The 10 Greatest PROG KEYBOARDISTS of All Time | RANKED

[@Stewart.Gaskin]

Thanks Andy! Honoured to be included in this list of excellent keyboard players. Keith Emerson was my teenage hero... my personal UK keyboardist top ten would also include Dave Sinclair (Caravan) and Mike Ratledge (Soft Machine) - the real 'Canterbury' guys! Dave Stewart

[@martinspencer1618]

"I Can't afford a mini-moog but i've got some guitar effect pedals" keyboard players.

[@jd8866]

Great list, I would put Dave Stewart higher :) his playing with Bruford, Hatfield, and National Health is to me some of the best ever for any rock genre. (and did I see a video with a young Dave playing with the Maynard Ferguson band??)

[@zenlandzipline]

Idk why your name isn’t listed on the Bruford albums like Holdsworth and Berlin. (Yes, your name is on there, but almost as a side note.) it always pissed me off. I’m not even a keyboard player. I’m a guitar player. But I thought your contributions to those recordings were every bit as important and fantastic as the other players. Your keyboard parts literally MAKE some of those songs. I hope you got (or get) paid as much as the other guys. The more I think about it, the more it pisses me off. Album cover should have read: Bill Bruford Featuring: Allan Holdsworth Dave Stewart Jeff Berlin (Not necessarily in that order) Just my 10 cents.

[@Penmaenmawr101]

Dave Sinclair! Definitely.

[@sheldonwheaton881]

Loved your album with "Harry and James"!

[@Panzersonor1967]

Clicked on this because of the thumbnail. Yesshows Is an amazing album! One of my favorites. Subscribed!

[@sheldonwheaton881]

When I cross myself I say " Emerson, Lake and Palmer"!

[@alexeyulko]

Amen!

[@kathyratino962]

Emerson was not only a genius; he was a savant. Considering his relatively limited amount of formal instruction, what he did was superhuman. He was an obsessive composing machine who could play anything and did. Classical, blues, jazz, rock, punk, honky tonk, ragtime, or manic Hendrixesque feedback one minute, and then breathtaking, heartbreaking, delicate beauty the next. Always surprising and thrilling. There will never be another Keith.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Yes...I agree...a one off

[@simonjones8111]

And he could do it all upside-down, as I saw him do it twice. 🎉

[@steveselby6201]

Can I mention Keith’s natural successor the incredible Rachel Flowers

[@edljnehan2811]

You're absolutely right young lady. He was not only a genius he was a savant and most people don't know that. The greatest of all time there will never be one better. Mr. Emerson is God on keyboards. Thanks young lady. I always knew you knew your stuff young lady.

[@lashedbutnotleashed1984]

@@steveselby6201 Yes, you can mention her. In fact....you already did.

[@johnsaunders6510]

It will always be Rick for me but I’m really glad that I grew up listening to them all. What a time to be alive

[@RO-uz4oi]

Richard Wright has to be in the top 4 with Banks and Wakeman

[@TheProgCorner]

Fantastic episode!!!!

[@ElZezoom]

Peter Bardens snubbed, I'm here always holding out hope for Camel. Keep it up Andy

[@andrewdunn-wv4ji]

Brilliant peter b ...camel ALWAYS ignored

[@progfrogian9226]

Great call on Stewart and Minnear. They are never mentioned enough. Keith Emerson would also be on my #1 spot for the same reasons as yours, but also because I think his composition has more depth and more diverse than Rick Wakeman. Rick can write songs, Keith can compose songs, and that to me is what makes the difference between both because they are probably on the same level technic wise 👍

[@robfox2195]

Great to hear a shout out for Martin "Widge" Orford and IQ. You are totally correct about that musical chemistry between Martin and Mike. Magic from the word go!

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

That is the sound upon which IQ is built...

[@petertrotman7708]

So pleased you added Dave Stewart. I've been an advocate of his for years. Imagine my surprise when he entered the charts when I was a kid with his "It's My Party" cover which was such a clever arrangement. I bought the single not clicking that it was the same guy on my Bruford albums then discovering Hatfield and National Health. Cheers Andy

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

He is a very versatile musician

[@MissMX]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer I saw the great Dave Stewart perform live last week (at Kings Place, London, 9th July) with his partner of 40 years, singer Barbara Gaskin. They finally got married last year! Stewart's prog/fusion playing was always sensitive, subtle and utterly tasteful, none of the tacky up-and-down the keyboard histrionics of Rick Wakeman's "Six Wives" musical tat. Stewart/Gaskin have released about six prog/pop studio albums since the mid 1980s.

[@camerontaylor1255]

Thanks Andy, and what a hard list to make. Happy to say you recommended a couple of players here I don't know too much about rather than most of your videos that just talk about all my favourite records. Two special mentions - Jordan Rudess, just because and at one point I started to get a real thing for the Canterbury scene bands. Turns out the person who lynch pinned some great bands and albums was Alan Gowan.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Jordan is a good call...and he is out and out prog too

[@philipbrown2225]

love the channel -it's great to be introduced to so many players and albums I am not familiar with. I grew up with your top 3 way back in the 70's ;some of these others here on your list I am less familiar with -looking forward to checking them out!

