*******NEWS UPDATE*******


KEITH EMERSON

Everything's going ahead with EMI Classic's release of "Emerson Plays Emerson" (Solo Piano), scheduled for March 2002. It will be promoted in many different ways. Sometimes solo, sometimes with a new band and sometimes with The Nice. There are many options to be considered.

Soon available on Keith's website, "Iron Man, Part 1" and "Nighthawks" all wonderfully remastered by Will Alexander.

January 8, 2002, Keith plays a concert with John Dankworth and Cleo Laine to be recorded by the BBC before playing various showcases around the world to promote "Emerson Plays Emerson".

KEITH PLAYS BENEFIT CONCERT FOR THE TWIN TOWERS ORPHAN FUND Keith played a live show with the Heaven & Earth Band (led by Stuart Smith) on 5th November 2001 at the Key Club in Los Angeles. Other guest performers were: Gary Richrath (REO Speedwagon), Howard Leese (Heart), Steve Priest (Sweet) and Don Dokken (Dokken).

Keith appeared on BBC Radio 2 in a program called Tracks of My Years during the week of 24-28 September 2001.

GREG LAKE

Greg is currently writing, rehearsing and recording in upstate New York. He is working with some of the best studio musicians from that part of New York State, and it is likely they will be touring together.

The drummer and the bass player played with funk star Rick James and the female singer comes from a pure gospel and R&B background. The keyboard player has more of a prog background, and the guitar player is a versatile guy who was in the last version of 10,000 Maniacs.

Being worked on simultaneously are: an album of new songs; a full Christmas album (for release next year); an album of all his classic songs from Crimson, ELP and solo, re-done with this line up and new arrangements; and an orchestra project being formulated with one of the leading classical conductors in America. With luck, Greg will start touring in 2002 with his own band.

Greg's involvement in the Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band 2001 Tour was a huge success, and he got standing ovations and rave reviews every night. There will be a live album and a DVD Surround Sound video. Another Ringo tour is also likely.

Coming soon is a completely new website to be accessed through the existing site. It will be called LEVEL II, and will be a members only area with amazing stuff and unreleased music. It will also have streaming video. It will be free, but you have to register and set a password to gain access at all times.

The good news is that Greg has lost a considerable amount of weight and no longer smokes, which is one reason his voice sounds so great again. That's what we like to hear, Greg!

CARL PALMER

His band "Palmer" (Carl with Shaun Baxter and Dave Marks) will be releasing a live CD, tentatively titled "Working Live" and that they will be touring through next year, when they plan to add more material such as excerpts from Tarkus & Pictures.

Carl & Frank Askew will also do a drum clinic tour again in the UK in April/May 2002. The last one was very successful!

Please visit Carl's web page (www.carlpalmer.com) for detailed information of 2002 tour dates (both in Europe and America).

NEW RELEASES

THE NICE - "The Swedish Radio Sessions" from 1967
Released Monday 29 October 2001

Track listing:

1: She belongs to me
2: Flower King of Flies
3: Sombrero Sam
4: You keep me hanging on
5: The thoughts of Emerlist Davjack
6: Rondo

It was recorded in late 1967, just after the Hendrix tour. Dave O'List was still in the band. It goes on for just under 40 minutes and the quality is great.

ALSO - Martyn Hanson's book about The Nice is doing very well and running ahead of schedule. It will be out Spring/Summer 2002.



~ IMPRESSIONS ~

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