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Pictures of an Exhibitionist: From the Nice to Emerson Lake and Palmer - The True Story of the Man Who Changed the Sound of Rock by Keith Emerson
This is an autobiography of the greatest composer of the 20th Century. Yes, it's a bold claim. But look at the evolution of music if my statement is a hard pill to swallow. Bare with me.. Music started with Gregorian chants where melody was only offered. Duo-phonic music was introduced in the renaissance period. Music now had a with a bass line and melody. Then Bach and Vavaldi, changed the old into new with counterpoint, introducing multiple melodies all happening simultaneously. This was dubbed the baroque period. Classical music introduced sonata form. Music was written in three to four movements and used full orchestras. The first movement being fast, then slow, then fast, and maybe another movement like a rondo. For long periods of time this is how things were done. But music and art constantly evolve. A true artist changes the old into the new. The audience resits change and are slow to catch new ideas - just like Dana Carvey's character on SNL "we did things this way and we liked it!!" Never does the Dana Carvey character deviate from the norm. Franz Liszt introduced a triangle to his 1st piano concerto. The audiences' horrified reaction was, "what the hell is that doing on stage with the orchestra?" Focusing more on the triangle than the music. To this day Franz Liszt's 1st piano concerto in E major is called the triangle concerto. Disc jockeys broke Elvis Presley records - again resistant to change. I personally wrestle with rap being called music. The point being, without artist's innovations we'd still be listen to Gregorian chants! Keith Emerson started the progressive rock movement. Like Liszt's triangle, some critics have yet to understand Keith Emersons's music especially the synthesizer. It will only take time.Keith Emerson's first introduction with the synthesizer was Walter Carlos's album switched on Bach. What happened in succeeding years with ELP was nothing short of remarkable. Keith was the 1st to take the synthesizer on the road with help from friend and inventor of the synthesizer Bob Moog. ELP was the first rock band to tour with a full orchestra. Keith introduced audiences to sounds never heard. He was well versed in a cornucopia of music influences including counterpoint, jazz, rock, and classical. His delivery frenzied and dazed audiences. Rock fusion was born. New sounds of the synthesizer, married with Hammond organs and grand piano, put ELP on the map. Music's new movement fusion or progressive rock was equivalent to modern physic's discovery of nuclear fission. One could compare the sublime experience of seeing an atomic bomb exploding or Emerson Lake and Palmer play live! Yes, it had an impact on that scale for those who understood the music!! Not able to finish a concert in Japan, the band ran for their lives from a frenzied crowd. If Franz Liszt thought he had critics with his triangle, imagine what Keith Emerson has endured?! Most musicians have one instrument to master. With a synthesizer, there are infinite possibilities of tonal or sound qualities. Another way of looking at it. Imagine if you had just a pencil to do art? Now your given a full pallet of color? Suddenly, the horizon for creative expression has exponentially grown along with criticism. Keith Emerson was and is the Rembrandt of the synthesizer. Listen to Aqua Tarkus on ELP's live album, "Welcome Back My Friends to the Show That Never Ends Ladies and Gentleman ELP." Keith is playing a Hammond organ with his left hand and a scorching synthesizer solo with his right. Mixed with a quadraphonic speaker system, you can almost see/feel/hear a helix like object with a jet engine running through it, metaphorically speaking! For lack of word's it's music PLUS. Somehow Giger's art on album cover Brain Salad Surgery made sense, syncopating ELP's music on a subconscious level? Both music and art being surreal. Pink Floyd and others used synthesizers but it was musicianship that set Keith Emerson apart. With his screaming ostinato bass and interesting meolodic time signatures on Tarkus, to his piano concerto on Works, he was a musical breath-taker. Emerson's music was so cutting edge that critics and fans are still caught in debate. This spotlight's Keith Emerson as a true artist and history will embrace his contribution with loving arms. His talents for composing, virtuosity, pioneering use of the synthesizer, and musical influences firm my statement. With a figure so important to the world of music, I had to read his book.I read Keith's book while vacationing in Hawaii and truth be told could not put the book down. I enjoyed Keith's historical time line playing with Gary Farr and the T-Bones, The VIP's, PP Arnold, the Nice, and then ELP. From his keyboard apprenticeship with the early bands all the way to creating masterpieces with ELP. Keith's book is filled with amusing anecdotes. For instance, I was surprised that he had to talk Greg Lake into producing Tarkus? Other interesting stories include, giving Ringo Starr a ride on his motorcycle, Carl Palmer driving Keith's boat over a reef, jamming with Jimmy Hendrix, getting crazy with John Bonham Led Zeppelin's drummer and the list goes on...I found the book wonderfully entertaining and an absolute must for anyone interested in ELP. I'm pleased that Mr. Emerson took the time to write a book and share his involvement with perhaps the best rock band of the 20th Century. For those who wish to compare Keith's writing skills to his musical talent, you might be disappointed. Not to say it's poorly written. On the contrary, it reads easily with good humor and flow. Some set expectations too high. Just remember he's not superman! Well maybe with keyboards... But the book is an honest account shedding light on two sides of a coin - his life and music. For a sense of history about an immortalized musician, Keith Emerson's Pictures of an Exhibitionist is a must read.-Ken Fritz author of The United States Radio Directory: A Traveler's Favorite Companion 2008-2009 For More 5 Star Reviews Pictures of an Exhibitionist: From the Nice to Emerson Lake and Palmer - The True Story of the Man Who Changed the Sound of Rock by Keith Emerson
