Keith Emerson Band Featuring Marc Bonilla [CD+DVD]

The new studio release from Keith Emerson, with a lot of help from the talented guitarist, Marc Bonilla, epononymously titled Keith Emerson Band, featuring Marc Bonilla, is largely centered, like much of Emersons previous work, on a grand central theme, with some lighter pieces to round it out. In this case, the central thesis is inspired by a romantic New England ghost story, by Marion Lowndes. The first 15 tracks comprise the suite, which runs an emotional gamut of loss, gain, hope, and finally, redemption. The opening track is a largely atonal mood piece, with low pipe organ notes, providing the base, with seemingly random Moog improvisations and Bartok like piano runs. This segues into a short pipe organ bridge into the third track which provides the thematic basis of the rest of the suite. The next two tracks are largely written by Marc Bonilla, and begin to tell the story with haunting, forgive the pun, lyrics and melodies. For a change, Emerson seems to pay a great deal of attention to the melodic and lyrical aspects. This is reprised and further developed in the central piece,Marche Train, co-written by Emerson and Bonilla. This simplified treatment is much more listenable than much of Emersons grandiose projects of the past, but no less complex. For example, the second quote of Gustav Holsts Jupiter theme, about 4:30 into the track, has Emerson playing counterpoint to Bonillas guitar lead. This is followed by 2 short instrumental pieces, which bridge to a lovely minor piano solo, Prelude to a Hope. This melds perfectly into a melancholy quest for redemption and salvation in A Place to Hide. The next to last piece, Miles Away, Pt 3, concludes the bittersweet ghost story, and then wraps up the suite with a protracted heroic upbeat instrumental finale. This is easily Emersons best work in about 30 years and certainly the most lyrical. The addition of Marc Bonilla is arguably the best thing that could have happened to Emersons music. The remaining 4 pieces are a mixed bag, but still pretty good. All in all, the best keyboardist in rock music is back with a vengeance. And enjoying every note of it.

The great Keith Emerson is back!What an astounding album produced in a true prog rock style. The concept piece is shear brilliance,featuring Keith doing what he does best!!As so are the other tracks on this CD. Marc Bonilla complements Keith with his exquisite guitar playing and superb vocals. WELCOME BACK MY FRIENDS TO THE SHOW THAT NEVER ENDS!!!!!