Customer Reviews

Keith Emerson Band featuring Marc Bonilla

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is an admirable return to form for a keyboard hero who seemed to have lost his creative path for many years (except for the import solo-piano album).
Though you miss the voice of You-Know-Who, new collaborator Marc Bonilla helps our old friend deliver the "retro prog" album we have been waiting for without the creative cross-purposes and confused efforts to be "commercial" or whatever was tearing things asunder in the "Love Beach" (and later, the even-sadder "In the Hot Seat" ) days.
That said, don't get your hopes up for a masterpiece or something that compares to the best ELP Work(s). Though the bulk of it is packaged as a conceptual suite based on the ghost story/legend "The House of Ocean Born Mary," the choppy transitions suggest a lot of it is just random bits cobbled together. Even the better stuff is nothing you haven't heard before, but that type of recycling is true of new albums from the Stones or just about any classic-rock survivors still making albums.
Bonilla has a decent enough John Wetton-style voice, albeit on the flat side, and interesting lyrics. And assuming he's the guy who took the lead and helped our ol' pal get one across the finish line, he's more respectful of what an Emerson album should sound like than the guy who kind of dominated a similar partnership with that "3" album in the '80s.
There's some modern synth programming here and there and a power-chord remake of "The Barbarian" as a "bonus" track at the end, but for the most part I think they went out of their way to make it as old-school Hammond-and-piano sounding as they could and to make up for lost time. They copy the old ELP formula so far as to include a honky-tonk joke song ("Gametime") and the requisite Ginastera instrumental blow-out, "Malambo" (the essential track for those buying a la carte).

The greatest keyboardist on planet earth is back with a new disc that puts the prog back in rock! The Keith Emerson Band with guitarist vocalist Marc Bonilla along with bassist Bob Birch and Gregg Bissonette on percussion, help Keith finally break the ties with ELP. It's hard to think of Emerson in any band without associating him with Greg Lake and Carl Palmer his two former partners who helped change the face of rock music by liberating it from it's blues based origins. Emerson continues on the same path with this new band. Actually he's been playing with them for several years. I had a chance to see them live in 2006 at a small venue in Annapolis Maryland and it was one of the most exciting concerts that I've ever seen. I also had the good fortune to meet the man himself after the show, something that I never would have dreamed possible back in the 70's when ELP played the arenas. On this new disc Keith really delivers. If you like the hammond organ, he gives it to you, if you like the polyphonic moog fanfares, you got it, if you like his trademark muscular bartokian piano solos it's all here backed by the refreshingly crisp hard rock guitar runs of Bonilla and driven by the dependable rhythm team of Birch and Bissonette. Marc Bonilla's singing, a style another viewer here likened to John Whetton works very well in this particular band especially in the concept piece "The House of Ocean Born Mary"which takes up three quarters of the disc. A special treat is a re-visit of "The Barbarian" from ELP's first album. All in all a must have for fans of the great one and progressive rock.

This CD (2009) contains all new material, finally, yeah! (except the ELP Barbarian). The music is very good (though often venturing into territory which is familiar sounding) with a nice mixture of piano, Hammond organ, and synthesizers, showcasing Emerson's songwriting/playing skills, his ELP roots, and his current creative inclinations. Marc Bonilla's style -- his guitar playing and vocals -- compliments Emerson's output quite well. Hats off also to Greg Bissonette on drums and percussion and Bob Birch on bass. The overall sound quality of the band is excellent.

The album contains lots of short songs which do work together, but it does seem the short tracks could have been more thoroughly developed for a stronger production (13 of the 20 tracks are in the range of 2 1/2 minutes or less, with 8 of these 13 tracks under 2 minutes each). Just wish that the songs were consistently longer without the short ditties, and that there were more instrumental cuts (maybe next time, and maybe a live CD down the road).

Well, this album easily deserves a good 4 stars, but I happily gave it 5 merely for the fact that a dream of mine has come true.....
Considering Emerson's proven genius talent from ELP's prime years, anybody familiar with it had to be stupefied wondering why that unparalleled flame of innovation went out for the most part of 3 decades. (OK, the EL & POWELL record was a decent effort, but heck... that was 23 years ago itself. And I personally never cared for Black Moon & Hot Seat). You had be saying to yourself... "C'mon Keith... I KNOW you still have it IN you!"
Well, this is without doubt the best work by Keith Emerson since the premiere era of ELP's first 5 albums. I couldn't stop smiling my first time through it, and I still do. Thanks Keith... for now letting me relive a great time in my life, when we anxiously anticipated your every new creation.

I'll leave the album details to the other reviewers, but just add a couple thoughts:
Even during ELP's heyday, I had often hoped if their success had endured, that they might add a DEDICATED electric guitar (not just Lake switching back-and-forth). Actually I would often joke with friends that if they added Steve Howe to the band, they could be called H E L P. Ha!
But that configuration has finally come to be on this album. It's a spicy embellishment when Marc Bonilla's guitar joins the audio panorama. Keith still goes off on his own with intros & segues here and there, and that remains a good thing. I just like it when that refreshing smart guitar marrys the great keyboard sound(s).
And the rythmn section is hot! As someone else mentioned, you're gonna flip when you hear Malambo and the guitar-laced remake of The Barbarian.
Personally I find Bonilla's voice quite appealing and a good fit. Lake was Lake and that was then. Bonilla's singing is story-like in form and has a pleasant sound. I like that. This album doesn't need to be ruined by a screamer (and I'm not referring to Lake whom I respect).

