Tag Archives: keyboards

Album review: ESBE – I Might Be Dreaming

Posted on August 13, 2022 by petefeenstra

Pete Feenstra chatted to Esbe for his Feature show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. First broadcast 28 August 2022. New Cat Records [Release date 20.05.22] Esbe is a British composer, musician, arranger, producer and vocalist with a beautifully expressive … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged album, ambient, Bjork, electronica, Esbe, I Might Be Dreaming, interview, keyboards, Nico, review, The Velvet Underground, vocal | Leave a comment

Interview: MARK MANGOLD

Posted on July 11, 2022 by jason

KEYS is a collaboration between keyboardist Mark Mangold (Touch, Drive, She Said, Michael Bolton, Cher, Paul Rogers and others) and singer Jake E (Cyhra, Amaranthe, and others). Featuring live performances with three keyboardists and a huge battery of keyboards, this … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged AOR, Cyha, House of Lords, interview, Jake E, keyboards, keys, Mark Mangold, melodic rock, pomp rock, porg rock, Touch | Leave a comment

Interview: Mark Kelly (Marillion) – In Conversation with my Uncle

Posted on May 13, 2022 by jason

MARILLION - Manchester Academy, 8 November 2017

You all know him as the keyboardist of Marillion, his solo project Mark Kelly’s Marathon, and as of this year, published author of his autobiography Marillion, Misadventures and Marathons: The Life and Times of Mad Jack. I knew him, before … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged book, Caitlin Kelly, Classic Albums, classic rock, interview, keyboards, Marathon, Marillion, Mark Kelly, melodic, prog rock, progressive, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: JOHN MAYALL – The Sun Is Shining Down

Posted on January 16, 2022 by petefeenstra

Forty Below [Release date 28.01.22] John Mayall’s 5th album for his producer Eric Corne’s Forty Below label may or may not be his 43rd in all, but it’s surprisingly good. Surprising, because despite 6 guests and 3 covers it’s still … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bernard Allison, Bobby Rush, Buddy Miller, Carolyn Wonderland, Eric Corne, Greg Rzab, harmonica, Jake Shimabukuro, Jay Davenport, John Mayall, keyboards, Marcus King, Melvin Taylor, Mike Campbell, review, Roosevelt Sykes, Scarlet Rivera, Sugarcane Harris, The Sun Is Shining | Leave a comment

Album review: MARK KELLY – Marathon

Posted on November 20, 2020 by jason

earMUSIC [Release date 27.11.20] Thirty years in the making… well, ok, thirty years in the planning, Marillion’s much sought after keyboard player, Mark Kelly at last releases his “solo” album, the appropriately titled “Marathon”. He’s enlisted the help of a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, EarMusic, keyboards, Marathon, Marillion, Mark Kelly, melodic, prog rock, progressive, review, rock | Leave a comment

Quick plays: LARS BOUTRUP, AL DI MEOLA

Posted on February 23, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

LARS BOUTRUP’S MUSIC FOR KEYBOARDS The Great Beyond Ex’cess Records (Release date 02.03.20) Danish keyboard wiz Lars Boutrup evokes organ grinders of a bygone age. In doing so he also fashions his own version of classic keyboard-led rock. ‘The Great … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged Across The Universe, Al Di Meola, album, guitar, guitarist, Hammond, instrumental, keyboards, Lars Boutrup, Lars Boutrup's Music For Keyboards, organ, progressive, review, rock, The Beatles, The Great Beyond | Leave a comment

Album review: PHIL LANZON – 48 Seconds

Posted on August 10, 2019 by jason

Phil Lanzon Ditties/Cargo Records UK [Release date 02.08.19] Hot on the heels of last year’s ‘If You Think I’m Crazy’ Uriah Heep’s keyboards player Phil Lanzon is back with another solo album, which again sees him working with producer Simon … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, big band, classic rock, Grand Prix, John Mitchell, keyboards, melodic rock, Mick O'Donohue, Miriam Grey, Phil Lanzon, pomp rock, review, Richard Cottle, Simon Hanhart, Uriah Heep | 2 Comments

