELP 
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Posted By: maani
Date Posted: October 14 2004 at 22:58
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threefates: I'm shocked - shocked! - that you forgot the best of all: Piano Improvisations from Welcome Back My Friends... One of the greatest acoustic piano solos ever put on record. Also, for those who consider Supertramp "prog" (they are on the site, after all), they have some really great acoustic piano parts, including the eerie echo piano on Crime of the Century. Peace. |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: October 15 2004 at 03:32
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A few suggestions of mine: Tangerine Dream's 'Underwater Sunlight' has some lovely piano at the beginning of 'Song Of The Whale Pt2'. The Dutch prog band Kayak used piano really well - 'Royal Bed Bouncer' is the one to get. Par Lindh Project's 'Veni Vidi Vici' has some excellent use of piano as well.
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Posted By: Garofano
Date Posted: October 15 2004 at 05:06
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Of course i know beautiful music of ELP and Genesis, but this:
sounds really interesting. |
Posted By: Garofano
Date Posted: October 15 2004 at 05:07
Also i will try to listen to something from that. |
Posted By: Garofano
Date Posted: October 15 2004 at 05:08
Take a Pebble, I love that ! |
Posted By: Paco Fox
Date Posted: October 15 2004 at 07:56
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Hi: I suggest you check the first Renaissance albums and the two Illusion LPs. John Hawken is particulary good in the use of piano as the main instrument of a prog song. Also, 'Antiques and Curios' of Strawbs have some pretty good piano parts by Rick Wakeman. Not to mention pure piano albums by Wakeman and Anthony Phillips. |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: October 15 2004 at 08:19
I endorse this recommendation wholeheartedly. Hawken, sometime Beethovian piano concerto style - which lends itself to heavier rock, made the straights of the arts fraternity in the UK sit up and take notice prog rock for the first time. The first generation Renaissance were the darlings of both the overground and underground at the end of the 60's. |
Posted By: threefates
Date Posted: October 15 2004 at 11:35
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Actually I always preferred John Tout's playing in Renaissance to John Hawken. He was less harsh, I guess you could say, more romantic... For Renaissance... Ashes are Burning or Can You Understand.. Thanks to Maani for reminding me I left out some great Emerson pieces... besides the Piano Improvs... "An Officer & a Gentleman" on Love Beach has one of the most beautiful piano solos ever... it also includes a great acoustic guitar solo from Greg... ------------- THIS IS ELP
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Posted By: oliverstoned
Date Posted: October 15 2004 at 13:14
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-Renaissance -Popol vuh and others as soon as i remember  |
Posted By: Certif1ed
Date Posted: October 15 2004 at 14:47
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If all you care about is a beautiful sound rather than technical brilliance, I would recommend the French Composer/pianist Didier Squiban - if you can track his material down! I'm particularly keen on his album "Molene", and would recommend it as a starting point - but I also like "Ballades" and "Rozbras", although these are more textural. As an idea, think simplified Debussy, Poulenc, lounge-bar jazz with a Celtic seasoning - and the occasional nod towards Tony Banks. :Music to float downstream to, rather than music to blow you away |
Posted By: Easy Livin
Date Posted: October 15 2004 at 15:12
Excellent suggestions PF, the early Renaissance albums did indeed have great piano. The latter part of "Island" from their first album is superb, and the "Prologue" album is one of my favourites. Wakeman's solo track "temperament of mind" on the Strawbs A&C was the first real indication most of us had of the extent of his talent. |
