Your Opinion about this solo?

[presto agitato]

Hello. As you well know, progressive rock and progressive metal are full of classical trained musicians.

Chris Ingles is one of those musicians, he used to play keyboards and piano in a band called "Shadow Gallery". In this solo we can appreciate his skills. He brings Bach and Beethoven into his playing

Do you like it?

[presto agitato]

Is it that bad?

 

[retrouvailles]

Is it that bad?

 

Yes. Prog rock will never be able to compete with the best of classical music, no matter how highly trained the musicians are technically.

[presto agitato]

Yes. Prog rock will never be able to compete with the best of classical music, no matter how highly trained the musicians are technically.

I'm talking about the piece not the player.

[lontano]

I'm talking about the piece not the player.

Quite honestly, when I was willfully seeking out the best of progressive rock back in the days when it was just being defined (late 1960's with bands like (early) Pink Floyd, King Crimson, ELP, YES, and a whole lot more that came and went), I was young (roughly age 20) and impressionable. Hell, I spent a weekend at Max Yasgar's farm 40 years ago this week in an event known as "Woodstock: Three days of peace and music" (and I'm still washing the mud off)!!

While I was raised on a strictly classical diet (which I loved) I fell under the spell of the ProgRock concept, and tended to idolize some performers/groups. As I matured, the music eventually lost much of its appeal, although I still occasionally go back to some of those grandiose efforts to move rock & roll toward something new, defined and (hopefully) dignified by a higher level of training and hopefully a more fulfilling rock experience.

So, with all that stated, I didn't find your piece, nor the performer very interesting. Obviously there's an attempt to flesh out some sense of identity in the music, but it doesn't stand up to the better PR works from the 60's and 70's. It's a worthwhile attempt, and I love to see more classical (in the broadest sense) influence in the generally vacuous landscape of contemporary pop/rock/hip-hop that has dominated the listening experience of far too many young minds for far too long.

However, your offering is, at best, a step in the right direction.

Lontano