[@truefilm6991]

Not saying the best or the greatest or most iconic, but my personal favorite prog keyboardist is Tony Banks. He always plays the exact same part note for note in live shows (until the next rehearsal session), but it's very very elaborate with fast keyboard changes, patch/parameter changes, volume pedal work, and - at least up until around 1980 - absolutely gorgeous. Just that old ARP ProSoloist and the Hammond T-102 organ (which he only used as a "synth pad" after he got the ARP) alone sounded perfect. Just try to bend notes with 1970s aftertouch and you'll know how skilled he was.

[@edljnehan2811]

You're right he's really good. However he's no Keith Emerson but then nobody is.

[@truefilm6991]

@@edljnehan2811 Keith Emerson is also a virtuoso jazz player. That's a different ball game.

[@edljnehan2811]

@@truefilm6991 I hear your brother I heard him playing with Oscar Peterson. ELP even has Jazz licks in it just listen to and watch take a pebble from that Switzerland video filmed in 1970. My man does everything and does it five times better than anyone else. Thanks though.

[@edljnehan2811]

@@truefilm6991 sorry I almost forgot the nights. How about country pie? Rondo?

[@edljnehan2811]

@@truefilm6991 the nice not nights. Sorry this Google transcriptionist is terrible.

[@andrewwilson711]

Always entertaining and informative Andy well done !

[@Paul_Lenard_Ewing]

I was in the Prog Rock band Tallis in London's West End mid 70's club scene. The clubs as you know are small but we always had line ups. The group was drums/percussion bass, violin, guitar and vocalist. The violinist and bass player double on Mellotron and Moog. The songs were in the main written as if we were a string quartet with my guitar covering the second violin, and the vocals covered the viola, the bass being the cello. The parts were written in 4 part counterpoint. We had several 'big deals' fall through. A tour with Jean Lapointe another Gabriel. Basically in the end the backers being business people pulled out.They thought that a new thing, Punk was going to break big, lol. Such is life. At 75 still at it but in Canada. I front a power trio doing my 30 tunes. A nod to early Crimson in the approach but very song orientated with minimal self indulgence.

[@marklockey4434]

Thank You for rating Keith Emerson as your number 1. Music was his life and the world lost a true maestro when he passed. He will always be remembered as an iconic player, composer, writer and showman. For all of his talents he was a shy and humble man. RIP Keith, you legend.

[@TheLastOilMan]

OMG, pretty good for a Vila fan ! Here is the real top ten 10 M Mann 9 Tomita 8 Giani Nocenzi Banco 7 Jurgen Fritz Triumvirat 6 Moraz 5 Vangelis 4 Greenslade 3 Ricky 2 Banksie 1 Emmo

[@urmero67]

Great list as usual!! My personal favorite has got to be my boy from Newark NJ, Khalid Yasin aka Larry Young. His take on prog is really special. His most progressive stuff; Tony Williams Ego album and John McLaughlin's devotion especially on Dragon Song/Devotion...and then all the Lifetime stuff. Some other of my favorites that deserve to be mentioned include; Eddie Jobson, Jan Hammer, Richard Barbieri, Roger Powell from Utopia...and of course Tony Banks

[@teamrail]

Another great top 10 Andy, keep them coming!

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Thanks, will do!...check out next weeks schedule!!!

[@StratsRUs]

Great stuff.Thank you Andy !

[@leesnider4363]

I was holding my beath hoping that Keith Emerson would be No. 1, but who else could it be? I've always thought that Emerson's one failing was that he knew too much for his own good. He was familiar with every style of music dating to Medieval times, and his technical mastery enabled him to play anything he wanted whenever he wanted. This resulted in some extreme mutilations of classical compositions, but most of the time he was just flat-out astonishing. First time I saw him was with the Nice when I knew nothing about him. Totally blew me away. GOAT.

[@edljnehan2811]

Very well put I agree. Actually the nice were truly the first progressive rock band predating King Crimson Harriet

[@garygomesvedicastrology]

​@@edljnehan2811I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment of the Nice.

[@edljnehan2811]

@@garygomesvedicastrology thank you.. finally someone with some brains. I don't think if it wasn't for Keith Emerson and Robert Fripp there would be such thing as a progressive rock.

[@diogenes2550]

I would have thought you do think that.

[@sdrandazzo]

Thank you Andy for this fun episode. My favorite keyboardists in no particular order (more like a golden dozen here) are Wakeman, Jobson, Hugh Banton of Van der Graaf Generator, Maurizio Guarini of Goblin, Martin Orford of IQ, Brian Eno, Flavio Premoli of PFM, Claudio Simonetti of Goblin, Gem Godrey of Frost*, Peter Bardens of Camel, Kerry Minnear of Gentle Giant, Tony Banks and Keith Emerson.

[@marcotron7288]

Great list Sal 👌

[@CanigoCatala]

I agree the keyboard sound approach on Relayer is so unique, amazing and so well adapted with the complex composition

[@johnhenfrey5936]

Really interesting list, thanks very much Andy.

