For the June 2026 edition of the monthly Ultimate Jam Night at The Whisky paid tribute to The Masters Of The Keys in the world of rock, musicians with mastery of pianos and keyboards. Featured was a delightful evening of keys-based classics from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.
The highlight of the evening was a special mini-set tribute to the master of the Moog, the great Keith Emerson. Keith’s career gained earlier prominence in the 60’s with The Nice then rocketed to the stratosphere with the supergroup Emerson, Lake and Palmer in the 70’s. A gifted and masterful keyboardist who was a technical innovator who masterfully blended classical influences and rock into a style that was very unique and influential, one of the great progressive rock musicians of a generation. This author had the check to check out ELP back in the day and when people asked me to describe the show my response was “epically big”.
Starting off this Ultimate Jam Night evening was Fanfare For the Common Man and in the mini-set we were treated to ELP classics that included Karn Evil 9, a piano solo from Trilogy, From the Beginning and finished with Hoedown. Emerson’s former fiancé Mari Kawaguchi came up on stage to give a brief speech highlighting Emerson’s career, his musical innovation and forever legacy in the world of rock.
In addition to Keith Emerson the audience was treated to artists like McCartney, Styx, Bowie, Elton and more from the usual who’s who cast of big time musicians that are part of every Ultimate Jam Night on the Sunset Strip.
Keith Emerson Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Emerson
Written and Photography all rights reserved by Don Adkins
https://www.instagram.com/donadkinsphoto
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