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richardh View Drop Down
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Points: 30225 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 26 2012 at 15:18
^ Par Lindh Clap
 
Another great classically styled keyboard player is Ton Scherpenzeel (Kayak and Camel).
 
 
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Points: 19557 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 26 2012 at 10:46
BTW: One More

Par Lindh: Started playing piano at an early age but serious lessons began at the age of nine.
Organ lessons followed the year after as well as lessons in percussion. Private lessons in Sweden on piano, organ and harpsichord followed.

In the eighties Pär was a student of the harpsichord at Schola Cantorum in Paris. During his time in Paris Pär studied with  many well known harpsichordists and organists. as Marie Claire Alain, Ton Koopman, Luciano Scrizzi, among others. Sometimes only a smaller number of lessons like with Ruggiero Gerlin & Susann Landale. But with Huguette Dreyfus   Pär studied for three years and with Kenneth Gilbert for two years. .

Pär confesses he studied organ, grand piano and harpsichord with 30 different maestros.

At the age of 19 Pär Lindh became the harpsichordist of The Royal Swedish Chamber Orchestra.

I believe this more than just a "decent jobsman".

After two failed bands (Antenna Baroque and Vincebus Ereptum due to the lack of interest for Prog at the late 70's / early 80's), Par toured as Classiical Organ and Piano player during a decade with great success, at his return, he founded the Swedish Art Rock Society (Responsible of the Symphonic re-bitrth of the 90's) with Par Lindh.

He founded Pär Lindh Project, one of the two most successful bands in Sweden, recording Gothic Impressions (With almost all Anglagard, Roine Stolt, the virtuoso guitarist Bjorn Johansson and the respected Camerata Vocalist) plus several albums (being the latest released in 2011)

This guy not only had complete and vast Clasical formation but also is one of the few that really worked as Classical musician.

Still, Journey to the Centre of the Earth, Six Wifes, Myts & Legends, Criminal Record, etc by Rick, are among my favorite albums.

Iván


Edited by Ivan_Melgar_M - April 26 2012 at 10:50
            
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Points: 19557 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 26 2012 at 10:10
Originally posted by DiamondDog DiamondDog wrote:

It's of course correct to say that the others mentioned had more classical training, the fault is my limited statement. I should have clarified that I meant Rick was the most classically-trained of the finest of Rock's players - none of the ones you mention fall into that category for me as genuine rock musicians of the highest quality, decent jobsmen though they are Question. And of the highest calibre candidates I would also suggest that Rick is one of the poorest when it comes to being a genuine Rocker, certainly nowhere near Emerson or especially Ritchie in dynamics. Rick is perhaps the best of those who might be described as luxury players, decorating the existing tapestries of music rather than creating them or carrying the band as the central force. IMO, none of the 'newer' players even comes into that category. Ask Jerry Lee Lewis or Fats Domino.

Please, what are you saying?

Vittorio Nocenzzi: Keyboardist and founder  of Banco del Mutuo Soccorso (with his twin brother Gianni who also has complete Classical training), the most important Italian band, active since 1969 until today, released 18 studio albums and 8 live ones, with Darwin being probably the best Italian album ever recorded (Also important "Io Sono Nato Libero" "Banco del Mutuo Soccorso" and "Banco") He was conductor of  the Orchestra dell'Unione Musiciti di Roma

Patrick Moraz: The only keyboardist who has been able to successfully replace Rick Wakeman, Kaith Emersoin and Mike Pinder, official member of Yes, Refugee (The Nice without meson) and Moody Blues, with a successful solo career.. He composed music fora  French Symphony Orchestra, recruited by them

Jurgen Fritz: Founder and composer of Triumvirat, two of their albums (Spartacus and Illusions on a Double Dimple) are legendary an extraordinary, IMO better than any ELP album except .Trilogy.

Please, I respect Wakeman a}d LOVE his works, but tall the guys I mentioned are in the same league, any peson who knows a bit of Prog prog is familiar with their work  and respects them.

Praising a musician doesn't imply disrespecting others

Iván


Edited by Ivan_Melgar_M - April 26 2012 at 10:20
            
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Points: 320 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 26 2012 at 02:52
It's of course correct to say that the others mentioned had more classical training, the fault is my limited statement. I should have clarified that I meant Rick was the most classically-trained of the finest of Rock's players - none of the ones you mention fall into that category for me as genuine rock musicians of the highest quality, decent jobsmen though they are. And of the highest calibre candidates I would also suggest that Rick is one of the poorest when it comes to being a genuine Rocker, certainly nowhere near Emerson or especially Ritchie in dynamics. Rick is perhaps the best of those who might be described as luxury players, decorating the existing tapestries of music rather than creating them or carrying the band as the central force. IMO, none of the 'newer' players even comes into that category. Ask Jerry Lee Lewis or Fats Domino.
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Points: 19557 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 26 2012 at 01:33
Originally posted by richardh richardh wrote:

Kerry Minnear?
 