So... if you loved ELP at their peak in the glory days, you can't ask for much better than this. I got the album 5 days ago and I'm still listening to it every night. Finally... new brain food from keyboard's mad scientist. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

The magic of ELP temporarily re-appeared in the early 90's with "Black Moon," and the re-working of the classic "Pictures at an Exhibition" - which is absolutely inspiring and sublime. Additionally the new versions of "Fire," "Hang on to a Dream," "Touch and Go," and "21st Century Schizoid Man" made the box set a must buy. The "Hot Seat" was ok, just not ELP. Even though ELP toured, and Emerson released some solo projects, they all seemed to fall short.

The Keith Emerson Band featuring Marc Bonilla has resurrected the MAGIC, but with some definite improvements. All the musicians add flavor, chemistry, and a fullness to Emerson's mastery/wizardry on the keyboards. Bonilla's singing has some elements of Lake and Wetton, only much, much better - what a great surprise. Marc is known for his great guitar playing, but, how long has been hiding his excellent vocal ability.

Adding Bonilla's ability to the songwriting brings this music up to a contemporary sound while Emerson revives some of the classic ELP sound from the 70's thru the 90's. There are moments that would have fit almost any previous ELP release. Although it took a few listens to really appreciate the differences, and the newer sounding parts, I have really come to love this release. This release is Highly recommended.

I seen ELP back in 73-74 at the Charleston West Virginia civic center.
It was the greatest show on earth, the greatest show I've ever seen.
Emerson and Marc make a great team. This is a GREAT cd and worth the wait. Welcome back Mr. Keith Emerson, you sound as good as ever, if not better. This cd is as close as it can get to Brain Salad Surgery.
It's been along time coming and it's GREAT. This should put Mr. Keith Emerson in the rock & roll hall of fame for sure. Thanks for all the great music you've made, good luck with the tour. Keith Emerson left scars on me mentally that I wouldn't give up for all the music in the world. This cd is like hearing from an old friend that you haven't seen for a long time, good to hear from you again old friend. May the rock & roll gods smile upon you.

I had heard about Keith's bout with CTS, but his playing and writing have been amazingly restored. I cannot say enough about how phenomenal it was to listen to this cd - it is more consistently brilliant than any ELP album I have listened to. When I heard the last track - which is the first track of the first ELP album, with the guitar = it is as if Hendrix had joined the band as planned. I am a hard-core prog fan, and it is so gratifying to hear a founder of this genre putting out something of this caliber - it has restored my faith.

This is one of those CD's you need to listen to over and over to love it, also good headphones is a must. At first, I was very concerned by the short length of each selection but once you hear it played through and understand that in order to enjoy the cd you must play it from beginning to end. Prog Rock is back

As a very long time KE fan I have come to realize that this album is exactly what I've been waiting years for. I'll credit Mr. Bonilla for helping to spark Mr. Emerson's -- well whatever he sparked! This is by far Emerson's best quality post-ELP work and actually one of the best of Emerson's career.

There are many posivites and the album starts right off with with all kinds of keyboard hijinx - heavy organ, layered synths, and dramatic piano all making for a super intro. The rest of it works so well with all kinds of classic Emerson riffs and sounds. Marc B. adds so much with his fluid guitar work and I do like his voice -- a lot actually. The young drummer and bass player are very good and add their uniqueness to the whole mix as well.

The whole recording harkens back to the days of Tarkus and by that I mean in shape: We start with the large whole concept piece "The House of Ocean Born Mary," which includes among many different bits; the beautifully haunting piano solo "Prelude to a Hope." Then there's the 'classical music' bit that Emerson does so well, he goes back to the great composer Ginastera and brings us "Malambo" from "Dances from Estancia". This is a jaunty sometimes bluesy rocker that really gets me moving and smiling (an effect not unlike Emerson's version of Rodrigo's "Canario."). And a real blaast from the past idea is the song "Gametime." Reminds me of the 'fun' songs from the old ELP days -- "Are you ready Eddie?" "Benny the Bouncer."

Marc Bonilla really shines on several pieces especially on "The Parting, "The Art of Falling Down," and "A Place to Hide." It is amazing that Keith and Marc have blended themselves into something that as the saying goes is more than the sum of its parts. I love this whole album from top to bottom. It has taken several listenings but now I'm convinced of how great this is to me -- a Keith Emerson fan.

My only complaint -- the recording is too short, although including the re-boot of "The Barbarian" is interesting.

It's new, it's fresh, and long overdue! Keith Emerson, back with a vengeance. Marc Bonilla is the quintessential complement, adding just the right edge with his stunning guitar work and surprisingly good vocals ( check out the footage on YouTube of them together in Hungary 2006, ripping through KE9, 1st Imp Pt 2; Marc sings it with no apparent effort whatsoever, whereas Lake seemed to struggle with it live, even in 1974 ). Gregg Bissonette is along for the ride as well, offering his usual fine drumming. Here's hoping a DVD of Emerson's band will rapidly follow. Welcome Back Indeed, Keith.