[@jr8870]

Patrick Moraz was also keyboardist for The Moody Blues following the departure of Mike Pinder, who was a Mellotron savant and pioneer…

[@alaincelos476]

Ohhhhhh a clever mind with great ears ,i begun to bé tired of reading and hearing some crappy stories ! Yes many progsters never known who popularised and développed thé Mellotrons ,,Reading that moraz was a top player makes me burst of laugh ,ain't serious AT all ,i'm not a progster only a 49 years playing piano and ,euh i do own one of 7 black golden MK2 ,double lead one ,as Mike did played ....

[@SRV2013]

In re: Discuss Gentle Giant as classical music. I met a percussionist from the LA Symphony who talked about the music they were performing, and it turned out to be Gentle Giant.

[@bélalugrisi]

Well done! Beasts, all of them!! Thanks Andy~ Honorable mention for Robin Lumley and David Sancious!

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Robin nearly made the list...I totally forgot about David Sancious...as I have on my forthcoming Fusion Keyboardists top ten. You watch how many will remind me this! But it does the KZbin algorhythm no harm...

[@bélalugrisi]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Looking forward to it, Andy!

[@sheldonwheaton881]

Can't remember his name, but, the keyboardist for Renaissance? Hell of a player.

[@kevinrombouts3027]

He certainly is. Very classical.

[@Soundbrigade]

Both of them - John Hawken and John Tout

[@lashedbutnotleashed1984]

John Tout never composed any music before he joined Renaissance. Then he just went for it and was their main composer.

[@kevhead1525]

​@@lashedbutnotleashed1984Mike Dunford wrote most of the music.

[@avantprog6902]

I saw Moraz play with Bruford on a riverboat in New Orleans. Fantastic!

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Yes...the piano drums duet thing...wonderful stuff...

[@avantprog6902]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Yeah, it was all acoustic. Probably around 83-84. First time I saw Bill. It was great!

[@jdmresearch]

Great list. The one I miss: Mike Ratledge. Such a distinct sound. Great compositional skills. Soft Machine leader from 68 to 75, which were all over the place.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

I have never really got early Soft Machine...it sounds like a British Zappa copy to me. I acknowledge their influence on prog however.

[@jdmresearch]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer I think the best Soft Machine albums (and live recordings) are after the initial two, but before they became a jazz-rock outfit. More specifically, Third and Fourth, and especially The Peel Sessions 69-71. (And the many live recordings from this two-year period). They were truly amazing, methinks. Influenced by Zappa (and Terry Riley) for sure, but they had their own distinct sound, in part due to Ratledge's particular sound based on a Lowrey organ and fuzz box (and sometime wah wah I think).

[@johnayres2303]

Yes Mike Ratledge was brilliant. You had to see Soft Machine live to experience how heavy and tight they were. Later this week, is the 50th anniversary of a Soft Machine concert at the Belfry Hotel Sutton Coalfield 21.10.72. I was there, life changing music for me.

[@jdmresearch]

@@johnayres2303 How lucky!

[@justDave3453]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer I think the Softs members would be stunned in disbelief at the thought they were Zappa copies. Go back and listen to Third and Fourth!

[@oblomurg]

A list like this and no Edie Jobson is like camping without a match/lighter. I bet it's something personal. Also, Vangelis had some heavy prog chops.

[@FundamentalsUK]

Great call with Martin Orford, he has written and played some amazing modern classic prog, in style, technique and sounds. 👍🏻

[@rafe9897]

Not sure if Atomic Rooster are 'Classic Prog' but Vincent Crane was there early on.

[@johnayres2303]

Yes Vincent Crane was good but tragically was taken too early.

[@jamesgarcia1045]

I am a fan of all these on your list and I agree Keith belongs at #1 spot. Romantic Warrior at the top of my favorite jazz-fusion prog rock albums as well. Tangerine Dream very influential but less prog virtuoso for me. Would like Eddie Jobson, Dave Greenslade, Rod Argent perhaps... I know not easy to squeeze them all in. I think with Dave Stewart you mention Hatfield and the North and show the 1st Bruford Band LP.. but wanted to add Egg and National Health to the list of great bands he played in.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Many have mentioned Eddie Jobson. I omitted him because there are only the UK albums where he made an impact on prog, but what an impact

[@jamesgarcia1045]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer understand but lets not forget early work with Curved Air and later Frank Zappa and playing with Jethro Tull. Roxy Music was a big deal though not prog. I met Eddie when he toured playing the music of Keith Emerson a few years back.

[@Robt.Velasquez]

Kieth was the epitome of a prog keyboardist. For me he was way ahead of the pack in technique and composition. This and your other prog videos have been an incredible series thus far. Looking forward to others.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Thanks Robert...I plan to return to fusion next week...

[@DavidMichaelDurham]

People shouldn't take lists like this too seriously, they're just fun in my view. I think of them as conversation starters. They're not really meant to be definitive, some deserving person or persons will invariably be left out. But the best thing lists like this do is shine a light on relatively unknown musicians, players who for one reason or another fell through the cracks, as it were. And Andy, you're pretty dang good at that. I consider it a valuable public service.