Album review: TAYLOR’S UNIVERSE – Almost Perfected

Posted on August 5, 2018 by petefeenstra

Marvel Of Beauty Records [Release date 17.11.17] If it’s hard to retain a serious notion of progressive rock in a genre that arguably ran its short lived course in the early 70’s, then Robin C. Taylor takes the instrumental jazz-rock … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Almost Perfected, blues, Burnin' Red Ivanhoe, Danish Rock, fusion, Gentle Giant, Gong, guitar, instrumental, Jakob Mygind, jazz, Jethro Tull, John Sund's, keyboards, King Crimson, Neil Ardley, Pierre Moerles, Pink Floyd, psychedelic, review, Robert Fripp, Robin C. Taylor, rock, Steve Hillage, synth, Taylor's Universe, Thomas TV Ulstrupand | Leave a comment

Album review: DIZZY REED – Rock ‘n Roll Ain’t Easy

Posted on April 8, 2018 by jason

Golden Robot Records [16.02.18] Dizzy Reed is better known as the keyboard player, and second longest serving member, of Guns n’ Roses (after Axl Rose himself, of course) having joined the band in 1990. “Rock ‘n Roll Ain’t Easy” is … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Axl Rose, Dizzy Reed, Golden Robot Records, Guns 'N' Roses, hard rock, keyboards, review, Richard Fortus, Ricky Warwick, rock, Rock ‘n Roll Ain’t Easy | Leave a comment

Album review: PHIL LANZON – If You Think I’m Crazy

Posted on February 27, 2018 by jason

Following the GRTR! reviewers’ choice for ‘Best of 2018′ Top Album, David Randall chatted to Phil Lanzon at the start of Uriah Heep’s UK tour in December 2018. First broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. Phil Lanzon Ditties/Cargo Records … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged album, Craig Blundell, Grand Prix, If You Think I'm Crazy, interview, John Mitchell, keyboards, melodic, melodic rock, Phil Lanzon, radio, review, rock, Solo, The Sweet, Uriah Heep | Leave a comment

Album review: KOTEBEL – Cosmology

Posted on August 14, 2017 by petefeenstra

Musea [Release date 06.07.17] Kotebel is a Venezualan/Spanish prog rock band with classical and fusion influences. ‘Cosmology’ derives its title from the study of the universe and it’s an exploratory, quasi- conceptual prog album, that draws on composer and keyboard … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Adriana Plaza Engelke, album, Camel, Carlos Franco Vivas, Carlos Plaza Vegas, Cesar Garcia Forero, Cosmology, fusion, Genesis, Jaime Pascual Summers, Jethro Tull, Jorge Luis Borges, keyboards, King Crimson, Kotebel, Omar Acosta, prog rock, review, Robert Fripp, symphonic rock | Leave a comment

Album review: LEON ALVARADO – Future Left Behind

Posted on July 17, 2016 by petefeenstra

Melodic Revolution [Release date 30.07.16] Based on an original short story by multi instrumentalist keyboard player Leon Alvarado, ‘Future Left Behind’ is a prog rock instrumental concept album that is a triumph of innovation and musical substance over recycled ideas … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Andy Jackson, Billy Sherwood, Frank Zappa, Future Left Behind, Johnny Bruhns, keyboards, Leon Alvarado, Pink Floyd, prog rock, review, Rick Wakeman, space rock, Steve Thamer | Leave a comment

Album review: GRAAL – Chapter 1V

Posted on December 15, 2015 by petefeenstra

Code 7 – Jolly Roger [Release date 25.05.15] It ten years since the Italian prog rock band Graal’s debuted with ‘Realm Of Fantasy’ and ‘Chapter 1v’ finds them honing their craft in a genre hopping mode while revelling in instrumental virtuosity. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Andrea Ciccomartino, Chapter 1V, Danilo Petrelli, Deep Purple, Dougie White, Francesco Zagarese, Graal, guitar, interview, Jethro Tull, John Lord, keyboards, metal, Nick Mason, PFM, Pink Floyd, prog, Realm Of Fantasy, rock, Rory Gallagher | Leave a comment

