Best Keyboard Player [Archive] - eBaum's World Forum

piggyman18

08-12-2006, 02:23 AM

I'm pretty sure this has been done before, hell I probably started this before, but with new people come new results, so who's the best? I'm sticking generally to classic/prog rock here, so don't bitch that your Dream Theater etc. faggots aren't on here.

EDIT: Fuck, I made it way too difficult. I hastily picked Emerson just because of the whole Karn Evil 9 set, but Manzarek and Wakeman fucking own as well.

If it were for most underrated, either Gregg Allman or Gregg Rolie would get my vote.

taste_u

08-12-2006, 02:26 AM

Bill Evans

piggyman18

08-12-2006, 02:33 AM

Bill Evans

Although Bill Evans is the shit, I wouldn't consider him a rock keyboardist.

YouEnjoyMyself

08-12-2006, 02:35 AM

piggyman18

08-12-2006, 02:37 AM

This is too hard. Really, I can't make a decision.

I'm up in the air between Wakeman, Manzarek, Allman, Emerson, Wright and Rolie :lol:

It's too hard to pick. But I will say you have some damn fine choices up there.

I was going through my iTunes playlist the other day, putting together a playlist of my favorite piano songs/solos, trying not to put more than 2 or 3 from any one artist, and I think I ended up with about 50 songs.

And in addition to the one's I have on there, there are some more "modern" ones I left off. Specifically Bruce Hornsby and Ben Folds. Ever since I got into playing the piano I can't do anything but fucking admire these guys.

YouEnjoyMyself

08-12-2006, 02:41 AM

I was going through my iTunes playlist the other day, putting together a playlist of my favorite piano songs/solos, trying not to put more than 2 or 3 from any one artist, and I think I ended up with about 50 songs.

And in addition to the one's I have on there, there are some more "modern" ones I left off. Specifically Bruce Hornsby and Ben Folds. Ever since I got into playing the piano I can't do anything but fucking admire these guys.

How do you feel about Page McConnell's work with Phish?

taste_u

08-12-2006, 02:43 AM

If we\'re talking rock keyboardists then Irmin Schmidt from Can. I know I\'m something of a Can whore but his contributions are just perfect, not a wasted note.

piggyman18

08-12-2006, 02:44 AM

How do you feel about Page McConnell's work with Phish?

I haven't listened to enough Phish to accurately compare him some of the big dogs I've got listed up there, but from what I've heard recently I'm quite impressed. For some reason, the whole unorganized jam thing (Phish, the Dead) doesn't appeal to me as much as the prog rock, but I can't exactly come up with an explanation why. Although if I had to pick an all time favorite band, it may very well be the Allman Brothers, so I'm somewhat of a hypocrite.

taste_u: I've never listened to Can before, so I'll have to check them out. Thanks for the recommendation.

YouEnjoyMyself

08-12-2006, 02:48 AM

piggyman18

08-12-2006, 02:53 AM

Allman Brothers are amazinggggg...

As for Phish's jamming, it's unorganized and organized at the same time...they way they describe it is that they are talking to eachother through their music. So it appears unorganized to us, but they know perfectly well what they are doing.

But yeah the jamming thing...it seems either you're into it or you're not.

Gregg Allman doesn't get nearly enough credit both as a pianist and a singer. Some of his singing is my favorite in all of rock.

Yeah, I understand the jam thing and how it works, but I just can't get into it. Occasionally I'm in the mood for it, but I just can't get into it for some reason.

As I listen to a song titled "Lazy", I'm pissed I didn't add Jon Lord from Deep Purple on that poll.

a7x1337

08-12-2006, 03:02 AM

other

Jordan Rudess - Dream Theater
Vadim Pruzhanov - Dragonforce

edit - oh, rock? dammit. i guess that doesnt mean metal...

piggyman18

08-12-2006, 03:03 AM

other

Jordan Rudess - Dream Theater
Vadim Pruzhanov - Dragonforce

I fucking love how I called this shit.

a7x1337

08-12-2006, 03:12 AM

I fucking love how I called this shit.
yeah, i realized that after making my post. sorry. i edited it, but ebaumsworld had a spaz.

