Keith Emerson - Emerson Plays Emerson

  by Lisa Torem

published: 1 / 3 / 2018

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Review

Few experiences are as gratifying as spending an afternoon with pianist/composer Keith Emerson, most commonly associated with Emerson, Lake and Palmer and his post solo career. That said, rather than rushing through it, spending a leisurely afternoon is the best way to approach ‘Emerson Plays Emerson,’ a diverse collection of the storied pianist/composer’s sculpted pieces. There is something here for almost every taste, although essentially this reissued collection which originally came out in 2002 is sure to please classical, blues/jazz and ragtime aficionados as well as those who enjoy a dreamy, ambient soundscape. Highlights include the opener ‘Vagrant’, which is marked by majestic rises and falls and a sprinkle of arpeggios which create a fluid sense of movement. An edgier piece is ‘Creole Dance’, a stunning battlefield between both hands, adapted from a piece by Alberto Ginastera. In it, Emerson references Bernstein’s ‘West Side Story’. This is a frenetic dialogue, a fever-pitch of rhythmic pleasure with a king-sized ending. ‘Solitudinous’ thrives on delicate, broken chords suggested by a slight touch. One could swear that Emerson had been swayed here by the ghost of Frederic Chopin. The melody, which falls as gently as fresh snowflakes, is exquisite, but above all, this composition exudes an inherent air of mystery. ‘Broken Bough’ presents as a tragic sequence of lilting phrases. The theme is fluid, and like so much of Emerson’s works, entrenched in surefire motion, yet nothing is written in stone. There is still an overriding element of suspense that leaves the listener breathless, as he experiments with “seconds, sevenths and fifths” and a chromatic bass. ‘Prelude to Candice’ finds the composer, circling through fifths with firefly focus. Not surprisingly, this gentle/powerhouse served as a theme for ‘Murderock’. ‘The Dreamer’ was also selected as a movie theme, but for ‘Best Revenge’. ‘For Kevin’ was dedicated to the late Kevin Gilbert, Emerson’s dear friend and a fellow musician. Shaded by a slight synth, the precocious melody of this ambitious masterpiece delights at every turn. Another ethereal piece is ‘Blade of Grass’. If an impressionist painting had a voice, perhaps it would yield this enchanting effect. ‘Outgoing Tide’ is devilishly disturbing, an eerie, discordant hybrid of emotion. Along those lines, ‘Interlude’ shimmers, but in a more traditional way and ‘Soulscapes’ with its meditative, clandestine allure will soothe the most restless soul. ‘Close to Home’ is yet another gentle track, which exudes an undulating elegance. Within the confines of a trio, Emerson hammers out the classic ‘Summertime,’ where he incorporates jagged comping and stately ornamentation. Then, as the drummer joyously hacks away, the pianist sprightly noodles away on this familiar melody and then goes for the jugular. Gershwin would have given this rendition a high five. Mike Barsimanto (drums) and bassist Jerry Watts play a strong part in this successful equation. ‘Roll ‘n’ Jelly’(a tribute to the great Jelly Roll Morton) is craftily nuanced and spirited. And while in that mindset, one will enjoy ‘B & W Blues,’ am Emerson original, is again interpreted with a trio, drummer Frank Scully and bassist Rob Statham. The flashy runs and various licks recall the famed ‘Salt Peanuts,’ but even here, Emerson reaches somewhere far beyond… ‘Honky Tonky Train Blues’ finds Emerson trading licks with the great Oscar Peterson and his big band. Recorded live, we even get to hear the friendly introduction. And of course, given the collective talent, this is a colossus from every conceivable angle. ‘A Cajun Alley’ is a bluesy rag that refuses to stand on ceremony. Emerson’s boogie chops are bold and as well-articulated and precise as what one would find in any of J.S. Bach’s beautiful inventions. The closing medley charms. It is from the vaults of a younger Emerson, recorded at the tender age of fourteen, and it clearly foreshadows the young man’s virtuosic career.

Track Listing:-

1 Vagrant
2 Creole Dance
3 Solitudinous
4 Broken Bough
5 A Cajun Ally
6 Prelude to Candice
7 A Blade of Grass
8 Outgoing Tide
9 Summertime
10 Interlude
11 Roll'n Jelly
12 B&W Blues
13 For Kevin
14 The Dreamer
15 Hammer It Out
16 Ballad for a Common Man
17 Barrelhouse Shakedown
18 Nilu's Dream
19 Soulscapes
20 Close to Home
21 Honky Tonk Train Blues
22 Nicola / Silver Shoes / I'll See You in My Dreams

Band Links:-

https://en-gb.facebook.com/officialkei
http://www.keithemerson.com/