Quick plays: MOLTEN TRAIL, FOREST FIELD, MURDER MY SWEET, THIRD LUNG

Posted on August 19, 2015 by jason

MOLTEN TRAIL – Striving For The Sky Defox/Heart Of Steel Circles This is the project of Lithuanian keyboard maestro Vytautas Diskevicius, who has been playing and performing in Lithuania and this includes being part of former Uriah Heep vocalist John … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Angelica Rylin, Angels?, Beth Out Of Hell, China White, Daniel Flores, Erik 'EZ' Blomkvist, Forest Field, keyboards, metal, Molten Trail, MURDER OF MY SWEET, Peter Cox, Phil Vincent, prog, review, rock, Seven Thorns, Striving For The Sky, Third Lung, Vytautas Diskevicius | Leave a comment

Album review: THEO – The Game Of Ouroboros

Posted on February 24, 2015 by petefeenstra

Big O Records [Release date 27.01.15] “Thank you for calling Conglobocorp: Government made easy, your call will be recorded and archived in your Perma-file for security purposes”. Welcome to the futuristic world of keyboard playing composer Jim Alfredson and his … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Genesis, Gentle Giant, Jim Alfredson, Kevin DePree, keyboards, Man, Michael McDonald, Phil Ryan, Pink Floyd, prog rock, review, synth, The Game Of Ouroboros, Theo, Yes, Zach Zunis | Leave a comment

Album review: CLEARLIGHT – Impressionist Symphony

Posted on August 17, 2014 by petefeenstra

Gonzo Media Group [Release date 23.05.14] Clearlight’s ‘Impressionist Symphony’ celebrates the 40th anniversary of the post-‘Tubular Bells’ album ‘Clearlight Symphony’, cut on the fledgling Virgin label all those years ago. It once again brings together three former Gong members Didier … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album review, Christophe Kovax, Clearlight, Craig Fry, Cyrille Verdeaux, Didier Malherbe, fusion, Gong, guitar, Impressionist Symphony, keyboards, Linda Cusma, Neil Bettencourt, Paul Sears, Remy Tran, space rock, Steve Hillage, symphony, Tim Blake, Vincent Thomas-Penny | Leave a comment

Gig review: RICK WAKEMAN – Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, 9 May 2014

Posted on May 10, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Rick Wakeman is perhaps better known these days for being a “Grumpy Old Man” and a tetchy consumer champion via his appearances on BBC’s ‘Watchdog’. But back in the day, with his flowing cape and musical theatrics, he defined progressive … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 9 May 2014, English Chamber Choir, gig, keyboards, Liverpool, New World Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonic Hall, prog, progressive, review, Rick Wakeman, Yes | Leave a comment

Interview: 10Q’s with OLIVER WAKEMAN

Posted on March 13, 2014 by jason

Oliver Wakeman tours with Gordon Giltrap during April promoting their ‘Ravens and Lullabies’ album and their band includes members of Arena and Threshold. Here we find out a little more about the tour, his time with the Strawbs… 1. What … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/10 Questions | Tagged 10Q's, Gordon Giltrap, interview, keyboards, prog rock, Ravens and Lullabies, Rick Wakeman, theStrawbs, tours, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review: DEREK SHERINIAN – Reissues (Inertia,Black Utopia,Mythology,Blood Of The Snake,Molecular Heinosity)

Posted on February 3, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Armoury Records (re-issues) [Release date 10.02.14] Sherinian came to wider attention with Dream Theater in 1994 and since he left that band in 1999 the volume of his session work has grown along with stints in Black Country Communion and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Allan Holdsworth, Black Utopia, Blood Of The Snake and Molecular Heinosity, Derek Sherinian, Dream Theater, Inertia, John Petrucci, John Sykes, keyboards, metal, Mythology, Planet X, progressive, reissue, rock, Simon Phillips, Slash, Steve Lukather, Tony Franklin, Virgil Donati, Yngwie Malmsteen, Zakk Wylde | Leave a comment

