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Rating: I came to know about this concert purely by chance... and it was one of the most beautiful I had the fortune to attend.
I know Carl Palmer, obviously for his involvement in the famous Prog supergroup EL&P and before that with Atomic Rooster, and I was curious to attend this reinterpretation of the old pieces in a new trio. Alongside the celebrated drummer, we find two young talented English musicians; guitarist Paul Bielatowicz and bassist Stuart Clayton.
Arriving the venue a good half-hour early, it was incredibly still closed. But even more incredible was the fact that in front of the entrance there were, for the moment, 5 of us (we were two... my brother and I). But how, Carl Palmer? How is it possible for there to be so few people? In short, when they open the venue and the lights go down, around 10 PM, we are about 40 people!!!!
Carl enters directly from the floor, passes less than a meter from me, and heads for the stage. He is, as always, in splendid physical shape (considering he was born in 1950). They are in front of me, Bielatowicz on my left, Clayton on the right, and Palmer in the center, slightly elevated and surrounded by his tools of the trade.
The repertoire is the classic ELP: "The Barbarian," "Tarkus," "Trilogy," "Fanfare for the Common Man," an excerpt from Carmina Burana, etc., plus of course a solo for each of the three.
I must say that the sound impact unleashed by this formation was formidable; the substitution of Emerson's keyboards with the various guitars used by young Bielatowicz, together with the almost total absence of vocals, gives the trio features more oriented towards an extraordinarily compelling progressive-Metal. A few years ago, I attended a concert of Emerson with the famous guitarist Kilminster, but I must admit that this trio perhaps involved me more than any other concert I had attended. Of course, much of the credit is due to the choice of the best ELP pieces. Particularly successful were "Fanfare," the excerpt from "Tarkus," "the Barbarian" and "Tank" as well as "L.A. Nights" composed by Palmer himself.
Impressive is the technical skill demonstrated by the very young guitarist without taking anything away from Clayton's bass. As for Palmer, what can I say, in top form pounding and rolling on the drums with great energy, his usual indisputable technique and great professionalism (someone like him who arrived at concerts by helicopter giving everything he has for 40 people...).
I had the opportunity to listen later to part of the concert in audio-only format; certainly, one loses much of the involvement that live listening greatly amplifies. Just retrieve the trio's concert in Bucharest on DVD to get an idea.
I have seen new dates, mostly in Germany... I hope they come back to Italy soon... I wouldn't miss it... Last but not least... 33 euros the ticket price!!!
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