Of course, I only gave three examples, Jean Luc  Ponty was also trained in Piano since he was 5 (His fathe was director of the School of Music in Avranches and  in violin teacher , while his mother taught piano r at the same school) but had to choose the violin with which he graduated with the highest award,  the "Premiere Prix", at the age of 17 from  old Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris. He still write all his music with the keyboards and plays it on violin.

Iván 


Edited by Ivan_Melgar_M - April 26 2012 at 01:42
            
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Points: 30225 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 26 2012 at 01:24
Originally posted by Ivan_Melgar_M Ivan_Melgar_M wrote:

Originally posted by DiamondDog DiamondDog wrote:

Certainly the most classically trained of the contemporary keyboard players, with probably the best all-round facility, but does he rock?

I respectfully disagree with  both statements
  1. Patrick Moraz: At the age of three, was already studying Violin and piano, by the age of nine he was receiving classical training in six instruments, he studied in the Lausanne Conservatory and was selected by the legendary Nadia Boulanger as her student of harmony and counterpoint
  2. Vittorio Nocenzi (Banco del Mutuo Soccorso): : 
    1. Piano with the famous teacher A Monteffiori and graduated of the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome
    2. Clarinet with Maestro E Ugolino
    3. Church Organ with Maestro Lino Guillon
    4. Harmony with Maestro S. Tamburini
    5. Ethnomusicology with Professor D. Capitella
    6. Art history and Philosophy in "La Sapienza university (Rome).
  3. Jurgen Fritz (Triumvirat): Graduated at the Cologne Conservatory
Now Rick Wakeman  studied the piano, clarinet, orchestration and modern music at the Royal College of Music but only for a year, after that he left to start working as a session musician.

So no, he's not remotely the most classically trained contemporary keyboardist.

Now, you ask if he can rock...Well, listen No  Earthly Connection or  Criminal Record or even Journey to the Centre of the Earth and you'll find he really can rock.

Iván

BTW: I'm a Rick Wakeman fan and like his solo material more than the one of  any other keyboardist, but there are many with impeccable classical traing.


Kerry Minnear?
 
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Points: 7515 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 25 2012 at 23:19
∧ 

Remarkable post, Iván!
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Points: 19557 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 25 2012 at 22:26
Originally posted by DiamondDog DiamondDog wrote:

Certainly the most classically trained of the contemporary keyboard players, with probably the best all-round facility, but does he rock?

I respectfully disagree with  both statements
  1. Patrick Moraz: At the age of three, was already studying Violin and piano, by the age of nine he was receiving classical training in six instruments, he studied in the Lausanne Conservatory and was selected by the legendary Nadia Boulanger as her student of harmony and counterpoint
  2. Vittorio Nocenzi (Banco del Mutuo Soccorso): : 
    1. Piano with the famous teacher A Monteffiori and graduated of the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome
    2. Clarinet with Maestro E Ugolino
    3. Church Organ with Maestro Lino Guillon
    4. Harmony with Maestro S. Tamburini
    5. Ethnomusicology with Professor D. Capitella
    6. Art history and Philosophy in "La Sapienza university (Rome).
  3. Jurgen Fritz (Triumvirat): Graduated at the Cologne Conservatory
Now Rick Wakeman  studied the piano, clarinet, orchestration and modern music at the Royal College of Music but only for a year, after that he left to start working as a session musician.

So no, he's not remotely the most classically trained contemporary keyboardist.

Now, you ask if he can rock...Well, listen No  Earthly Connection or  Criminal Record or even Journey to the Centre of the Earth and you'll find he really can rock.

Iván

BTW: I'm a Rick Wakeman fan and like his solo material more than the one of  any other keyboardist, but there are many with impeccable classical traing.




Edited by Ivan_Melgar_M - April 25 2012 at 22:48
            
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Points: 320 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 25 2012 at 17:07
Certainly the most classically trained of the contemporary keyboard players, with probably the best all-round facility, but does he rock?
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Points: 7 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 09 2012 at 15:50
I like this guy and his music. ohh YEssss!
I'm waiting for this new collaboration with the italian singer valentina blanca, it sounds very good.
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Points: 157 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 29 2012 at 06:00
Just to prove that I can - occasionally - post stuff that isn't about Hawkwind....

The Gonzo record company's blog has had a couple of items that are Yes-related.  A newspaper interview with RW, and a video of JA talking about his time (or times, even) with Yes.
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Points: 254 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 26 2012 at 09:19
Originally posted by lazland lazland wrote:

Originally posted by Slartibartfast Slartibartfast wrote:

Originally posted by lazland lazland wrote:

Criminal Record remains to this day one of my favourite albums.