Pictures of an Exhibitionist: From the Nice to Emerson Lake and Palmer - The True Story of the Man Who Changed the Sound of Rock by Keith Emerson
This is an autobiography of the greatest composer of the 20th Century. Yes, it's a bold claim. But look at the evolution of music if my statement is a hard pill to swallow. Bare with me.. Music started with Gregorian chants where melody was only offered. Duo-phonic music was introduced in the renaissance period. Music now had a with a bass line and melody. Then Bach and Vavaldi, changed the old into new with counterpoint, introducing multiple melodies all happening simultaneously. This was dubbed the baroque period. Classical music introduced sonata form. Music was written in three to four movements and used full orchestras. The first movement being fast, then slow, then fast, and maybe another movement like a rondo. For long periods of time this is how things were done. But music and art constantly evolve. A true artist changes the old into the new. The audience resits change and are slow to catch new ideas - just like Dana Carvey's character on SNL "we did things this way and we liked it!!" Never does the Dana Carvey character deviate from the norm. Franz Liszt introduced a triangle to his 1st piano concerto. The audiences' horrified reaction was, "what the hell is that doing on stage with the orchestra?" Focusing more on the triangle than the music. To this day Franz Liszt's 1st piano concerto in E major is called the triangle concerto. Disc jockeys broke Elvis Presley records - again resistant to change. I personally wrestle with rap being called music. The point being, without artist's innovations we'd still be listen to Gregorian chants! Keith Emerson started the progressive rock movement. Like Liszt's triangle, some critics have yet to understand Keith Emersons's music especially the synthesizer. It will only take time.Keith Emerson's first introduction with the synthesizer was Walter Carlos's album switched on Bach. What happened in succeeding years with ELP was nothing short of remarkable. Keith was the 1st to take the synthesizer on the road with help from friend and inventor of the synthesizer Bob Moog. ELP was the first rock band to tour with a full orchestra. Keith introduced audiences to sounds never heard. He was well versed in a cornucopia of music influences including counterpoint, jazz, rock, and classical. His delivery frenzied and dazed audiences. Rock fusion was born. New sounds of the synthesizer, married with Hammond organs and grand piano, put ELP on the map. Music's new movement fusion or progressive rock was equivalent to modern physic's discovery of nuclear fission. One could compare the sublime experience of seeing an atomic bomb exploding or Emerson Lake and Palmer play live! Yes, it had an impact on that scale for those who understood the music!! Not able to finish a concert in Japan, the band ran for their lives from a frenzied crowd. If Franz Liszt thought he had critics with his triangle, imagine what Keith Emerson has endured?! Most musicians have one instrument to master. With a synthesizer, there are infinite possibilities of tonal or sound qualities. Another way of looking at it. Imagine if you had just a pencil to do art? Now your given a full pallet of color? Suddenly, the horizon for creative expression has exponentially grown along with criticism. Keith Emerson was and is the Rembrandt of the synthesizer. Listen to Aqua Tarkus on ELP's live album, "Welcome Back My Friends to the Show That Never Ends Ladies and Gentleman ELP." Keith is playing a Hammond organ with his left hand and a scorching synthesizer solo with his right. Mixed with a quadraphonic speaker system, you can almost see/feel/hear a helix like object with a jet engine running through it, metaphorically speaking! For lack of word's it's music PLUS. Somehow Giger's art on album cover Brain Salad Surgery made sense, syncopating ELP's music on a subconscious level? Both music and art being surreal. Pink Floyd and others used synthesizers but it was musicianship that set Keith Emerson apart. With his screaming ostinato bass and interesting meolodic time signatures on Tarkus, to his piano concerto on Works, he was a musical breath-taker. Emerson's music was so cutting edge that critics and fans are still caught in debate. This spotlight's Keith Emerson as a true artist and history will embrace his contribution with loving arms. His talents for composing, virtuosity, pioneering use of the synthesizer, and musical influences firm my statement. With a figure so important to the world of music, I had to read his book.I read Keith's book while vacationing in Hawaii and truth be told could not put the book down. I enjoyed Keith's historical time line playing with Gary Farr and the T-Bones, The VIP's, PP Arnold, the Nice, and then ELP. From his keyboard apprenticeship with the early bands all the way to creating masterpieces with ELP. Keith's book is filled with amusing anecdotes. For instance, I was surprised that he had to talk Greg Lake into producing Tarkus? Other interesting stories include, giving Ringo Starr a ride on his motorcycle, Carl Palmer driving Keith's boat over a reef, jamming with Jimmy Hendrix, getting crazy with John Bonham Led Zeppelin's drummer and the list goes on...I found the book wonderfully entertaining and an absolute must for anyone interested in ELP. I'm pleased that Mr. Emerson took the time to write a book and share his involvement with perhaps the best rock band of the 20th Century. For those who wish to compare Keith's writing skills to his musical talent, you might be disappointed. Not to say it's poorly written. On the contrary, it reads easily with good humor and flow. Some set expectations too high. Just remember he's not superman! Well maybe with keyboards... But the book is an honest account shedding light on two sides of a coin - his life and music. For a sense of history about an immortalized musician, Keith Emerson's Pictures of an Exhibitionist is a must read.-Ken Fritz author of The United States Radio Directory: A Traveler's Favorite Companion 2008-2009 For More 5 Star Reviews Pictures of an Exhibitionist: From the Nice to Emerson Lake and Palmer - The True Story of the Man Who Changed the Sound of Rock by Keith Emerson