After discussing Prog for neigh on 45 years, the only thing I think I never said is what I appreciate about Prog musos. I recently read a reprint of a Floyd interview from a 1970 issue of Melody Maker. I recalled the article completely. Floyd were touring the US and were preparing to release the Atom Heart Mother album. The entire band had a night off in New Orleans and were thrilled to see Fats Domino play live. It was basically a Roger Waters interview, but I recall imagining the late Rick Wright banging out bluesy Blueberry Hill piano chords as a kid, and like so many of his Prog brethren, he did not wish to extend R&R or R&B into a logical extension but to musically transcend these genres.
Or, in the case of Rick Wakeman, by interjecting his own self deprecating sense of humor into his solo Strawbs piano playing by conjuring up images of 1920's silent movie themes before dazzling his audience with classical complexity while seeming to barely move his hands.
Or in the case of Geddy Lee and Neil Peart, two of the finest masters of their craft in the same rhythm section. Having that something extra in their playing abilities and feel that's so above so many other bassists and drummers. And a certain chemistry between the two that's rare.
Ok, those are only a few of the things I appreciate about Prog musicians. What are some of yours?
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