a7x1337

08-12-2006, 03:15 AM

I fucking love how I called this shit.
wtf is wrong with ebaums tonight.

but yeah, i realized this after i made my post. sorry about that. i edited my post, but ebaums had a spaz

rerat

08-12-2006, 03:17 AM

Janne Warman..../thread

piggyman18

08-12-2006, 03:29 AM

Janne Warman..../thread

Failure...

slapnpopbass

08-12-2006, 03:30 AM

Jordan Rudess. (Dream Theater) You said stick to prog!!

atreyu_2020

08-12-2006, 03:32 AM

Jordan Rudess. (Dream Theater) You said stick to prog!!

He is amazing.

But Rick Wakeman is insanely amazing.

Sezril

08-12-2006, 03:42 AM

I chose Rick Wakeman. I'm woefully ignorant towards keyboard players, I'll admit, but Wakeman is one that really sticks out for me.

EDIT: removed some crap, don't wanna subtract from the topic any

puppetmasterjjk

08-12-2006, 03:57 AM

Flake from rammstein (pronounced flah-kah)

MiKe

08-12-2006, 04:41 AM

Of those mentioned in the poll, I'd probably say Wakeman or Wright.

Pajman

08-12-2006, 05:03 AM

Jon Lord is not on the list because he is out of this world and not on the same level as the rest.

My choice is obviously "other".

temp100

08-12-2006, 05:37 AM

I voted for Keith Emerson - he is absolutely amazing.

But then again, so is Rick Wakeman. In fact, all of the people up there are great.

Mount_Happy

08-12-2006, 08:18 AM

Gonna have to go with Jordan Rudess

kledster

08-12-2006, 10:43 AM

before i even opened this thread up to see the choices, i automatically thought "the keyboardist from Yes". rick wakeman is the best keyboardist i've heard. ever.

JooK

08-12-2006, 11:50 AM

Intro to sheep.

Unhinged

08-12-2006, 11:57 AM

Jordan Rudess FTW. Amazingly diverse and talented player and composer. Absolutely breathtaking and at the same time earth shattering.

Battery

08-12-2006, 12:07 PM

Theblindfoldedpianist

Davemeistro

08-12-2006, 12:19 PM

Jens Johansson from Stratovarius.

Wafflecopter

08-12-2006, 12:58 PM

If you want to listen to some decent keyboards, theres a band out right now called "Chiodos." It's kind of Screamo/Harcore...But they have a keyboardist. They keyboards add a sort of creepy circus-type sound to the songs, and he plays it very well. It's extremley catchy.

WesMont22

08-12-2006, 01:00 PM

Jordan Rudess...best rock keyboardist ever. Then Keith Emmerson, and Rick Wakeman.

piggyman18

08-12-2006, 01:01 PM

Guys, I know the truth is hard to handle, but here it is:

Dream Theater sucks ass.

Did nobody read my original post in this thread? Jesus titty fucking Christ people.

WesMont22

08-12-2006, 01:02 PM

God forbid people disagree with you.

Note that I'm not complaining. I'm simply telling you what I think.

Metallic

08-12-2006, 01:11 PM

Dream Theater sucks ass.

This man speaks no lies.

And Wakeman wins this thread hands down. If anyone of you Dream Theater fags have any doubt that Rudess is indeed inferior to YES, watch this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDsvZGM1vD8

WesMont22

08-12-2006, 01:15 PM

Yes is better than Dream Theater. But you don't have to prove anything. I like Jordan Rudess better. And I'm sure THEY wouldn't try to prove who's better.

a7x1337

08-12-2006, 03:09 PM

viper22

08-12-2006, 03:12 PM

Ray Manzarek, mostly because I saw him live

Dodgerdog

08-12-2006, 03:29 PM

Jean Michel Jarre

temp100

08-12-2006, 04:21 PM

Wow, what's with the hate for Dream Theater?

Sure they're nowhere near my fav prog band, sure I hate James La Brie, and sure there is a bit of technical indulgence at times - but they are capable of songwriting.

