----------------------------------------------------- FEBRUARY 22, 2002 ----------------------------------------------------- Source: KOMPAS, Indonesia (print edition) Rick Wakeman: Progressive Rock plus Humour By Ati Kamil Translated by Surjorimba Suroto Jakarta -- Last night, Thursday (Feb 21st), starting at 08:30 pm, Rick Wakeman & the English Rock Ensemble, showed great force at Plenary Hall, Jakarta Convention Center, playing 13 composition -- instrumental and with vocals. Approximately 2,000 attendees, (with ticket prices Rp 400.000 (VVIP), Rp 300.000 (VIP) dan Rp 200.000 (1st class)), witnessed the progressive rock band consisting of legend Rick Wakeman (52, keyboard), Rick's son Adam Wakeman (keyboard), Ant Glynne (guitar), Lee Pomeroy (bass), Tony Fernandez (drum), and Damion Wilson (vocals). Rick Wakeman & the English Rock Ensemble's music was Rick's masterpiece. To Kompas Cyber Media, on Wednesday (19 Feb) afternoon, Ant, Lee and Damion admitted this. However, they said, they were not just acompanist musicians who just played along as Rick ordered. Rick gave space for them to respond to Rick's music. In Lee's words, " Rick is a wise musician." Rick and his musician friends' performance opened with Journey to the Center of the Earth (1974), from his solo album of the same name, adapted from the Jules Verne science fiction novel of the same name. At the press conference on Tuesday afternoon (19 Feb), Rick revealed that he actually loved Jules Verne's science fiction. Then, the group also performed King Arthur Suite (from another solo album, The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, 1975), The Phantom, 1984 Suite (musical numbers from the hands of Rick with lyricist Tim Rice, based from George Orwell science fiction with the same title), Merlin the Magician, and excerpts from Starship Trouper (Rick's work while still with the British legendary progressive rock band, Yes). Rick, wearing a white t-shirt, long trousers with embroidery and ivory beads plus trademark cape also with the same accessories (which in the 70's became part of the theatrical progressive rock), was still magical while playing his stacked "boards." In Merlin the Magician, his playing made us imagine Merlin and his magical act. Rick's four knights also deserved two thumbs up. Not just to Tony who's been 27 years with Rick. But also for Adam, Ant, Lee and Damion who had a "boy-band" appearance, around 20 years younger than Rick. Each has side projects outside The English Rock Ensemble. Adam was no free follower of his father. He has his own style, more relaxed than Rick, Adam showed he has potential talent. Ant, as an unexposed guitarist within a group with two keyboardists, also held his own. On No Earthly Connection, for example, Tony with Adam, Ant and Lee became a solid powerful rhythm section. They were up to par with the tempo and the complexity in long composition. When playing Yes' Starship Trooper there were perfectly confident. The vocalist, Damion, also deserved high praise. His vocal and stamina was absolutely great. From this concert, fans also got Rick's humour. When in the 'sling' keyboard duet (guitar styled) with Adam on Merlin the Magician, they forehead-bumped each other. On other occasion, Rick teased his son who was having fun with his keyboard. Slowly Rick approahed his son and pretended to unplugg one of the cables. Then Rick cloaked his head and became a 'ghost' haunting Adam. Another of Rick's jokes was calling Adam to the front while shouting to the crowd, "Among us, he's the only poor. Look, he has no shoes." Adam had been barefoot since the beginning of the concert. As part of his action, Rick also involved the crowd. He stepped down and called to a female fan and asked her to climb up the stage. On stage, the woman was asked to held his sling keyboard while Rick played it The show that night closed with an encore, Eleanor Rigby, originally from the Beatles. The legend of all legends. It can be said, the "Rick and Friends" show succeeded in satusfying 70's progressive rock lovers. Among them was Jockie Surjoprajogo, the keyboardist of 70's Indonesian rock band God Bless. "It's just like the old days," he said. "Back then, the music industry wasn't so much in control. Artists were free to expressed anything in their soul. The result was they could touch their fans' souls. Now, the music industry is different and they instruct artists to make music that touches only the body." In the end, there were some negative notes in this concert promoted by Supra Ad and sponsored by Djarum Super. The sound system (60,000 watt) was not detailed and not crystal clear. Stage design, decoration, and lighting (250.000 watt) felt unharmonized with progressive rock, especially the laser show. Close Window YesInThePress.com For site comments, problems, corrections, or additions, contact YesinthePress@aol.com