Best Keyboard player ever ?

Norman Potting · Jul 23, 2017

Binney on acid said:
John Tout was excellent. He was on 'Imagine', but was in error credited with acoustic guitar! Not bad to have on your CV.......................

Never knew that, big fan of Renaissance and saw them at Eastbourne Congress Theatre many moons ago. According to t'internet he attended the sessions for the "Imagine" album but not clear if any of his stuff made it to the final cut.

(Removes prog rock anorak) In answer to the thread Rick Wakeman, listen to his solo piano version "Life on Mars" - he played on the original as well.

METALMICKY · Jul 23, 2017

Much more of a guitar fan but if I had to choose a couple it would be Dave Greenfield of The Stranglers and Mike Lindup of Level 42. For Lindup forget the later pop albums but check out their early heavily instrumental jazz funk stuff.

darkwolf666 · Jul 23, 2017

whitelion said:
Geoff Downes of Yes and Asia.

You seem to have conveniently forgotten and BUGGLES - remember seeing Yes at the Brighton Centre and after a keyboard solo by Downes someone in front of me stood up and angrily shouted bring back Wakeman and walked out!

Rick Wakeman for me too...

whitelion · Jul 23, 2017

darkwolf666 said:
You seem to have conveniently forgotten and BUGGLES - remember seeing Yes at the Brighton Centre and after a keyboard solo by Downes someone in front of me stood up and angrily shouted bring back Wakeman and walked out!

Rick Wakeman for me too...

Of course Buggles - amazing how they went on to produce the music of Asia one of my favourite bands.

darkwolf666 · Jul 23, 2017

whitelion said:
Of course Buggles - amazing how they went on to produce the music of Asia one of my favourite bands.

Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes are very good at what they do, Horn in particular, it just didn't work out with Yes, but did allow them to go on to better things in the long term.

And yep, still Rick Wakeman

Weststander · Jul 23, 2017

My choices, influenced unashamably by the music I love. Not bothered by snobbery as to the technically best.

Brian Eno -whilst in Roxy Music
Dave Greenfield - The Stanglers
Vangelis
Ray Manzarek - The Doors
Georgia Moroder
Paul Humphreys - OMD
Ralf & Florian - Kraftwerk

Binney on acid · Jul 23, 2017

Norman Potting said:
Never knew that, big fan of Renaissance and saw them at Eastbourne Congress Theatre many moons ago. According to t'internet he attended the sessions for the "Imagine" album but not clear if any of his stuff made it to the final cut.

(Removes prog rock anorak) In answer to the thread Rick Wakeman, listen to his solo piano version "Life on Mars" - he played on the original as well.

I was a big fan and saw them loads of times. I got to know him quite well. He once stayed with us in Brighton for the weekend and I always regretted not asking him about 'Imagine'. He became very disillusioned with the commercialism and with the music scene in general. My last contact with him was around the time of 'Cote d'azure'. I decided against seeing them at 'The Dome', but he phoned me on the afternoon of the concert and left me 2 tickets at the door. At such short notice, I couldn't get anyone to accompany me! By then, he was just going through the motions. Sadly he died a couple of years ago. He was a thoroughly nice bloke and his was the piano work on 'Crippled inside'.

burnee54 · Jul 23, 2017

Keith Emerson closely followed by Herbie Hancock

Super Steve Earle · Jul 23, 2017

Freddie Mercury was a bit of a dab hand on the keys.

Seasider78 · Jul 23, 2017

GT49er · Jul 23, 2017

whitelion said:
Geoff Downes of Yes and Asia.

.....and of Buggles. Move back five spaces...........

GT49er · Jul 23, 2017

Blue3 said:
I think Billy Preston was the only one to play on a whole album and to play live with the Beatles

There's a lot more George Martin keyboards than Billy Preston on the Beatles' output, a lot more. Seem to remember Mal Evans was the roadie, and Nicky Hopkins regularly toured with the Rolling Stones, as well as recording with Quicksilver Messenger Service..

luppers · Jul 23, 2017

In the 60s I loved Zoot Money, Georgie Fame and the very underestimated Alan Price

GT49er · Jul 23, 2017

AmexRuislip said:
Jools Holland
Frank Zappa
Steve Wonder

The Frank Zappa who played guitar while Ian Underwood played the keyboards on most of the Mothers of Invention records?

GT49er · Jul 23, 2017

Live by the sea said:
Forgot to include Howard Jones of course

Good idea!

AmexRuislip · Jul 23, 2017

GT49er said:
The Frank Zappa who played guitar while Ian Underwood played the keyboards on most of the Mothers of Invention records?

Apologies, I always had it in my mind he was a keyboard player :facepalm:

Weststander · Jul 23, 2017

Norman Potting said:
Never knew that, big fan of Renaissance and saw them at Eastbourne Congress Theatre many moons ago.

By coincidence I posted the video of Northern Lights on the NSC albums/singles thread this evening. Lovely and original music.

Were they great live?

Tony Towner's Fridge · Jul 23, 2017

Ray Manzarek and Irmin Schmidt

Brilliant......

TNBA

TTF

GT49er · Jul 23, 2017

AmexRuislip said:
Apologies, I always had it in my mind he was a keyboard player

He was a consummate - albeit sometimes very difficult to listen to - musician. He was a guitarist - as am I - but I've no doubt the clever sod could probably play keyboards - or any other damned instrument he chose - better than I can play guitar!

Oh, and about this 'best keyboard player' thing - quick shout for Rachmaninov?

Live by the sea · Jul 23, 2017

Would seem not everyone on NSC agrees with my choice. Perhaps I am over influenced by 80's bands !

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