Post by Imagescapegirl on Dec 10, 2009 17:30:49 GMT 1
Found this little interview with Keith today at Kelowna.com ... if you go to the actual web page, this is also a photo and a video clip www.kelowna.com/2009/12/09/rocker-keith-emerson-in-town-for-charity-christmas-party-thursday/
Rocker Keith Emerson in town for charity Christmas party Thursday
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009 | 9:53 am
Keith Emerson talks about his career, his passion for independent film, and his future
International Recording Artist Keith Emerson of ELP (Emerson Lake & Palmer) is here in Kelowna as a feature celebrity guest to provide live entertainment at the Okanagan International Film Festival/CanLyme Celebrity Christmas Party on December 10th, 2009 at the Delta Grand Hotel. Along with the festival’s organizers, Emerson welcomed the local media today and sat down with us to discuss his involvement with the film festival as well as his latest CD and book.
It’s interesting how Emerson ended up in Kelowna. “I’ve actually been a judge for the festival [Okanagan International Film Festival] for the last few years,” Emerson says. “I love what’s happening here. There’s a lot of attention to the arts and it’s very creative. I’m all for supporting the next generation of film… and musicians as well.”
Emerson has been involved in the making of 10 films, and has written the score for movies filmed all over the world. He has a fondness for independent filmmaking, which is primarily what brings him here. “That’s the reason why I’m so interested in this event. It was David and Jason Woodford who brought me here. They asked me to judge a few years ago; it started when they read my autobiography (Pictures of an Exhibitionist) and decided to document it, film it, all the individual people in it. There’s some really wonderful things in their film,” he says.
Emerson has known OIFF organizer David Woodford for many years, which explains the connection. “David and I met at school when we were around nine years old, and both failed 11 Plus where they decide whether you are going to go on to a posh school or be stuck with the dregs. That’s where we met up and it was there that we bonded at school. There were some very bad people there.”
The keyboardist is very passionate about the independent film industry, and fully appreciates the OIFF. “The importance of this festival is to produce talent and to give them all the encouragement as possible. Hopefully something huge will come out of it.”
For the first time in several months, Emerson sat down at the piano and played a few songs. When asked what he was playing, he told us he was mostly improvising. “I like the freedom of improvisation; if you play the same thing night after night you know what’s coming. This is the first time I’ve touched the piano in three months. I’m normally playing synthesizers.”
Keith Emerson is famous for being the very first musician to tour with the Moog modular synthesizer. He is also known for the creative ways in which he would incorporate his keyboards into the band’s stage performance.
How did Emerson become the guy famous for his wild keyboard antics? Emerson explains how it all started and the reasoning behind it. “When I first started playing, I was forced to play piano I moved on to the Hammond organ; with it I found ways of doing my own thing,” he says. “I did things to it that the organ company did not like. My road crew had to keep taking it to a repair shop in London every week. There would be keys missing… I used to stick knives in it, I fell off the stage…”
Everything changed with the introduction of the Moog synthesizer. “Eventually I learned about the Moog synthesizer, which allowed me to do so many new things. I could use it both theatrically and musically. The Hammond organ company was completely delighted that I had found a new instrument. It is still my favorite instrument. It looks so fantastic and the audience can actually see how the sounds are changing because you have all of these patch cords hanging off it.” Emerson’s take on what makes for a great concert is just as relevant now as it was back in the 70s. “It all comes back to improv. I think if the audience were to hear the same thing over and over every night… the whole purpose of going to a concert is to see something you haven’t seen before.”
Ironically, for a guy who was a pioneer with the electronic synthesizer, Emerson tries to stay away from composing music with computers. “I can’t get my mind around all the new technology. I’m terribly inefficient with all that stuff. I still write and compose my music the old fashioned way.”
Keith has been working with Greg Lake in London lately and plans on doing an album and tour. An ELP reunion, perhaps? “We have plans for a possible duo tour with Greg, but an ELP reunion is in the cards. There are plans for us to headline a festival in London, where ZZ Top is headlining. It’s probably going to happen in July.”