[@victordunavent9477]

glad you included IQ and Frost...love the frost album great drumming...and then you included chick...my keyboard hero

[@Patrick-sheen]

Great vid!

[@CharlesAustin]

Entertaining and informative .. awesome reveal !!

[@danieletrani5765]

Great list, I almost totally agree and Dave Stewart and Kenny Minnear are quite a surprise; only one name is missing here, even in the comment: Dave Sinclair. His work with Caravan was incredible (not to mention Matching Mole), he sounded soooo good and had great taste in solos; the one in In the Land of Grey and Pink is my favourite keyboard piano/keyboard solo EVER.

[@brucebrown73]

Chic Chorea’s mentioned was a pleasant surprise. Excellent

[@garypowell1540]

I am very happy to see Tangerine Dream, Patrick Moraz and Jan Hammer on your list, and who in their Prog thinking mind would not agree with your last 3? The rest I must admit to not really knowing much about them or listening to enough of their stuff. A big shout out to Dave Greenslade for his work on The Pentateuch of the Cosmogony alone if for not much else. One of the most amazing recordings and concept albums ever made, a real trip.

[@FernandoCoto-gx1zi]

Great selections Andy, in a Top 25 I guess you could include Mike Ratledge (Soft Machine), Peter Bardens (Camel), Kit Watkins (Happy The Man), Jean Jacques Kravetz (Frumpy), Dave Greenslade (Colosseum, Greenslade), Hugh Banton (VDGG), Richard Wright (Pink Floyd), Steve Walsh (Kansas), Rick Van Der Linden (Ekseption/Trace), Jürgen Fritz (Triumvirat), Vangelis, Thijs Van Leer (Focus), Tony Pagliuca (Le Orme, Flavio Premoli (PFM), Alan Park (Beggars Opera), David Sancious, to name a few.

[@brucebrown73]

Absolutely, right on!!!!! Phenomenal talent

[@markperry9427]

Great video again Andy. I totally agree with you, I would put Kieth Emerson at number one also, for pretty much all the same reasons. I think what sets Emerson apart from Wakeman is that Rick is very classical based whilst Keith pulls in so many different styles and fuses them into one, and that is what prog is. I know you're not too bothered by Camel, however, I definitely would put Pete Bardens in there, a very underrated keyboard player, his work, not just with Camel but his post Camel solo albums are excellent. I would also add Don Airey (currently with Deep Purple)and Richard Wright who was the most talented of Pink Floyd.

[@claudio130]

Great list, love that you included Chick Corea. Surprised Jon Lord is not in this list!

[@rsqyoung]

John Lord IMHO is every bit as good as Emmerson.... but not prog. Hard Rock and Classical. Wakeman could do it all and his best personality is actually off stage.

[@avantprog6902]

Yeah, Dave Stewart. He's a guy who just has magical phrasing. It can't be canned. It's innate. I feel that way about Steve Howe as well. Would love to see them collaborate. How would you classify Mats Oberg?

[@881881]

Fun list Andy but I wish you could have squeezed in Rick Van Der Linden of Trace & Ekseption. And also included Peter Bardens of Camel.

[@bertkarlsson1421]

I'm glad to see Dave Stewart on the list!! My number one would be Bo Hansson!! If you haven't listened to Bo I would recomend: "Music inspired by lord of the rings", "Music inspired by Watership Down" and "Monument"!! All essential prog albums in my opinion!!!

[@steevenfrost]

I've always liked the playing of Vincent Crane ex Arthur Brown and Atomic Rooster. I agree with some of the list but not all, as I don't know Chic Corea's work or Jan Hammer so will have to sit down and listen to them. Maybe after listening I will be a convert who knows? It's always good to have recommendations. Thanks for the upload.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Check out the albums I suggested if you are a progger...

[@steevenfrost]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer i will

[@lashedbutnotleashed1984]

Corea and Hammer are good, but they are not prog.

[@thatwilldonicely1314]

Emerson is the equivalent of the mighty Franz Liszt of 19th century classical music, unparalled virtuosity and compositional brilliance, something unique. Cheers

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

unparalled virtuosity?

[@edljnehan2811]

You're the man thanks. Keith Emerson is God.

[@alaincelos476]

My piano teacher ,once said " gossipy" with half numbers of notes ,you can say more ...knives in thé Hammond it help a lot may bé ....

[@robertglisson6319]

Andy, ya gotta love the hyperbole of fans on KZbin. There are many in prog who have parallel virtuosity as Keith, and Keith is the first to admit that. Then when you start thinking about Glenn Gould, Bill Evans, Vladimir Horowitz, Oscar Peterson, Van Cliburn, and some 13 year old girl in Japan, China or elsewhere, among dizens, if not hundreds of others, it would be impossible to make such a declarative statement. When asked who the best drummer is, Neil Peart famously said, "Some kid in a garage no one has ever heard of." How does one measure virtuosity? Speed? Dexterity? Proficiency in each hand? Creativity? I'm with you (and most) regarding Emo as rock's greatest keyboardist, but the hyperbole by fans is hilarious...

