United Kingdom The Return of the Caped Crusader – Rick Wakeman Live on the London Palladium: Rick Wakeman (keyboards), Hayley Sanderson (vocals), English Rock Ensemble (Dave Colquhoun [guitar and backing vocals], Adam Falkner [drums], Lee Pomeroy [bass and backing vocals], Adam Wakeman [keyboards, guitar, backing vocals], The English Chamber Choir (conductor: Guy Protheroe). London Palladium, 22.2.2023. (JPr)
Act 1: The Six Wives of Henry VIII
Act 2: The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table
That this and the next live performance the subsequent night (of music by Yes and Journey to the Centre of the Earth) went forward was a triumph of collective will since as Rick Wakeman writes within the shiny programme: ‘As I suspect most of you reading this will know, some low-life scum (that’s a well mannered description of them), stole a big chunk of my most important keyboard rig throughout my 2022 Xmas tour. As a lot of the rig is just about irreplaceable, this theft actually did threaten cancellation of those London Palladium reveals, however what occurred subsequent reveals how folks had been as incensed as all of us within the “Wakeman camp” had been, and stepped as much as the plate with superb presents of assist.’ He then revealed how with quite a lot of borrowing (and far begging I suppose?) all the things was received collectively in time for these particular reveals and people fortunate sufficient to have been there shall be eternally grateful to all those that saved the times.
‘Caped Crusader’ suggests Batman however the determine that ambled on – and, as anticipated, sporting a cape (gold, crimson, blue and glossy within the first half and later inexperienced with a picture of Excalibur on the again) – is prog rock’s mainman. You at all times have an important night within the firm of Rick Wakeman whether or not in his solo reveals along with his piano virtuosity, tall tales and shaggy canine tales or as a keyboard wizard behind his array of devices. Not that the success of this London Palladium present was as a consequence of him alone as a result of he was accompanied by his son, Adam Wakeman (keyboard, guitars and backing vocals), and different members of the English Rock Ensemble – Dave Colquhoun (guitars and backing vocals), Adam Falkner (drums), Lee Pomeroy (bass and backing vocals) – together with Hayley Sanderson (vocals) and the English Chamber Choir directed by Guy Protheroe.
Rick started by revisiting his 1973 The Six Wives of Henry VIII and he recalled within the programme the way it was composed throughout ‘a wonderful period of time as I was left alone to write and record as befitted the music, which would never be allowed today!’. Onstage he launched the present by saying how ‘Some of the pieces we’ve by no means actually ever really performed earlier than with the brand new band and all the things, it’s been completely nice’. Referring to Six Wives, Rick stated it was identified to him that he had practically as many himself! Interestingly he revealed how the six items weren’t in chronological order on the album due to the necessity to match them on a vinyl LP, ‘But tonight we are going to do them in chronological order as indeed did Henry!’ Each is a mini-masterpiece with upbeat melodies that can stick with you as soon as they end, though – forgive me Rick – I didn’t notably recognise the historic characters however I’ll do if I hear them once more, this was a primary time for me.
All credit score to the tight rhythm part (notably Adam Falkner’s drumming) in aiding and abetting Rick in creating completely different soundscapes and atmospheres helped by the vocalisations of the English Chamber Choir. ‘Catherine of Aragon’ was the shortest of the six and there was the primary of the myriad – and majestic – keyboard runs from Rick which we’d hear through the night. Tinkling piano and jazzy riffs abound in ‘Anne Boleyn’ earlier than the organ took over and we heard the plaintive hymn ‘The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended’ bringing a quieter near the music than how Anne Boleyn’s life really ended. This was a favorite of mine together with ‘Jane Seymour’ with its homage to Bach’s Toccata and Fugue. ‘Anne of Cleves’ sounded a bit just like the band having enjoyable throughout a jam session; ‘Catherine Howard’ started once more with piano runs earlier than it morphed right into a jaunty extemporisation; lastly, ‘Catherine Parr’ appeared one thing of a companion piece to ‘Anne Boleyn’ and there was extra of Rick’s superb keyboard magic along with his fingers a typical blur, however there was stable help once more from Falkner on the drums and in addition Lee Pomeroy’s bass. A superb ending to the Six Wives.
After the interval Rick described how as a younger youngster in 1954 he went to Tintagel Castle, apparently linked to King Arthur and he stated ‘I just fell in love with the place and I bought loads of books which I’ve nonetheless received immediately, youngsters’s books with massive phrases.’ Over the years he had at all times wished to put in writing in regards to the great delusion and legends, ‘We did it in 1975 and it was great fun. We performed it at Wembley Empire Pool on ice and it is one of my dreams to do it again, and so if I can convince my manager and agent let’s put it on once more on ice.’
Myths and Legends started with the recorded voice of Ian Lavender intoning the inscription on the stone believed to carry the legendary sword, Excalibur, ‘Whosoever pulleth this sword from this stone and anvil is the trueborn king of all Britain.’ Rick then launched into one other tour de power at his varied keyboards, and we then heard the regal most important theme (oft utilized by the BBC for his or her General Election broadcasts). This goes straight into the primary tune ‘Arthur’ and the spectacular vocalist Hayley Sanderson (who was steadily supported all through by the choir and sometimes by members of the band) started with ‘Upon a New Year’s Day a bunch of knights did pray that from the anvil one may draw the sword’. The music then goals to inform completely different components of the story, from Arthur’s early days to the top of his life; the music being excellent all through.
The centrepiece of Myths and Legends was Sanderson’s hovering vocals within the rockiest tune ‘Lancelot and the Black Knight’ as we hear how Lancelot should ‘Go to waste land if you dare, lure the Black Knight from his lair, fight and kill the evil man, rid his evil from our land’. Perhaps better of all was the concluding ‘The Last Battle’ which began with the Sanderson singing ‘Gone are the days of the knights’ and we hear about Arthur’s dying. The narration reveals the top of the Knights of the Round Table, how the Saxons conquered Britain and the invention in 1200 of Arthur’s supposed stays at Glastonbury. ‘The Last Battle’ featured extra excellent approach from Rick and equally nice taking part in by the complete band and ended with a ultimate reprise of the principle theme.
Earlier, the English Chamber Choir received an a cappella second within the highlight in ‘Lady of the Lake’. Other tracks had been character sketches: the ballad ‘Guinevere’ instructed of her romantic battle since she was beloved by, and was in love with, each Arthur and Lancelot; the rocking ‘Sir Galahad’ (bookended by extra a cappella from the choir); and, after all, the instrumental ‘Merlin the Magician’. The latter was performed as an epic encore that includes the wonderful guitarist Dave Colquhoun and Rick and his son Adam with keytars (light-weight digital keyboards) strapped on. They had been on the entrance of the stage to indicate off and convey all of the music to a triumphant finish and the viewers to its toes.
Jim Pritchard