ROBERT BERRY'S 3.2 - ALIVE AT PROGSTOCK

There is no doubt that one of the most interesting "new" artists to come out in the progressive scene in the last few years has been 3, who in 1988 released an incredible debut album. At the time it was Keith Emerson, Carl Palmer and Robert Berry, and as well as releasing the album they toured, with Paul Keller providing guitar at the live shows. It was many years later that Keith and Robert talked about producing a new 3 album and started writing together before Keith's untimely death. However, multi-instrumentalist Berry completed the album and 'The Rules Have Changed' was released as being by 3.2 in 2018, just 30 years after the debut, and was a resounding success. There was still one song left from the sessions, so Berry then set to and recorded 'Third Impression', creating a complete album in the way he thought Emerson would approve of.

Having undertaken all this work, the question started being made about whether it was also time to create a band to go out on the road and play progressive music from throughout Robert's career. On this album, as well as Robert (bass, acoustic guitar. lead vocals) there is Paul Keller from 3 on lead guitar and vocals, Andrew Colyer (Circuline) on keyboards and vocals with Jimmy Keegan (Spock's Beard), drums, vocals. Instead of playing music just from the 3/3.2 releases, we get "No One Else To Blame" which was written for GTR, and then appeared on Robert's excellent 1993 release 'Pilgrimage To A Point', as well as some of the heavily rearranged covers which Robert was involved with in the 90's tribute albums which were very popular at the time. There is also some ELP material, which Robert and Paul originally played live in 3 back in the day alongside Emerson and Palmer.

What makes this such a fascinating album is that while the music and musicianship is exemplary, as would be expected from all those involved, is that Robert often provides context before each song so that those in the audience unaware of the history is able to understand and become involved. I have followed Robert's career since the debut 3 album all those years ago, and I was learning new things as well. As for those involved in this project, everyone on that stage is an absolute master, which means they can not only cope with the extremely complex and complicated scores but take them to new levels. With both Emerson and Lake no longer with us, this is the closest anyone can get to the original band, and we should all have sympathy with Colyer for having to take on the role of one of the most influential keyboard players of all time.

They have also taken the music and had fun with it, with some of the arrangements being close to the originals and others taken in totally different directions, which certainly makes it interesting to listen to. A great example of this is their version of "Deck The Halls", played in the manner of Rush, with Keegan on lead vocals. Undoubtedly this is now my new favourite Christmas song, as it is totally irreverent, tongue in cheek, and a load of fun. Of course, they then follow it up with "Watcher of the Skies", which takes us on a whole new tangent. The night of 15 wonderful songs ends with "Karn Evil 9 (1st Impression, Part 1)", who could wish for more?

For those who feel the two compact discs containing the concert are not enough will be pleased to know that it is also available with a DVD, so one can watch this incredible band blast through some absolute classics. Now I wonder when the next studio album is coming out?

Talkin' Bout

As a major fan of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, I have long been familiar with 3 which was an offshoot of that great band featuring Robert Berry instead of Greg Lake. Only one studio album was released under the 3 moniker, To the Power of Three, which came out in 1988. Many years later Keith Emerson and Robert Berry started work on a follow-up under the name of 3.2. Sadly Keith passed away before the album was finished leaving Berry to complete all the music by himself. The result was the excellent The Rules Have Changed which was released in 2018. On that studio record, Berry impressively plays all the instruments himself. But when the time came to take the music on the road, not even a multi-talented guy like Berry could do without a band. So he recruited Paul Keller (who originally toured with 3 back in the 80's) on lead guitar, Andrew Colyer on keyboards, and Jimmy Keegan (from Spock's Beard) on drums. The present 2CD+DVD set, that was very kindly gifted to me by the band themselves, features a full live show by this powerful line-up recorded in 2019.

While the band is super tight and the performance is top notch, the set list can be described as mixed. As expected, the set contains songs from the original 3 album, which is well represented by the epic Desde La Vida, the hit Talkin' Bout, an acoustic rendition of You Do or You Don't, as well as the Byrds cover Eight Miles High. It is nice to hear these songs live, and they surely do them justice. Another very welcome and highly relevant inclusion in the context of 3 is the excellent Last Ride Into the Sun. This terrific song is the absolute highlight of the show for me. Written in the late 80's by Emerson, Berry, and Palmer, it was originally intended for a second 3 album that never came to be. The song eventually ended up on Berry's solo album Pilgrimage to a Point, but it clearly deserves to be more widely heard.

It is surprising to me that The Rules Have Changed is the source of only two songs here: Powerful Man and Somebody's Watching. After all, The Rules Have Changed was the most recent, and at the time one and only, 3.2 album in existence, and I assumed the very reason for which this band was put together. At least I would have wanted to hear more songs from this strong album.

The rest of the set is occupied by songs, mostly covers, that Berry have recorded throughout his career. Berry was the architect of the Magna Carta tribute album series, and they perform songs that appeared on those albums, and in those arrangements. While covering ELP makes a lot of sense within the context of 3.2, covering Yes, Genesis, and Jethro Tull feels out of place. The same must be said about the Christmas tune in the style of Rush! These are essentially fillers.

Such heavy reliance on covers is my main complaint of this live record, especially as they could easily have included more songs from The Rules Have Changed instead. I do hope that this excellent band gets to tour again, especially as they now also have another excellent 3.2 album to draw on. Personally, I would love to see them do a set dominated by songs from To the Power of Three, The Rules Have Changed, and The Third Impression.

A minor complaint concerns the spoken introductions that Berry gives before almost every song. While the stories are indeed interesting and well worth hearing once, it becomes distracting on further listens.

Overall, an enjoyable live record