[@arnaudb.7669]

I will add Alan Gowen (Gilgamesh,National Health), Kit Watkins (Happy the Man,Camel),Eddie Jobson and last but DEFINETLY not least the AMAZING DAVID SANCIOUS

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

ahhh...Sancious...I always forget him....

[@moogymiss]

Dave Greenslade...Your mate Simon Phillips was awestruck by his talents.

[@melyvilorio9026]

Great list, honorable mentions to Alan Park (Beggar"s Opera) Jean Jacques Kravetz (Frumpy) Flavio Premoli (PFM) Steve Walsh (Kansas) Jürgen Fritz (Triumvirat) Peter Bardens (Camel) Dave Greenslade (Colosseum) Kit Watkins (Happy The Man) This Van Leer (Focus) Rick Van Der Linden (Trace) Lito Vitale (MIA) Kitflus (Iceberg) Dave Sinclair (Caravan)

[@lashedbutnotleashed1984]

Kerry Livgren was every bit as good as Steve Walsh on keyboards. In fact, he was far more versatile, and did the vast majority of the composing and also a great guitarist.

[@elbib2446]

honourablr mention to adam holzman,known as fusion guy,but some of his solo albums are quite prog/fusion,and his work with his guitarist wife jane getter is a mix of prog/fusion/metal,steven wilson albums etc

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

His work with Wilson is stunning

[@elbib2446]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer i like the jane getter albums and dig quite a bit of his solo stuff,which like most fusion proggy solo keys albums,have a top end cast of guest appearances

[@elbib2446]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer adam holzman and brave new world ,great stuff

[@martinbroten9467]

Certainly can’t argue with the list - the top three especially. Love the fact that there are number of mentions of Kit Watkins in the comment section. Happy The Man was perhaps the best American prog band that had the unfortunate timing of getting into the prog game just when everyone else seemed to be getting out (’77-’78). A wonderful keyboardist and composer. Good calls on Minnear and Stewart. Your comments about jazz musicians being way beyond musicians seems true. The fact that Corea could play prog as well as jazz as well as every other style he played) says it all. I recently heard Bill Bruford say (good naturedly) that, even though he’s great, Rick Wakeman has zero jazz content in his playing. And I was sort of hoping that you would have forgotten about Keith Emerson. Just would have been kinda funny… ;-)

[@lashedbutnotleashed1984]

Fireballet could give Happy the Man a good run for their money as far as best American prog band goes. And early Kansas has them both beat. Yezda Urfa is right up there too.

[@Fontsman]

Had to be Emerson. The massive breadth of styles and compositions. Saw him on KZbin duetting with Oscar Peterson. Most players would crap themselves, but Keith did it!

[@hanssipkes8179]

Yes he did it indeed, and survived, but man, he was nervous haha! I think Oscar appreciated it.

[@daverestivo]

As a jazz pianist and also a prog fan, I’d have to agree that Romantic Warrior is at least somewhere on the spectrum between prog and fusion, and Chick is one of the greatest anything ever. Hard to argue with your top three, including the ranking, although Tony Banks will always be my sentimental favourite-less flash, but he created so much beauty. If we’re talking about chops and charisma, sure, Wakeman and Emerson take it. But neither of them created anything as exquisite as One From the Vine, Cinema Show, Apocalypse in 9/8, Guide Vocal, Firth of Fifth, or the intro to The Lamb, just to name a few! Also, though I’m not always the biggest Dream Theatre fan, objectively speaking Jordan Rudess probably belongs on a list like this…phenomenal keyboardist, and a pretty burning guitarist, too!

[@horstbaur7797]

Damn brilliant list. Right on the button!

[@kevinputry5655]

My top 10(no particular order): Edgar Froese, Chris Franke and Peter Baumann(representing Tangerine Dream, good call on them Andy!), Claudio Simonetti of Goblin, Vangelis, Tony Banks, Keith Emerson, Francis Monkman, Dave Stewart, Chick Corea, Kit Watkins and Peter Bardens.

[@stevegerard906]

Jordan Rudess of Dream Theater and Liquid Tension Experiment has impressed me more than any other keyboardist since the nineties.

[@ZNRCDS]

Hi Andy! I've really enjoyed your playing over the years! I even have all of the Ley Lines releases with Phi Yaan-Zek and Steve Lawson! I just discovered the 2 releases from the last 6 years (Kiama & Rain) and hope you've got some more albums that have yet to be recorded! Love your list here. I would've put Tony at #1 and included Kit Watkins & Eddie Jobson but other than that no quibbles at all.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Thanks for that...a LEY LINES Fan!!!! Steve is not well at the moment, just come out of hospital after having first bout of chemo for lymphoma. He is in my thoughts a lot at the moment

[@chrisandpaulinepappas6164]

How about Vangelis?