When he is good, he is excellent, although, by his own admission, some of his stuff was to pay off the bank and ex-wives and total dross.


1984? LOL

Indeed!Tongue
Criminal Record is my favourite Rick album; Im not convinced he is much of a composer, just a great musician, but I do like this album.
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Points: 12856 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 22 2012 at 18:56
Originally posted by Ivan_Melgar_M Ivan_Melgar_M wrote:




Originally posted by Dellinger Dellinger wrote:

Originally posted by Ivan_Melgar_M Ivan_Melgar_M wrote:

Wakeman is responsible for bringing me into Prog, and I like many of his albums:
  1. Myths & Legends
  2. Six Wives
  3. Journey
  4. Criminal Record
  5. Return to the Centre of the Earth
  6. No Earthly Connection
  7. Softsword
  8. 1984
  9. Stella Bianca alla Corte de Re Ferdinando
  10. Black Knights at the Court of Ferdinand IV
Iván


From this list, the one album I don't know is "Softsword"... should I get it? I think it called for my attention some time ago, but didn't go on to buy it.

A review explains better
BTW: I originally reviewed it with 3 stars (I was more close to new sounds in 2005), I modified my review and rating for 4 stars.
Quote <span style=": rgb240, 240, 240; color: rgb51, 51, 51; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal; text-align: left; ">RICK WAKEMAN was the first Prog legend who came to Perú back in September 1991 so there was easy to find information about him in the newspapers and among it I read he had released recently an album called "Softsword - King John and the Magna Charter", the name instantly brought to my memory the early stages of his career after a decade full of New Age releases, so the day I went for my concert tickets also bought the album sadly my first impression was negative.</span><p style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb51, 51, 51; line-height: normal; text-align: left; : rgb240, 240, 240; ">It's true that the album had some moments but still not in the level of Rick's first albums, but slowly the album started gaining me.

<p style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb51, 51, 51; line-height: normal; text-align: left; : rgb240, 240, 240; ">Now I believe I can judge it with a clear perspective and what I see is a musician who had lost the path of his career trying to regain the respect of his fans who had abandoned him, and honestly he did a nice job, the album is at least satisfying.

<p style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb51, 51, 51; line-height: normal; text-align: left; : rgb240, 240, 240; ">The opener "Magna Charter is a 12:16 minutes epic that clearly reminds of "Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table", the whole bombastic sound that I loved so much when learning about Prog is back, the track is very solid despite the poor vocals by Chrissie Hammond (Well, Wakeman was never accurate when choosing vocalists) and the programmed percussion, some excellent changes and a coherent atmosphere make of this song a good starting point for the album.

<p style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb51, 51, 51; line-height: normal; text-align: left; : rgb240, 240, 240; ">"After Prayers" is a weak point in the album, sounds poppy and artificial, like trying to add Symphonic arrangements to a simple and absolutely in special ballad, the first point against Rick.

<p style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb51, 51, 51; line-height: normal; text-align: left; : rgb240, 240, 240; ">"Battle Sonata" reminds me of the sound from "White Rock", still not bad but well charged of cheesy selection of keyboards, despite this fact the performance of Rick makes me forget the flaws in this song.

<p style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb51, 51, 51; line-height: normal; text-align: left; : rgb240, 240, 240; ">"The Siege" is a nice change, the distorted guitar intro by David Paton is interesting and a change in Wakeman's music, the song turns cheesy again when Rick makes a terrible selection of keyboards and starts sounding pretty poppy, but when Rick starts with his organ and the heavy riffs by Paton follow him, everything improves a lot, another good track despite the uneven moments.

<p style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb51, 51, 51; line-height: normal; text-align: left; : rgb240, 240, 240; ">"Rochester Collage" is a nice dreamy instrumental that again reminds instantly of "Myths and Legends", to be precise to the song "Arthur", this time Wakeman's choice of keys is simply perfect, another very nice track, things are getting better.

<p style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb51, 51, 51; line-height: normal; text-align: left; : rgb240, 240, 240; ">"The Story of John (Love)" is terrible, repetitive and absolutely lack of interest, two words come to my mind when listening his track, uninspired and filler, not even the nice guitar by Paton saves the song, I always avoid it.

<p style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb51, 51, 51; line-height: normal; text-align: left; : rgb240, 240, 240; ">But again Mr. Wakeman retakes control of the album with another pompous and solid track "March of Time", somebody should have told him that he is good with the overblown music so he had avoided some boring ballads being that only progheads buy his albums and that's not what we normally expect from him. If you have a skip button in your CD player, better press it when "Don't Fly Away" is being played, completely forgettable example of the boring and cheesy ballads the Cape Crusader must avoid at any cost.

<p style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb51, 51, 51; line-height: normal; text-align: left; : rgb240, 240, 240; ">"Issabella" is a very nice instrumental, soft and slow but absolutely interesting maybe if hw had reduced it in one minute the result would had been even better, because the next instrumental "Softsword" with it's short 1:45 minutes is perfect as a reliever.