And Jordan Rudess is a pretty skilled keyboardist. Sure I think Emerson, Wakeman and Johansson are superior to Rudess (IMO) - but Rudess is a good keyboardist/pianist.

YouEnjoyMyself

08-12-2006, 04:50 PM

Dream Theater is really boring, that's what the hate is about.

Sure, they are excellent musicians...but they just make boring music.

temp100

08-12-2006, 04:56 PM

Dream Theater is really boring, that's what the hate is about.

Sure, they are excellent musicians...but they just make boring music.
Fair enough, but I think some people take DT hate too far (not in this thread) - I've just noticed it lately. I can understand why people would think they're boring.

For me, they have some well written parts, and some annoying overly indulgent parts.

To be honest, I much prefer Liquid Tension Experiment to Dream Theater, and most of my appreciation for Rudess comes from his work in LTE. LTE has more interesting songwriting (IMO), Tony Levin and no James La Brie. Still a bit wanky, but good. :D

a7x1337

08-12-2006, 04:57 PM

Dream Theater is really boring, that's what the hate is about.

Sure, they are excellent musicians...but they just make boring music.
that's what i think about bands like sublime.
at the end of the day, it all comes down to personal opinion.

you may find them boring - obviously, a lot of us don't. i find sublime boring, but many others think they're great.

YouEnjoyMyself

08-12-2006, 04:59 PM

that's what i think about bands like sublime.
at the end of the day, it all comes down to personal opinion.

you may find them boring - obviously, a lot of us don't. i find sublime boring, but many others think they're great.

Yes.

But remember this is the music section, where opinion = fact. :lol:

a7x1337

08-12-2006, 05:07 PM

But remember this is the music section, where opinion = fact. :lol:
haha, good point. i try not to do that, but i'll admit that i am often guilty of making my opinion come off as 'fact', too.

Metallic

08-12-2006, 05:15 PM

To be honest, I much prefer Liquid Tension Experiment to Dream Theater, and most of my appreciation for Rudess comes from his work in LTE. LTE has more interesting songwriting (IMO), Tony Levin and no James La Brie. Still a bit wanky, but good. :D

Personally, I can't stand LTE....they sound waaay more wanky and ghey compared to Dream Theater, and DT already has excess in both categories.

temp100

08-12-2006, 05:28 PM

Personally, I can't stand LTE....they sound waaay more wanky and ghey compared to Dream Theater, and DT already has excess in both categories.
It depends really. I guess some of the more heavy metal oriented songs from Dream Theater make that statement true in some cases.

But I like how LTE has feel in it. I think that both Biaxident and Liquid Dreams have some nice classic piano work, which actually sounds inspired. Paradigm Shift is very technical, but has nice (and simple) bass section in the middle from Levin. Of course you still get the overly extended Petrucci solos at times, but I think LTE sounds inspired.

haha, good point. i try not to do that, but i'll admit that i am often guilty of making my opinion come off as 'fact', too.
Sometimes I wonder why you cop as much flak as you do from some forum members. While I might not like Avenged Sevenfold and while I like Sublime, I reckon you're a pretty decent forum member.

Anyway, to get this thread back on track - I'm pleasantly surprised at how respected Wakeman is on EBW - he is indeed an insanely skilled musician.

a7x1337

08-12-2006, 05:35 PM

Sometimes I wonder why you cop as much flak as you do from some forum members. While I might not like Avenged Sevenfold and while I like Sublime, I reckon you're a pretty decent forum member.
haha, thanks, man. i've always thought you were one of the most open minded and mature members on this board. buttsechs?
but yeah, i think it's just because i have 'a7x' in my username. because of that, people assume i think a7x is the world's most talented band ever, and that nothing at all could change that view.
this isn't true at all. i don't think a7x is the most talented band, i don't think they're even close - they're just my favorite band.

there's also this common misconception that i start a lot of threads about avenged sevenfold...i've made, like, 2 since i signed up.

but oh well. i find it kind of funny being one of the most hated members on the music board :p

ahaga

08-12-2006, 06:43 PM

wtf? nobody said Yanni?:lmao:

aronax0195

08-12-2006, 07:00 PM

This man speaks no lies.