Emerson hasn’t had enough time to enjoy his first visit to the Okanagan, but so far so good. “I only arrived last night at 1 am, and it was -31 degrees. It’s cold now, but it’s very beautiful. I’m looking forward to seeing more of Kelowna.”
Rocker Keith Emerson in town for charity Christmas party Thursday
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009 | 9:53 am
Keith Emerson talks about his career, his passion for independent film, and his future
International Recording Artist Keith Emerson of ELP (Emerson Lake & Palmer) is here in Kelowna as a feature celebrity guest to provide live entertainment at the Okanagan International Film Festival/CanLyme Celebrity Christmas Party on December 10th, 2009 at the Delta Grand Hotel. Along with the festival’s organizers, Emerson welcomed the local media today and sat down with us to discuss his involvement with the film festival as well as his latest CD and book.
It’s interesting how Emerson ended up in Kelowna. “I’ve actually been a judge for the festival [Okanagan International Film Festival] for the last few years,” Emerson says. “I love what’s happening here. There’s a lot of attention to the arts and it’s very creative. I’m all for supporting the next generation of film… and musicians as well.”
Emerson has been involved in the making of 10 films, and has written the score for movies filmed all over the world. He has a fondness for independent filmmaking, which is primarily what brings him here. “That’s the reason why I’m so interested in this event. It was David and Jason Woodford who brought me here. They asked me to judge a few years ago; it started when they read my autobiography (Pictures of an Exhibitionist) and decided to document it, film it, all the individual people in it. There’s some really wonderful things in their film,” he says.
Emerson has known OIFF organizer David Woodford for many years, which explains the connection. “David and I met at school when we were around nine years old, and both failed 11 Plus where they decide whether you are going to go on to a posh school or be stuck with the dregs. That’s where we met up and it was there that we bonded at school. There were some very bad people there.”
The keyboardist is very passionate about the independent film industry, and fully appreciates the OIFF. “The importance of this festival is to produce talent and to give them all the encouragement as possible. Hopefully something huge will come out of it.”
For the first time in several months, Emerson sat down at the piano and played a few songs. When asked what he was playing, he told us he was mostly improvising. “I like the freedom of improvisation; if you play the same thing night after night you know what’s coming. This is the first time I’ve touched the piano in three months. I’m normally playing synthesizers.”
Keith Emerson is famous for being the very first musician to tour with the Moog modular synthesizer. He is also known for the creative ways in which he would incorporate his keyboards into the band’s stage performance.
How did Emerson become the guy famous for his wild keyboard antics? Emerson explains how it all started and the reasoning behind it. “When I first started playing, I was forced to play piano I moved on to the Hammond organ; with it I found ways of doing my own thing,” he says. “I did things to it that the organ company did not like. My road crew had to keep taking it to a repair shop in London every week. There would be keys missing… I used to stick knives in it, I fell off the stage…”
Everything changed with the introduction of the Moog synthesizer. “Eventually I learned about the Moog synthesizer, which allowed me to do so many new things. I could use it both theatrically and musically. The Hammond organ company was completely delighted that I had found a new instrument. It is still my favorite instrument. It looks so fantastic and the audience can actually see how the sounds are changing because you have all of these patch cords hanging off it.” Emerson’s take on what makes for a great concert is just as relevant now as it was back in the 70s. “It all comes back to improv. I think if the audience were to hear the same thing over and over every night… the whole purpose of going to a concert is to see something you haven’t seen before.”
Ironically, for a guy who was a pioneer with the electronic synthesizer, Emerson tries to stay away from composing music with computers. “I can’t get my mind around all the new technology. I’m terribly inefficient with all that stuff. I still write and compose my music the old fashioned way.”
Keith has been working with Greg Lake in London lately and plans on doing an album and tour. An ELP reunion, perhaps? “We have plans for a possible duo tour with Greg, but an ELP reunion is in the cards. There are plans for us to headline a festival in London, where ZZ Top is headlining. It’s probably going to happen in July.”
Emerson hasn’t had enough time to enjoy his first visit to the Okanagan, but so far so good. “I only arrived last night at 1 am, and it was -31 degrees. It’s cold now, but it’s very beautiful. I’m looking forward to seeing more of Kelowna.”