Best keyboard player?

[Crimson King]

Keith Emerson hands down, he's done it all: plays pretty much every kinda keyboard known to man, greap musical chops, great showman (played on a suspened piano spinning around, would do all kinds of abuse to his keyboards (kicking,shaking,hitting with drumsticks and even stabbing them w/knives!), but the most amazing thing I've seen him do is take a keyboard and play classical pieces backwards! There is a Youtube video of the Atlantic 40th Anniversary where he does some of this incredible backwards playing on the tune "America", Carl Palmer plays an incredible drum solo as well, they were billed as "Emerson and Palmer", Lake did not show that night. I've got all the Nice and ELP CD's in my personal collection! Rick Wakeman is a close 2nd.

[GLaDOS]

Rick Wakeman from Yes is a good one; listen to his awesome keyboard solo in Roundabout.

[Crimson King]

Originally Posted by kotsedriver

Rick Wakeman from Yes is a good one; listen to his awesome keyboard solo in Roundabout.

+1 Also give the side long "Close To The Edge" (the title track from the album) a listen! Good stuff! Plus Ray Manzarek's keyboard work was also a major part of "The Doors" sound, his solo on Light My Fire, timeless!

[My_Two_Cents]

Good to see the thread started off with the best! Emerson and Wakeman are tied, as far as I'm concerned, followed closely by Tony Banks from Genesis.

[brettallica]

This is definitely an "old guys" thread, since "good keyboardists" don't really exist anymore.

The ones mentioned already are pretty much the gold standards, but one who is phenomenal is Jordan Rudess of Dream Theater. I've seen him live twice and he's just amazing. He also rocks on the keytar — something you can't really say too often about that instrument in general.

[toef]

Some greats have already been mentioned.

Another I'd add is Billy Preston.

[anomynous]

Janne Wirman (from Children of Bodom)
Geddy Lee (from Rush)
Kamal Gray (from The Roots)

are all good choices to me, but I think Geddy Lee has to take this

[Crimson King]

Mike Ratledge (Soft Machine) was also a keyboardist ahead of his time.

[Steelmaker]

Jordan Rudess of Dream Theater is phenominal. Rick Wakeman is awesome as well and a legend!

However my favorite would have to be Jonathan Cain of Journey. He just always composes the most beautiful melodies. They're not necessarily technical wonders but still, they are memorable.

I also must give a shout out to the late Billy Powell of Lynnyrd Skynnyrd. I always enjoyed his playing as well.

[GLaDOS]

Originally Posted by BillyJack

+1 Also give the side long "Close To The Edge" (the title track from the album) a listen! Good stuff! Plus Ray Manzarek's keyboard work was also a major part of "The Doors" sound, his solo on Light My Fire, timeless!

Light My Fire, anyone?

[Crimson King]

If you want to hear some off the wall stuff, check out a very hard to find album called "Attila". This album only had to musicians on it, one was a very young Billy Joel, and the other was a drummer named Jon Small. This album had a very heavy Deep Purple like sound, Billy Joel plays BOTH a very raunchy distorted Hammond B3, and bass pedals. E does not play obe bit of piano on this album,NADA! Critics including Joel himsef hated it, but fans of the album love it! I payed top dollar for the import CD back in the 90's and it was well worth it! Even though it's only two musicians, it sounds like a full band! A few of the songs are on Youtube to listen to, just enter- attila billy joel!

[GLaDOS]

What about Steve Walsh from Kansas?

[broganreynik]

I agree with all the names mentioned so far. Strange thing though, I enjoy Kevin Moore's stuff with Dream Theater more than Jordan Rudess', even though I know Rudess is a much more accomplished keyboard player.

[Crimson King]

Don't forget John Paul Jones, although primarly a bassist, ha added some great keyboard work to some Led Zep tracks! The same applys to Jack Bruce of Cream fame.

[GLaDOS]

Originally Posted by BillyJack

Don't forget John Paul Jones, although primarly a bassist, ha added some great keyboard work to some Led Zep tracks! The same applys to Jack Bruce of Cream fame.

No Quarter! Your Time Is Gonna Come! Thank You! Misty Mountain Hop!

[Sagacious Koreo]

Gregg Rolie
Richard Wright
Billy Preston
Rick Wakeman
Stevie Wonder
George Duke
Keith Emerson

That's all I can think of right now.

[beefytwinkie]

We should all get into a subjective/objective discussion about this.

Question: What is the difference between playing a keyboard and playing a piano? Is a keyboard considered a synth?

[brettallica]

Originally Posted by BillyJack

Don't forget John Paul Jones, although primarly a bassist, ha added some great keyboard work to some Led Zep tracks! The same applys to Jack Bruce of Cream fame.

Originally Posted by kotsedriver

No Quarter! Your Time Is Gonna Come! Thank You! Misty Mountain Hop!

...and the solo from All of My Love, among others.

Jon Lord also comes to mind for me. He was the original Deep Purple keyboardist — think Highway Star, etc.

[radagast]

Originally Posted by BillyJack

Keith Emerson hands down, he's done it all: plays pretty much every kinda keyboard known to man, greap musical chops, great showman (played on a suspened piano spinning around, would do all kinds of abuse to his keyboards (kicking,shaking,hitting with drumsticks and even stabbing them w/knives!), but the most amazing thing I've seen him do is take a keyboard and play classical pieces backwards! There is a Youtube video of the Atlantic 40th Anniversary where he does some of this incredible backwards playing on the tune "America", Carl Palmer plays an incredible drum solo as well, they were billed as "Emerson and Palmer", Lake did not show that night. I've got all the Nice and ELP CD's in my personal collection! Rick Wakeman is a close 2nd.

It depends on which genre you are talking about. In jazz, the greatest pianist of all time was Oscar Peterson. Lyle Mays is pretty amazing, too.

[mikejet]