[@moogymiss]

Keith Emerson loved Zappa....crazy music that was recreated in a strange time signature.They were great mates. Keith used a lot of zappas arrangements on tatkus ..frank sPotted a few too.

[@scoop1178]

Is Brian Auger prog? BTW:Emerson as jazzer "Freedom Jazz Dance" .Album "Music From Free Creek"

[@h.m.7218]

One of the best of them all was Dave Greenfield, the Stranglers Keyboardist.

[@lashedbutnotleashed1984]

Agreed. Dave Greenfield was fantastic. I've been a Stranglers fan for 46 years. RIP Dave Greenfield.

[@mrg1968]

Great list! Obviously Keith Emerson and Rick Wakeman are the kings of prog keys, but I'm really glad you included Dave Stewart (National Health were a fab underrated band), Jem Godfrey (Milliontown is one of my fav CD - with you on drumming) and Martin Orford (it's a real pity he left the music field as a protest against music system, IQ always have been a light in the prog scene since the '80s)

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Jem and Martin are both incredible keyboardist. I have also worked with Rob Reed and Clive Nolan who are both monsters. But the guy that is astonishing is Lalle Larson.

[@mrg1968]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Lalle Larson? Don’t know him … here I am to know something new! Rob Reed just seen in Veruno (Italy) with Magenta, great guy, love his solo works Sanctuary x … and loved the Kiama project with you. Hoped for your reunion with Jem in Frost*, but now waiting for your second Rain release 😊

[@joewalker511]

Eddie Jobson! Also, I think John Evan's work with Tull has always been underrated....

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

I did consider those two...

[@ftlpope]

I have not yet heard you talk about the percussion heavy genre of Brazilian jazz.

[@careyatchison1348]

What - Hugh Bantam of VDGG not on list?!

[@johncrocker-nh7ey]

I know you're wrong in your list because I agree with you and especially the final three thanks so much

[@monsieurlehigh4912]

I hear a lot of jazz in Emerson's soloing and jamming. Not so much in his compositions. I think he was a phenomenal composer. While Wakeman wrote some cool pieces as well, many musical ideas in Yes came from Anderson & Howe.

[@lashedbutnotleashed1984]

That's true. Wakeman did very little composing with Yes. Most of the musical ideas in Yes actually came from Anderson and Squire. Howe added ideas here and there. Even Wakeman's solo albums I thought were weak and derivative in the composing. He just imitates the old masters like Bach and Beethoven. He was stuck in classical music.

[@alex32phs]

Another great upload! Thanks Andy. Expected Top-3, although depending on the criteria, someone would change the exact series. Personally, Tony Banks is the best

[@bakeone4406]

Hmmmm, maybe i missed your mention of Mike Ratledge from Soft Machine, a player who really broke new ground and obviously influenced a couple of the guys listed here. Keith Tippett was another fantastic keyboardist (who probably went a bit outside any prog umbrella) who wasn't named, Maybe check him out on King Crimson Lizard if you haven't already. Vincent Crane was amazing on Atomic Rooster / Death Walks Behind You. Wolfgang Dauner, Rainer Bruninghaus and Joachim Kuhn deserve a mention as well.

[@davidhuft7578]

Oh, man. Thanks for introducing me to the Jan Hammer album. I saw the Maharishi Orchestra in San Francisco in 1972 and have been a Jan Hammer fan ever since.

[@davidhuft7578]

Oops. Mahavishnu.

[@dlsamson]

I love how your top ten list can't come even close to limiting it to 10. Romantic Warrior is one of my favorite albums (certainly favorite RTF) of all time & am happy to listen to it endlessly (a definite desert island pick). I loved all of the Bruford albums with Holdsworth, Berlin, Stewart & of course, Bill. Tangerine dream - that brings back memories of when I got my first album of theirs, Phaedra in the early '70s. Talk about game changing music! Keith Emerson is an entirely different category. I recall a comment by Todd Rundgren (of whom you may recall I'm a big fan) when forming his band Utopia. Utopia formed 2-3 years after ELP's debut. TR cited Mahavishnu Orchestra as a major influence but mentions ELP about which he said - we didn't like ELP so much because, (my paraphrasing) even though it was labeled a "supergroup" & Greg Lake & Carl Palmer were certainly very good at what they did, it was fundamentally a group that was centered around Keith Emerson's amazing keyboard playing. Emerson is what made ELP phenomenal. Keith Emerson certainly deserves his spot at the top of your list.

[@kathyratino962]

That's a nonsensical reason for not liking them much. King Crimson was huge after that first album, and Lake was its voice. Palmer was simply brilliant, especially at his age. He was lauded by Buddy Rich. I love Todd's music, but I never understood his turning his nose up at ELP. Later, he ended up singing Lucky Man with Carl's ELP Legacy band.

[@dlsamson]

@@kathyratino962 I think I am at fault for my choice of language. I don't think that Todd meant to imply that he didn't like ELP so much as he was indicating that he didn't see them as a role model for what he wanted to do with Utopia as he saw ELP as less collaborative than Mahavishnu.