<p style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb51, 51, 51; line-height: normal; text-align: left; : rgb240, 240, 240; ">The album ends with "Hymn of Hope" which is simply excellent, Wakeman proves how versatile he is with his synth and organ while again Paton and Sawney make a good job with the guitar and percussion, a great and dramatic closer for an uneven album.

<p style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb51, 51, 51; line-height: normal; text-align: left; : rgb240, 240, 240; ">If you are expecting a masterpiece like "Six Wives of Henry the VII" don't buy it, because this is a transitional album after the weakest decade in the life of RICK WAKEMAN; but if you like his music get it because it's a breeze of fresh air after the crimes against music he committed in the 80's and gives hope to the bored fan who expected a resurrection of his idol.

<div style="text-align: left;"><span style=": rgb240, 240, 240; color: rgb51, 51, 51; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal; ">Never the guidelines were so clear as in this case, "Softsword" is by in no way essential album (leave that honor to Journey, Six Wives, Myths & Legends and Criminal Record) but surely a great addition to any Prog collection, so four stars from me.</span><span style="line-height: normal;">.</span>
<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">I believe you should try it.<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">Iván



I guess I'll have to add that album to my to-get list. I think the last song you mention, "Hymn of Hope" (but as the first song) also appears on another album I have "Can you hear me?"... as a matter of fact I found that album rather nice, and that song is really great. There are a few other songs I really like a lot on that album too, and if I remember well, Chrissie Hammond also sings on it, and I actually found her singing very enjoyable.
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Points: 29630 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 22 2012 at 17:05
The one religious album of Rick's I have is In The Beginning.  Got to give him a Thumbs Up for donating the royalties to a charity called ASSIST.
Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Points: 19557 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 22 2012 at 15:31
Originally posted by brainstormer brainstormer wrote:

This has to be seen to be believed  =)
There is a lot of acting, props, set changes, later on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWiWg5hfhO4



Impressive: That's what I talked about religious music, Rick knows the difference between praising and using his music to praise the Lord without messing with anybody.

Amazing guy.

Iván
            
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Rick is definitely my favorite keyboardist, although I'm sure he's plenty of people's on here. The organ part during the second part of the "I Get Up, I Get Down" section of CTTE is probably my favorite moment with organ EVER. Period. EVER. Not the most technical work of his, but absolutely beautiful. Uplifting, really.
"I'd say that what we hear is the quality of our listening." -Robert Fripp
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Points: 887 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 22 2012 at 14:18
This has to be seen to be believed  =)
There is a lot of acting, props, set changes, later on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWiWg5hfhO4
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Points: 887 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 22 2012 at 13:00
Interesting to compare the Wakeman output to someone like Michael Nyman, who is more
accepted in classical circles:

http://www.amazon.com/s/qid=1332439086/ref=sr_shvl_1-all?ie=UTF8&keywords=michael%20nyman&rh=n%3A163856011%2Ck%3Amichael%20nyman%2Cp_n_feature_browse-bin%3A625150011
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Points: 887 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 22 2012 at 12:43
http://www.amazon.com/Rick-Wakeman/e/B000APWFVW/digital/ref=ntt_mp3_rdr?_encoding=UTF8&sn=d

lists 53 Wakeman mp3 albums you can sample.
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Points: 7515 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 22 2012 at 11:09
Originally posted by dennismoore dennismoore wrote:

Originally posted by cstack3 cstack3 wrote:

Originally posted by richardh richardh wrote:

Played King Arthur yesterday. Great synth solos and lots of goosebump moments.Not sure about some of the drumming though.Wink
Journey is one that never could warm to for some reason but I havn't heard it for a long time.

Gary Pickford-Hopkins from the band Wild Turkey was a rather odd choice for vocalist!  He was fantastic in WT, but I thought he weakened Journey.  
 
 
WTF Chuck???
 
First, nice chatting with you again.Big smile
 
Second:  The drums on King Arthur are one of that record's strongest assets.  Tongue (IMHO)
 
Thrid: "Journey" is a true masterpiece!  What is it?  Does the female chorale put you off?
 
Fourth: Gary Pickford-Hopkins delicate voice was a perfect compliment to Ashley Holt's strong & gruffy voice.
I always thought that pair were perfect.  I thought No Earthly Connection missed that balance.
 
Boy do you and me have issues to settle!Wink

Apparently!!  

I enjoyed GPHopkins with Wild Turkey (saw them warm up the Chicago crowd for Tull's amazing TAAB show), he has a nicely-shredded rock vocal style, but his style is not one that I would associate with a grand opus of symphonic prog-rock!   A female alto might have worked better in my mind.  However, it's been many years since I've heard it.

Here, a bit of WT for your pleasure....amazing band!  
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