And Wakeman wins this thread hands down. If anyone of you Dream Theater fags have any doubt that Rudess is indeed inferior to YES, watch this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDsvZGM1vD8

Pathetic, JR does better with one keyboard, yet this guy needs 5+.

Here is a fact: Dream Theater is the best band to have ever come out in existence, and all other bands are inferior to the kings.

Atomic - In The Name Of The Faith -- Breakpoint [04:55m/160Kbps/44KHz] - 1993

Rev'd_Flasher

08-12-2006, 07:28 PM

Jon Lord is not on the list because he is out of this world and not on the same level as the rest.
At least somebody in this thread knows what they're talking about.

So it's an "Other" vote for me as well.

Sezril

08-12-2006, 10:12 PM

I personally find Dream Theater no more lifeless than Rush, Yngwie Malmsteen, or any other wankery. The amount of "spirit" they compromise changes from person to person because unlike instrumental ability, there's no way to objectively rank emotion and expression. You can say "I hate X because I find their music insensate", but "X is equally as senseless for everyone" is absurd. That's why it's unfair to disallow people from at least mentioning Jordan Ruddess.

If you aren't going to allow people to discuss their favorite musicians in a topic about musicians, then what's the point of the topic?

Zooch

08-12-2006, 10:34 PM

How about Freddie Mercury????

eh?

taste_u

08-12-2006, 10:48 PM

A lot of these keyboardists are technically good, but I don\'t think that\'s what great musicianship is about, a robot can play extremely fast or learn orthodox technique, but it takes an artist to develop an individual, expressionate style, to flout the rules of \"correct\" technique and adapt intelligently to the musical situation at hand.

Tony Banks of Genesis might just be the most overlooked keyboardist of all time in that, as well as being technically astonishing, he suits his playing perfectly to the feel of the song, his hands are a logical extension of his musical ideas and he conveys immense amounts of emotion through his playing; he is like a sorcerer conjuring mood.

Travmire

08-12-2006, 11:47 PM

I pretty much did the same thing here as the other thread; Wakeman is great, but I went with Ray Manzarek because I like The Doors more than Yes.

piggyman18

08-13-2006, 01:09 AM

Pathetic, JR does better with one keyboard, yet this guy needs 5+.

Here is a fact: Dream Theater is the best band to have ever come out in existence, and all other bands are inferior to the kings.

Atomic - In The Name Of The Faith -- Breakpoint [04:55m/160Kbps/44KHz] - 1993

I feel EXTREMELY sorry for you if you honestly believe those words that you typed. That is all.

drfool

08-13-2006, 01:17 AM

but oh well. i find it kind of funny being one of the most hated members on the music board :p

I hate you more than I hate thereisnoway!!!

[/sarcasm]
[/cliche fake end tags]

a7x1337

08-13-2006, 01:18 AM

I hate you more than I hate thereisnoway!!!

[/sarcasm]
[/cliche fake end tags]
theres no way you hate me more than him!
lolololol

aronax0195

08-13-2006, 01:32 AM

I feel EXTREMELY sorry for you if you honestly believe those words that you typed. That is all.

The only thing you should feel sorry about is your stupid post.

Beyond Fatal - Transcending The Dogma -- Sanctuary In Misery [03:06m/192Kbps/44KHz] -

sparrky

08-13-2006, 02:13 AM

I want that faggot from Dream Theater.

Fireal87

08-13-2006, 03:10 AM

The keyboardist guy from the band "Still Remains"...

atreyu_2020

08-13-2006, 04:26 AM

The keyboardist guy from the band "Still Remains"...

No metalcore band should ever be considered to have a good keyboardist.

YouEnjoyMyself

08-13-2006, 05:08 AM

Jimothy51

08-13-2006, 10:00 AM

What people have to see is that fastest does not mean best. Some of these guys play ridiculously fast, and they are very talented, but it does not always sound good. I went with Manzarek, then Wright, then Rolie. Rolie is not a close 3rd though.