Leading rock keyboard players of today

Yes there is. John Shuttleworth, a talented singer-songwriter from Sheffield, South Yorkshire.

Jilted John?

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ROTF:
Jilted John?

Yes indeed.

quote:

Originally posted by Yo-yo Master:
virtuosic rock keyboard players ... in the manner of Keith Emerson, Geoff Downes and Rick Wakeman ....

Steve

Yeah Keith, Geoff and Rick are all fine as far as it goes, but you forgot Hilda Woodward - unfortunately she is no longer with us.

Only a little off topic - but I recently bought the DVD set of House and one of the highlights was the episode at the end of which Hugh Laurie plays air keyboards to start of The Who's Baba O'Riley - a joy to watch.

regards, Tam

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ROTF:

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Of 'Mouldy Old Dough' fame?

Forget PC, there was real talent.

quote:

Originally posted by Malky:

Of 'Mouldy Old Dough' fame?

Forget PC, there was real talent.

Absolutely.



The wonderful Lieutenant Pigeon.

Not forgetting their other hit Desperate Dan

My personal favourite



Gillian from New Order.

Jono

Are you all saying there has been no standout keyboard player in rock for 30 years?

quote:

Originally posted by Yo-yo Master:
Just wondering, are there any virtuosic rock keyboard players in the current music scene, who, in the manner of Keith Emerson, Geoff Downes and Rick Wakeman, are seen as lead instrumentalists instead of accompanists?

Steve

Have you seen / heard Keith Emerson recently? Absolutely superb! The master still.

I make no judgement call by saying this, so please don't infer it, but the difficulty is not being able to compare like with like - keyboardists today are indeed accompanists, not leading instrumentalists.

The only real exception I can think of, where the keyboard playing as well as guitar playing has a really significant front role in the music, is Muse's Matt Bellamy. But this should not be surprising as Muse is the leading exponent of modern prog, where such keyboard playing has its natural home.

James

What that keyboard man supreme - Edgar Froese - still dreaming.

I will venture Jordan Rudess from Dream Theatre. He trained classically at New Yorks Juilliard School of Music.

Best I can manage.

Neil

Neil

I don't really know Dream Theatre's music. Which of their CDs would you recommend?

Steve

Hi Steve

If your taste is for mellow rock I would recommend Images and Words. If you happy with it a little heavier, go for Scenes from a Memory.
If you can picture Rush meets Yes, you are pretty close.

Neil

Chuck Leavell has many sideman credits, including the Stones and the Allman Brothers Band but he has produced two outstanding solo albums, which are more jazz than rock, but excellent.

I think that todays current (pop) music scene & bands aren't as dependant on great virtuoso playing ability as 20 yrs or so ago. The emphasis on guitar/keys/drum solo's has diminished, resulting in great individual musicians being harder to spot.
Good guitarists (in the pop genre)such as IMHO johnny marr, graham coxon, or the guy out of Radiohead seem to be anti the epic guitar solo breaks.
I like the way the somewhat quirky synth sounds work in bands like Athlete, but thats very different to the way prog rock bands of the 70/80's structured songs, & "middle 8"/solo breaks.
I guess its just the evolution of the pop band song writing,& emphasis on "the good looking boy at the front" rather than the ability to be an expert on any given instrument?
I think that this is one of the reasons I like jazz, as well as pop/rock.Whilst I love the energy & songs of rock music, I also appreciate great instrumentalists who master their chosen instrument.
matt.