[@kathyratino962]

@@dlsamson I see what you're saying. I think the band would disagree with that characterization. Look at Tarkus. Greg didn't think it would work for ELP when Keith brought it to him. After bringing management in and compromising and bringing in a topline and lyrics, Lake was in and sold the hell out of that piece. It would not have lived if they had not collaborated, and it would not have been the piece it is if they hadn't collaborated. Keith brought the genius, and Greg brought the passion. Carl brought the heat every second of every piece. Their chemistry was one in a million.

[@dlsamson]

@@kathyratino962 Thank-you for sharing that. For the record, I do love ELP (at least up to Love Beach, LOL). Their version of Pictures was one of my first intros to Classical.

[@kathyratino962]

@@dlsamson And to be clear, I'm not disagreeing with you; I'm disagreeing with Rundgren.

[@jd8866]

Great list - I would add Kit Watkins from Happy the Man somewhere on that this list!

[@wietzejohanneskrikke1910]

I know 'best of' lists are totally subjective. That's why i wanted to name two keyboardists that ought to be on a top 10 greatest prog keyboardists list: Kit Watkins (Happy the Man, Camel, his solo records) and Eddie Jobson (Zappa, U.K., UKZ, Jethro Tull, Zinc). I'm glad you included Dave Stewart. He is amazing.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

A lot of people are mentioning Eddie...who would I lose?

[@irena7777777]

His Eurythmics stuff as well

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

@@irena7777777 Different Dave Stewart....

[@irena7777777]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Exactly the same Dave Stewart. And I know them both…

[@wietzejohanneskrikke1910]

This Dave Stewart has nothing to do with the Eurythmics

[@Rog5446]

Dave Stewart was a perfect match with Allan Holdsworth. There was never any competition between them, they just complimented each perfectly. As for Kerry Minnear and GG, in an interview with Zappa, Frank was asked if he thought any other bands were any good. Without scratching his head he said, I think the British band GG are interesting. Might not sound like a rave revue, but any band worth their salt would stick out their chests with pride with a comment like that from Zappa.

[@majorsynthqed7374]

I am the keyboardist for Overworld Dreams, and I am so happy that Jem Godfrey is on this list. Milliontown is brilliant!

[@alonsomiranda2598]

Honorable mention to Eddie Jobson

[@ronaldmorgan7632]

Is there a video of the top ten guitarists?

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Yes...more than one...

[@ronaldmorgan7632]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Thanks. Found it. My old eyes had caused a dyslexic search.

[@markhenrynoll5601]

These are also my top 3 prog keyboardists though in a slitly diffetent order. 1 RW, 2TB, & 3 KE.

[@justgimmesometruth1136]

Glad to see Patrick Moraz on the list. The song Sound Chaser may be the best ever by Yes. And it's possibly the best performances by Alan White and Chris Squire, as well.

[@MissMX]

Moraz was the free-est keyboard player Yes ever had! Hope you also know his 2 fine albums with Bill Bruford?

[@garanceadrosehn9691]

Quite a nice list here. There are a few more I would have liked to have seen on the list, but I'm not sure who I would kick off this list to add on a few others. The only one I have no opinion of is Kerry Minnear, and that's because I haven't heard any of Gentle Giant's albums. (well, I probably did in college, but I don't remember them). Although I'll also say that I was particularly happy to see the guys from Tangerine Dream mentioned, which was a bit of a surprise. Wrt Tangerine Dream, another excellent keyboardist (IMO) would be Johannes Schmoelling. I am also happy to see Martin Orford on the list! Wrt Tony Banks, I'll add that I also really enjoy his recent solo albums _("Six Pieces For Orchestra"_ and _"Five"),_ which are pretty much modern classical instead of progressive. Also, for me personally at least, I'd put Rick Wakeman ahead of Keith Emerson - probably because I had heard both _"Fragile"_ and _"Close to the Edge"_ before I heard anything done by Keith, except (of course) for the song _"Lucky Man"._

[@douglasmcwilliams8802]

Good list. I'll have to check out Gente Giant

[@thomasmead4642]

Early Gentle Giant will blow your mind.

[@andrewwilson711]

Check out a late 70s band Andy called Punishment of Luxury later Punilux they sound like punk and prog mixed Laughing Academy their 1st album

[@TDRKB]

I was wondering at the beginning where this was going to go. Progressive Rock has to be well defined to validate your list. Tangerine Dream is my fave band of all time, but Keith Emerson is still my favourite keyboard player of all time so I am satisfied with your very difficult task. It would have been tempting to add Jon Lord or Jordan Rudess. Will there ever be another Keith?

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Jordan nearly made the list, what a fantastic keyboardist. Keith was a product of his time. In terms of showmanship, virtuosity and charisma I would put Hiromi up there as one of the greatest keyboardists of all time.

[@lashedbutnotleashed1984]

Tangerine Dream was not prog.

[@TDRKB]

@@lashedbutnotleashed1984 I didnt say they were nor did I expect Edgar Froese to be in such a list! sorry for the confusion.

[@ricardoaraujo8741]

De big 3 definitly are Emerson, Wakeman and Banks. I include in my list (the great 10), Eddie Jobson, Richard Wright and Jurgen Fritz.

