tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2966431973683550525.post152078294113377487..comments2023-06-28T03:33:43.953-05:00Comments on Drew's Odds and Sods: Tickling the Ivorysdrewzepmeisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553144737305430009noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2966431973683550525.post-78081467845605900552010-02-26T17:14:03.468-06:002010-02-26T17:14:03.468-06:00Perplexo-I agree with you on Geoffrey Downes. I re...Perplexo-I agree with you on Geoffrey Downes. I really like his stuff Asia's debut album.drewzepmeisterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15553144737305430009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2966431973683550525.post-30233128690624406982010-02-26T09:24:55.414-06:002010-02-26T09:24:55.414-06:00I have to agree particularly with Keith Emerson an...I have to agree particularly with Keith Emerson and Rich Davies. <br /><br />Some others I've come to enjoy:<br /><br />Geoffrey Downes - I love his work not only with Asia but on Yes's <i>Drama</i> album. While he's not as talented as Wakeman, there was a certain chemistry between he and Steve Howe that I didn't hear with Wakeman and Howe (Wakeman seemed to have a better chemistry with Jon Anderson than with Steve Howe). <br /><br />Jordan Rudess - Dream Theater's current Julliard trained keyboardist. Rudess was at Julliard at age 9! He is a master at changing styles several times within the same song. Check out Dream Theater's instrumental track, <i>Dance of Eternity</i> from their <i>Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From a Memory</i> album for some of his best work. He also plays a 2nd "guitar" for DT by using guitar sounds on his keyboard to augment John Petrucci's lead guitar work.<br /><br />Derek Sherinian - former keyboardist for Alice Cooper and Dream Theater and current keyboardist for Black Country (Glenn Hughes, Joe Bonamassa, and Jason Bonham being his bandmates). While I'm not really a fan of his work with Dream Theater, he's released some solo material since that I quite enjoy. He also knows how to pick the right musicians to fill out his sound. He's had Zakk Wylde, as well ex-Genesis guitarst Steve Hackett and session guitarist and Toto founder, Steve Lukather perform on his solo albums (to name but a few). He also has had Australian virtuoso drummer Virgil Donati backing him up.<br /><br />Kevin Moore (ex-Dream Theater, OSI, Fates Warning) - While Moore has never been an official member of Fates Warning he's made substantial contributions to many of their albums including their critically acclaimed and highly regarded <i>A Pleasant Shade of Grey</i>. Moore is also the keyboardist/vocalist in OSI with Fates Warning's guitarist, Jim Matheos and Porcupine Tree's Gavin Harrison on drums. OSI has imho created a new sub-genre of heavy metal-- Ambient Progressive Metal (if that makes any sense).<br /><br />Bill Champlin (ex-Chicago) - Admittedly this is a stretch as Champlin is more of an organist/B3 player. His work with Chicago isn't anything too special as they largely under-utilized him during his 28 year tenure with the band. To hear what he was capable of on the Hammond his solo work and his material with his original band, the Sons of Champlin is much more indicative of what a monster talent he was/is.Perplexiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09971805688658949769noreply@blogger.com