Wakeman, Rick & The English Rock Ensemble: A Gallery Of The Imagination

The name Rick Wakeman is synonymous with progressive rock and the virtuoso musician; through his work with The Strawbs and Yes and a successful solo career, he has continually demonstrated an ability to create unique and interesting music. I was particularly impressed with his 2020 Red Planet release featuring The English Rock Ensemble and the same players are back on his latest album titled A Gallery Of The Imagination.

The players are:
Rick Wakeman (keyboards)
Dave Colquhoun (guitars)
Lee Pomeroy (bass)
Ash Soan (drums)
Hayley Sanderson (lead vocals)

As far as I can discern from the liner notes there is a concept and inspiration behind the piece. Rick says, “At my very first piano lesson with the wonderful Mrs. Symes, she told me that playing the piano was the artist’s equivalent of painting pictures and that every time I played, I should be painting a picture.� One can glean the album is dedicated to her and the album’s title directly reveals the concept. Rick goes on to say, “There are twelve pieces in all "eight vocals, two band pieces and two for solo piano. The subjects are very wide-ranging and all created their own pictures for me both during the composing and the recording.� I think one can say pictures and music are inexorably tied together like words on a page.

The first track “Hidden Depths� begins with Wakeman’s impassioned piano melody, slightly melancholic, before the rapturous guitar of Colquhoun enters with aplomb and the band enters with a steady groove, more upbeat now as Wakeman delivers an impressive Moog solo. His virtuosity never at question but always tasteful, always serving the song. Next is “The Man In The Moon�, a serene and dreamy ballad with Wakeman’s pretty keyboards all over this one and our first time hearing the vocals of Hayley Sanderson. She has a lovely voice and helps to make these pieces come alive. On the enchanting “A Mirage In The Clouds�, dreamy keyboards offer a softer, rounder edge as serene dreaminess abounds with Wakeman’s symphonic synths and Sanderson’s voice flowing like a gentle stream. “The Creek� is a mellow piece showcasing melodic piano work before Wakeman’s Moog and melodic keyboards highlight the wonderful “My Moonlight Dream�. Also listen for Soan’s precise drumming, certainly making his presence felt adding a little heft to the proceedings. The mellow “Only When I Cry� is a very ‘English’ sounding pastoral ballad, a piece of serene beauty with wistful lyrics and an overall melancholic soundscape. A little calypso and flamenco flair can be heard on the upbeat “Cuban Carnival� and with the up-tempo “The Dinner Party�, the band rock out a bit more, in a similar vein to what we heard on Red Planet.

Just what pictures your imagination will create upon listening to A Gallery Of The Imagination remains to be seen. As for me, the colours are vibrant, leaving a lasting impression on this reviewer. For Wakeman fans this is a no-brainer, for everyone else it should be as well.

A Madfish Records, release.

Track Listing:
1. Hidden Depths
2. The Man In The Moon
3. A Mirage In The Clouds
4. The Creek
5. My Moonlight Dream
6. Only When I Cry
7. Cuban Carnival
8. Just A Memory
9. The Dinner Party
10. A Day Spent On the Pier
11. The Visitation
12. The Eyes Of A Child

Added: March 2nd 2024
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Artist @ Bandcamp
Hits: 1956
Language: english

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