[@johnayres2303]

For me Hugh Banton from Van der graf generator would be in my list.

[@lashedbutnotleashed1984]

I agree.

[@andym28]

You older prog gents need to hear Kevin Moore. songs such as space dye vest, wait for sleep learning to live another permanent address. As a musician he is holdsworthian level imo.

[@peterratcliffe9139]

Personaly the best keyboard solo of all time has to be aquatarkus live from welcome back by friends. This is a superb performance of both Moog ang Hammond captured on a live album of unequalled performances by an absolutely amazing, superb and stratospheric band ever.

[@alanmatthew5713]

I KNEW who'd be #1, and I agree. Here's an honorable mention, Jordan Rudess.

[@careyvinzant]

I wish Tony Kaye had gotten at least an honorable mention. Granted, lots of YES fans don't consider 80's YES prog, but his playing on the first three YES albums is seminal, and he does do some out-and-out prog on later cuts like "Endless Dream."

[@lashedbutnotleashed1984]

I think Kerry Livgren of Kansas was also deserving of a mention. But no one ever gives him credit for his incredible keyboard playing and composing.

[@countyfair74]

@@lashedbutnotleashed1984 When I wanted to buy a synthesizer in 1976 I went down to my local store (Steam Music, Topeka Kansas). I opened the door and Kerry Livgren was playing a Minimoog and staring right at me. I waited a while and talked to him, I knew who he was because I took guitar lessons at the same store he previously taught at, and I had seen Kansas play twice. I went back a few days later with my dad and he bought me that synthesizer.

[@dwill123]

Joe Zawinul, Brian Auger, David Sancious

[@rembeadgc]

Great list. Wasn't expecting Chick Corea. He's so associated with jazz that it's difficult to see him living in prog, but yeah much of the Return to Forever is really rock. He and Clarke, DiMeola and White can all rock but they are such virtuosos at jazz that it puts their playing into another category. It's like they're too "musically rich" for rock. Yes, Dave Stewart is so undermentioned and not just as a player, he was a tremendous composer. When I first heard Tenemos Roads I couldn't believe how iconic and archetypal those melodies and chordal structures were and how they were able to weave all of the interplay together. To me Tenemos Roads is like the CTTE for what's fondly called Canterbury. And of course along side Stewart is Alan Gowen. Both of them as rock keyboardists pulled jazz conceptualizing into their composing more than others, IMO. Tip of the hat to Eddie Jobson who has done a lot but, if all he had ever done was UK...that would be more than enough. Someone else mentions this man but I'll mention him again... David Sancious. Has there ever been so great a keyboardist, so great a composer, so great an ambassador for progressive rock who has received less attention and praise than David Sancious? His talent obviously recognized and utilized by greats such as Sting and Peter Gabriel. Kerry Livgren...another great prog keyboardist/guitarist/composer. And if only for "Hold Your Head Up"...Rod Argent.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Eddie J nearly made the list...his playing in UK is tremendous. I have just done a greatest jazz rock keyboardists and didn't put Sancious on that, opting for Jeff Lorber...that may have been a mistake...

[@MrMaynardWR]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer UK such a terrific band

[@rembeadgc]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer No disrespect to Jeff Lorber but, yes, he and David Sancious are two completely different categories of musician. The level of conceptualization and utilization of classical music references in David Sancious' music is a large part of what lead me to think of him for the prog keyboardist category. Even though, he, like Chick Corea could stand in jazz as well, but he had a different spirit for music and arrangement. Matter of fact Eddy Offord produced at least one of his albums (like that's a prog certification, right?). Now, I think of jazz-rock as leaning heavier towards instrumental music where as David Sancious wrote what seems to be a greater percentage of vocal music. To me Jeff Lorber, great musician that he is, has been thought of more as a "more adventurous than some others" smooth jazz-fusion artist. In the end I think all modern market-based categorization is empty and ultimately detrimental to music (just like the concept of race) but because someone started it and people built an industry around it...it's difficult to have a conversation without using those references (same with race). Not that you did this, although none of us can say we're not influenced by social trends and traditions to some degree, I can't help but think that David Sancious, because he didn't fit the usual ethnic associations that follow the marketing category that his music would have been sold under...that his exposure as a progressive music artist suffered. I think you should have gone with David instead of Jeff but, it's all subjective.

[@nickkaltz738]

Karl Jenkins (Soft machine) Hugh Banton (Van der Graaf generator) Dave Greenslade (Greenslade) Thijs Van Leer (Focus)

[@hanssipkes8179]

Keith with The Nice was there from the beginning that counts, next to his ability to play and compose almost everything. Eddie Jobson imo is also a top 10 player.

[@eyestick8012]

When I think of prog, one sound comes to mind first: the intro to "Watcher." Never gets old, the louder the better. Tony Banks is my favorite, hands down. I.Q. has been my fav band for awhile now, so, Mr. Orford is right there, too.. "Frequency" is fantastic from beginning to end. Nice work, Andy.