Posted By: Cesar Inca
Date Posted: October 15 2004 at 15:42
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LOCANDA DELLE FATE's Forse le Lucciole non si Amano Piú has lots of piano passages. Somewhere in the frontier between pomp symphonic prog and prg metal, SHADOW GALLERY's Carved in Stone and Tyranny contain lost of piano passages, too, all of them played with greatness and passion. |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: October 15 2004 at 16:15
Sorry TF that's my preferrence and perhaps explains why I never followed edition 2 to any extent, and I still have a preference for the heavier end of progression music and rock. I was there when the original Renaissance appeared on the scene and bought that album within a few days of its original release by Island Records (and the 12" gate fold sleeve does justice to the painting on the front). Hawken's piano has always been the sound of Renaissance for me. The second edition of Renaissance was/is a far more vocalist-lead band, with a softener/romantic sound probably because it is Mrs Roy Wood's (nae Haslam) voice. |
Posted By: benny bouncer
Date Posted: October 15 2004 at 17:05
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Every time i listen to this improvisation i know i am not going to hear anyone as skilled as that sit down at a piano and play their hearts out like that again!!! It is a masterpiece and when all three play near the end......IT IS JUST FANTASTICPosted By: threefates
Date Posted: October 15 2004 at 18:08
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Its very good to see you here, Steven... and I agree with you very much!!! Luv, Linda ------------- THIS IS ELP
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Posted By: Easy Livin
Date Posted: October 16 2004 at 12:29
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.... probably because it is Mrs Roy Wood's (nae Haslam) voice. [/QUOTE] Well I never knew that! I can't recall them ever having worked together, does anyone know if they have? |
Posted By: benny bouncer
Date Posted: October 17 2004 at 07:11
Its true though, can anyone imagine seeing someone from a recently formed group sitting down at a grand piano and burning the keys like that? It was an absolutly fantastic piece of piano playing from the best Pianist in the world IMO.....EMERSON ROCKS!! and when is the next time that we will see a rock artist produce a full concerto....well done guys (Palmer & Emerson) |
Posted By: Velvetclown
Date Posted: October 17 2004 at 11:31
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Emerson Rules !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
------------- Billy Connolly Dream Theater Terry Gilliam Hagen Quartet Jethro Tull Mike Keneally |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: October 17 2004 at 14:31
| Martin Orfords 'Classical Music and Popular Songs' is also worth a mention.Despite the dodgy title it does contain some very nice piano work including the brilliant 'Tatras' |
Posted By: threefates
Date Posted: October 17 2004 at 20:13
I'm with Steven.... Emerson Rocks !!!!  I'm listening to EPE right now... that Close to Home... is just beautiful... ------------- THIS IS ELP
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Posted By: Easy Livin
Date Posted: October 21 2004 at 16:34
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I could be setting myself up here |
, as I know nothing about him, but I have an album by Andre Gagnon called "Imagination", which has some really good piano. It's not prog as such, but it is slightly symphonic. It's also very well played. The track "flashback" is excellent.
Posted By: jiggajake
Date Posted: October 21 2004 at 18:19
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fairly certain that the piano at the end of "Wots..uh the deal" by pink floyd on the CD "Obscured by the Clouds" is really good |
Posted By: Man Erg
Date Posted: October 22 2004 at 08:05
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Yes - Fragile
Especially the middle section of South Side of the Sky before they turn into Crosby, Stills & Nash. GORGEOUS! 
