RICK WAKEMAN
Lee Pomeroy adds heft to proceedings.
VENUE THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE, LONDON
DATE 27/02/2024
Part way through Wakeman & The English Rock Ensemble’s invigorating version of Roundabout, which opens a set of Yes material, one almost feels a sense of relief that it’s neither being performed by Yes featuring Anderson Rabin and Wakeman nor by Yes Official –with the inevitable arguments that without Jon Anderson it isn’t Yes. Rick Wakeman is simply playing a piece he loves with musicians whom he rates among the best he’s ever worked with.
And they are very impressive.
Bass guitarist Lee Pomeroy forms a supple, powerful rhythm section with Adam Falkner, whose drumming straddles both 70s and modern styles; Dave Colquhoun, who has played guitar with Wakeman for 20 years – “Brian May’s favourite guitarist,” says Rick; and son Adam is on auxiliary keyboards. Rick, meanwhile, summons clarion calls and particularly squelchy sounds from his synths, and solos with brio.