Actually it is a very depressing comment. When you finish counting his fingers and then you look at yours. I’ll bet that people go like this: “ we have the same amount of fingers…what the f*ck is wrong with me!?!?” 🤣
But they are bloody massive!. I’m no small-handed man, but when I shook his hand once, it disappeared! Also, I can play the Merlin part at the end, but it’s not comfortable at all: you can tell the person who wrote it has a large span.
I am a prog rocker from the 70's, I have heard them all old and new. There is NO ONE who plays the keyboards like Rick Wakeman! Yes, his speed is amazing but what distinguishes him is his limitless talent, he is without equal. He has mastered so many genres of music and has a huge catalog of recordings. His solo output is staggering from New Age, classical, rock, soundtracks, huge production pieces with chorus, vocalists and orchestra; he does it all. This video still takes my breath away, wow!
It's not just playing ability which indeed limitless as you say, but Rick's always been an excellent composer and songwriter. He's written some terrific stuff in a variety of styles over the years, some of it astoundingly complex, others simply and catchy, and most all of it with just beautiful moments.
@@seabulls69 This was in 1989 at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California (between San Jose and San Francisco and near the Bay, if you're not from around those parts). The performance was released on DVD, and it looks like Amazon has some used copies for sale, but they're kind of expensive.
@@seabulls69 A bit late response, but make sure you are looking up the Anderson, Bufurd, Wakeman, Howe concert. ABWH. All yes members but a side group formed late 80's early 90's.
Absolutely the best keyboard solo out there. I saw this show twice and have the DVD which I watch to this day and still amazed by this solo. Absolutely love YES and have for years and years.
There are few who can play the keyboards like Rick Wakeman. A true pioneer who integrated electronic music with classic rock. Sometime it's OK to just watch and listen, and be awed by pure genius and talent!
Took my little brother to see Rick last year. My dad complained to him, saying that my brother didn't practice enough. Rick looks at my brother and says, "do you have a girlfriend?". My brother replies "Yes sir i do", to which Rick says "That's all the practice you need". What a lovely man. :)
he's not only a great player but generous and loving to his children. Met his daughter while I was doing a show at Severance Center here in Cleveland last month. He GAVE her a Yamaha C5 baby grand as a gift. What a great present!
No one is ever "best." He is my favorite though. I love the way he shakes out his hand before the fireworks begin. I can't even drum my fingers that fast. Madrigal is making me cry. "Tormato" is so underrated.
That Merlin the Magician part requires some serious technique to play, let alone those single notes fast repetitions he does with two or three fingers shown earlier.
One of the baddest ass keyboardist I've ever heard. Never been a big fan of keyboard or piano until I heard Rick wakeman. One of the baddest ass keyboardist I have ever met or heard tell of
instantly recognisable playing .... his chord voicing, melodies and phrasing sets him apart from any other keyboard player. For such big hands, he has incredible speed and fluidity.. Amazing musician...
One of my favorite keyboardists... Classicly trained, of course... I absolutely loved his performance with the Yes Union tour along with original keyboardist Tony Kaye back in 1991...
This was either the opening or closing song (I was high) back in 76 in Fresno that hooked me on Rick and Yes. Still have some vinyl! Miss those days...
YES he is the best. Saw him and YES 6 times. Met him backstage in Denver. He has it all in terms of talent, but his musicianship is deeper than any other Rock keyboarder. Melody, harmony, mixed meters, textures, genres, styles. Wow.
hmmm ... Keith Emerson, at least during the Tarkus period? I think that composition (along with Roundabout, by Yes, with huge and stunning input from Rick, released the same year) provide pretty much the high water mark of keyboard-driven progressive rock.
No disrespect to KE intended, of course. I Saw ELP plenty, too, and KE is beyond amazing. By "musicianship" I was referring to Rick's knowledge of musical structures and applied theory, as well as mastery of styles (hence, "Melody, harmony, mixed meters, textures, genres, styles"). I suppose that I am looking to his studio work as well as time in Yes. . Totally agree as to high water mark. Tarkus is, imo, ELPs best product. Truly a great era, man.
Like the way Rick has to occasionally look over to his left hand just to see what it is doing. Saw YES three times in the 70s and even when they were backing up the Eagles. Always thought he and Keith were the best Prog keyboardist and proud to say I saw Rick Wakeman play one day, so satisfied I saw him play...
went to see him do a one man show in leamington spa, he didnt have his keyboards just a piano and interspersed his piano playing with anecdotes hie is a naturally funny man a great pianist and keyboad player
Mind blowing. Been a fan of his records since I was a teen...70s, and so awesome to see him play. I'm blown away at how good he is...every. single. time.
Pfft, like Keith could lay a finger on this guy! Rick Wakeman is the best keyboardist ever! That’s not to say Keith isn’t good, he’s certainly up there, but Wakeman is the most creative and talented. Just look at the flute sound solos in this video!
I agree with you 100%, Rick and Keith are at the same level, both sit atop the Mt. Olympus of keyboardists. Wakeman seems to get more accolades from the masses, but Emerson is every bit as deserving, if not moreso. He singlehandedly composed so many of ELP's most masterful instrumental adventures. ELP was also only a 3 piece band, and Keith not only carried much of it but was usually the main driving force. Rick deserves all his accolades as well, but he did have the benefit of Yes being a 5 piece band. Of course, his solo stuff is astounding. Thankfully we still have Rick with us. Among more modern keyboardists, Jordan Rudess from Dream Theater is pretty phenomenal, but not quite the pioneer Wakeman and Emerson were.
I've always been into ELP . Rick did a tribute to Keith after he passed away. It was a mix of his different songs done with that Rick twist. I think he did it all on the piano. When Rick was with Yes they made their best song Round about. When he left Yes they went back to being just another band. The only period where they made outstanding music was with Rick. To bad he didn't join Deep Purple, or Moody blues, or Stepping Wolf. They would have made dozens of million gold records. They would have loved in the top 10 for 10 years along with the Beatles and Stones, and ELO.
Ever listened to the Stephen Wolf album For Ladies Only. The whole side B is a piano solo by Johnny Kay. I had no idea how good the guy was on the keys until I heard that album.
rick wakeman is best ever i saw him when he played with YES his keyboards were suspended in the air at the arena .. yes big wires adn rods of course and he was wired to the seat.. and the whole piano turned around and flipped in mid air
(The first time I saw this solo (on Pay-Per-View) I honestly couldn’t believe my eyes/ears it was so fast!) Actually - I did just see a video of a guy who recreated the solo from YESSONGS... it was pretty good. But there is NO ONE like Rick Wakeman. He is the raw talent in YES. Listen to “Close to the Edge”... the man is just a monster player. CTTE may have been Jon Anderson’s vision... but Wakeman made it possible with his composition and playing skills.
Filmed at The Shoreline in Mountain View, CA during the fall of 1989, just about 3 days after I watched him perform the exact same thing at the Griffith in Hollywood (just about 300 miles south). When I heard what might be referred to as "Act II" of this (just a bit after the 2:34 minute mark), I had to use binoculars from the guy sitting next to me to see what the hell he was doing. "HOLY JESUS TAP-DANCING CHRIST ON A POPSICLE STICK" was what he was doing!
Okay, so normally when I think about music notation I figured it's almost always better to write 64ths as a tempo change. Mr Wakeman actually makes a . good case for them here. :P
I've had the excellent good fortune of seeing Rick in several settings, in the early years... Chicago ========= Fragile Tour Close to The Edge Tour Tales From Topographic Oceans Tour Journey to the Centre of the Earth Every time I saw him play, he "kicked it up a notch" (to borrow a phrase). It was outstanding!
