Rick Wakeman & The English Rock Ensemble - A Gallery Of The Imagination - New CD

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Format: New CD Label: Madfish Cat. No. SMACD1268 Barcode: 63655188022 Released: 10/03/2023

Keyboard legend Rick Wakeman releases his new concept album A Gallery Of The Imagination via Madfish. The conception of the album began at the age of five. Rick's childhood piano teacher, Mrs Symes, taught him that musicians with instruments are like an artist with paint; something that Rick carried through his life, creating sonic paintings through his composition.

Wakeman says: "One of my great loves is going to museums and art galleries and seeing all the different types of art, so I thought, why not a music gallery ?... A Gallery Of The Imagination ? People can paint their own mind pictures to the different types of music that are on the album. It is very diverse and for me it works very well because the concept holds it all together".

Just as you might find a vast array of styles in an art gallery, Wakeman presents a plethora of musical aesthetics throughout the record. Inspired by the menagerie he created; Rick recalled the advice of his beloved teacher & has presented these tracks as pictures in a gallery; 'A Gallery Of The Imagination'. Amongst the many clear prog influences and soaring Moog solos, Wakeman treats the ears to two solo piano numbers, which reflect Rick's classical roots & his particular love of the romantic period. On the other eight unconventional vocal tracks, Rick showcases the distinctive descriptive music carefully around the poetic lyrics.

"It is a very tactile album" Rick explains. "I'd like to feel that people can actually touch the music." - fans are encouraged to create their own artworks inspired by the music, which one day Rick hopes to be displayed.

The line-up on A Gallery Of The Imagination - as with Rick's previous album The Red Planet - features The English Rock Ensemble: bassist Lee Pomeroy, guitarist Dave Colquhoun, drummer Ash Soan and on vocals Hayley Sanderson, famous for her work as a vocalist on the UK TV Show 'Strictly Come Dancing'.