Album review: DON AIREY – Keyed Up

Posted on January 19, 2014 by jason

Interview edit: Don Airey 19 January 2014 The full interview will be broadcast on Sunday 2 February at 18:00 Mascot [Release date 17.02.14] Virtuoso and legendary keyboard player (and all round nice guy) Don has played with pretty much everyone … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Carl Sentance, Darrin Mooney, Deep Purple, Don Airey, Gary Moore, jazz fusion, keyboards, Keyed Up, Lawrence Cottle, Rainbow, review, rock, Whitesnake | 1 Comment

Album review: NEW DANCE ORCHESTRA – Electronica (feat. Geoff Downes/Anne-Marie Helder)

Posted on December 6, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

NDO Records [Release date 04.11.13] This is an intriguing release from the highly-talented Geoffrey Downes, or Geoff Downes as you know him, erstwhile keyboard tinkler from Asia and Yes. New Dance Orchestra is an ongoing project but to my knowledge … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Anne-Marie Helder, Asia, electronica, Geoff Downes, Geoffrey Downes, keyboards, Mostly Autumn, New Dance Orchestra, Panic Room, review, The Buggles, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review: KERAVEL – Voltz

Posted on June 1, 2013 by petefeenstra

At his best Canadian composer, arranger, multi instrumentalist and producer Serge Keravel immerses you in his moods, emotions and instrumental landscapes with infinite possibilities. At worst, he’s a pop synth dabbler like Jean Michel Jarre, all too happy to work … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album review, Canadian composer, electronics, Eno, Jean Michel Jarre, Keravel, keyboards, Neil Ardley, synth, Tangerine Dream, Voltz | Leave a comment

Album review: PEARL HANDLED REVOLVER – This Mountain Waits

Posted on May 23, 2013 by petefeenstra

King Mojo Records [Release date 7.05.13] In an age where a new generation of bands are subconsciously or otherwise recycling themes, riffs and the musical values of the late 60’s era, Pearl Handled Revolver are handily placed to tap into … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album review, Andy Paris, Bob Dylan, Chris Thatcher, Hammond, James Dean, Jim Morrison, keyboards, LA Woman, Led Zeppelin, Lee Vernon, Mellotron, Nick Cave, Oli Carter, Pearl Handled Revolver, prog rock, Psychedelic Rock, Simon Rinaldo, This Mountain Waits, Tom Waits | Leave a comment

Album review: DAYS BETWEEN STATIONS – In Extremis

Posted on May 21, 2013 by petefeenstra

Radio showcase for “In Extremis”, first broadcast 12 May 2013 www.daysbetweenstations.com [Release date 15.05.13] It may be 5 years since the excellent self titled instrumental debut album by Days Between Stations but in the prog rock world the musical staples … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album review, Ali Nouri, barbershop quartet, Billy Sherwood, Chris Tedesco, Colin Moulding, Dave Gilmour, David Rakita, Days Between Stations, Eric Orr, Evren Göknar, Genesis, guitar, Iranian music, Jeffery Samzadeh, Jon Anderson, keyboards, Mat Bradford, Matt Gray, Mexican music, Oscar Fuentes, Pat Claypool, Peter Gabriel, Pink Floyd, prog rock, Rick Wakeman, Sepand Samzadeh, synth, The Angel City Orchestra, Tony Banks, Tony Levin, XTC, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review: TIME GRID – Life

Posted on May 4, 2013 by petefeenstra

Open Your Eyes Records [Release date: 21.01.13] Time Grid is French/Swiss prog metal band who have taken nearly a decade to realise their musical vision. ‘Life’ is by no means an unblemished slice of prog metal, but … Continue reading →