KEITH EMERSON BAND FEATURING MARC BONILLA

OK, I didn't pick up the album "Keith Emerson Band featuring Marc Bonilla" for a long time because, well, 1) ELP's final album 'In the Hot Seat' was horrible 2) the name 'Keith Emerson Band' sounds like Carl Palmer's recent work: doing covers of ELP music 3) The album cover is less than inspiring 4) I assumed it would be honky tonk or something.

BUT WOW! 1) It's the best album with E, L or P since Brain Salad Surgery 34 years ago 2) It's super proggy - lots of shifts in tempo, mood, etc. Although the track listing counts 20 tracks, much of it is really one long epic that plays seamlessly 3) Emerson is on fire - lots of Hammond, lots of church organ, virtuoso proggy musicianship

It's been a long time since I've been excited about a new prog album. Highly, highly recommended.