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Posted By: oliverstoned
Date Posted: October 22 2004 at 08:08
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YES, a sublime passage |
Posted By: Abilene
Date Posted: January 16 2005 at 19:52
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Hi there! I'm looking for piano dominated prog-rock, so I'm glad I found here some tips |
I recommend these bands.Posted By: tuxon
Date Posted: January 16 2005 at 21:37
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Best piano based popsong (mind you pop not prog) Song For Guy - Elton John absolutely amazing, great flow. ------------- I'm always almost unlucky _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Id5ZcnjXSZaSMFMC Id5LM2q2jfqz3YxT |
Posted By: Fitzcarraldo
Date Posted: January 16 2005 at 22:12
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PATRICK MORAZ' solo album "The Story Of i" has some excellent piano. The track 'Intermezzo', with two female singers singing in French and English simultaneously over piano, gives me the shivers. http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_CD.asp?cd_id=6828 - http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_CD. asp?cd_id=6828
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Posted By: Garion81
Date Posted: January 16 2005 at 22:22
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I received that CD as a christmas present. ------------- 
"What are you going to do when that damn thing rusts?" |
Posted By: dropForge
Date Posted: January 16 2005 at 23:28
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Then there are the two Moraz+Bruford albums, Music For Piano And Drums and Flags (where Patrick adds some synth flavorings). Needless to say, tons of acoustic piano on those! |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: January 17 2005 at 05:01
Check Sid Smith's Krimson Diary - last Tuesday's entry reviews these reissued albums (in autumn by Voiceprint Records in the UK) |
Posted By: philippe
Date Posted: January 17 2005 at 08:06
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PETER HAMMILL has played somptuous ballads accompagned by a "grand" piano! ------------- 
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Posted By: Emperor
Date Posted: January 17 2005 at 09:34
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Not only Prog ones... Queen - the first 5 albums (1973-1976) Elton John - Empty Sky (1969), Elton John (1970), Tumbleweed Connection (1970), Madman Across The Water (1971), Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road (1973), Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975), A Single Man (1978) Dire Straits - Love Over Gold (1982) Genesis - The Lamb Lise Down On Broadway (1974) and A Trick Of The Tail (1975) Supertramp - all the 5 1974-1980 albums
------------- I Prophesy Disaster... |
Posted By: oliverstoned
Date Posted: January 17 2005 at 09:37
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Maybe some of you will not consider it as prog, but
Jean luc Ponty/Aurora(1976) features some beautiful piano moments... |
Posted By: oliverstoned
Date Posted: January 17 2005 at 09:38
| ...and is a pure wonder BTW |
Posted By: Beau Heem
Date Posted: January 17 2005 at 09:51
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For friends of the grand piano, I would suggest listening to Chick Corea's Delphi Improvisations I - III Even though someone (me included) might disagree with the original sleevenotes (praise for Ron L. Hubbard), the music is rather special... I only have the first of the series, and I'm not sure whether they're available on cd, but... Corea has also made many great solo recordings that aren't improvised. I have trouble remembering which ones are played with a grand piano, and which ones are performed with electonic instruments. Correct me if I'm wrong but "Leprechaun" and "The Mad Hatter" are acoustic ones. What I remember is that they are both very, very good, indeed. Not prog, but prog -ish jazz. Cheers. -Beau ------------- --No enemy but time-- |
Posted By: Emperor
Date Posted: January 17 2005 at 10:07
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Oh, Yes! Corea's THE MAD HATTER (1978) is the great album! Maybe the Proggest one by Chick Corea... ------------- I Prophesy Disaster... |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: January 17 2005 at 12:26
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James Newton Howard's LP for Kama Sutra Records called simply James Newton Howard released in 1974 - quite an good LP with pianos to the fore. i only have this LP but does anyone know anything more bout' this guy - was he in bands - what else has he done? Last I heard he was working, prolifically some say, in film soundtracks. |
Posted By: dropForge
Date Posted: January 17 2005 at 21:55
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I believe those have synths. The Leprechaun is rather cheesy, in light of the other stuff Corea has done throughout his career. The cover's a hoot, too. |
Posted By: Syzygy
Date Posted: January 18 2005 at 06:43
Well I never knew that! I can't recall them ever having worked together, does anyone know if they have? [/QUOTE] There was an album called Annie in Wonderland back in the late 70s. Roy Wood played all the instruments and (I think) wrote all the songs, which were sung by Annie Haslam. I've never heard it so I can't comment on the quality, but it always seemed like an unlikely partnership both musically and...well...you know what I mean...Roy Wood and Annie Haslam...doing it... ------------- 'Like so many of you I've got my doubts about how much to contribute to the already rich among us...' Robert Wyatt, Gloria Gloom |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: January 18 2005 at 07:24
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No doubt she thought him wizzard.......................... |