Keith Emerson

[7/4]

His web site

One of the venues is real cose to me. Can't miss it. B)

[chris olivarez]

Let us know how it turned out.

[BFrank]

What does he sound like these days?

[Michael Fitzgerald]

I just picked up the latest recording - a 3-CD set titled Vivacitas, ostensibly by The Nice, but actually only partly by them. One CD is a interview of The Nice by Chris Welch (too short). Another CD is Emerson's new quartet - I assume the one he is playing with on this tour? - and a couple of OK solo piano tracks.

The most impressive thing is that despite years of going down the tubes, after 32 years out of them, he quite remarkably steps right back into his old shoes with The Nice. The subtle Hammond registrations that were NEVER used since are absolutely perfect and the style and rhythm, the loose improvisatory style, the interaction, they're all there. Sadly, Lee Jackson's voice is shot (he sings "Hang On To A Dream" down an octave - and it wasn't that demanding to begin with), but his bass playing is fine and Brian Davison is wonderful. The two groups share the guitarist Dave Kilminster - mostly he's a bit of a wanker, more blatantly on the ELP stuff.

The new quartet does Tarkus and Hoedown and are joined by Jackson and Davison on Fanfare For The Common Man and Honky Tonk Train Blues.

I'm not thrilled. The new band is exactly where I would have expected Emerson to be at this point after decades as a rock star (I just finished his tell-all autobiography too). But, damn, if he would get serious with The Nice, there could be some amazing things. Musically, it's no old-timers show. Just instrumentals would be fine with me - now how about a US tour, lads?

Mike

[7/4]

I picked up Best of Now Tour 97-98 this morning (ELP). These are re-arangements! I'll pick up my ticket Sun. afternoon. Right now I'm pretty excited.

I heard them about 10 years ago at the PNC Arts Center (of what ever it's called), and was kinda dissapointed, Carl Palmer rushing tunes. I think it was Tank. Of course this gig is not ELP, but a new band for Emerson.

WTF, the venue is so close to me!