Several new Carl Palmer releases available now

Whenever I've seen the original ASIA live since their reunion, I've always been amazed by Palmer's rhythm work. Read on for the latest news on his endeavors...

 

Drummer Carl Palmer, founding member of ELP and ASIA, will be featured in three global releases by Music Video Distributors. Released worldwide this past week are Decade (which chronicles the 2011 tour show and celebrates the 10 year anniversary of Carl Palmer's ELP Legacy band); The Solo (an acclaimed art film by British director Andrew Cross which presents Carl Palmer's drum solo as a form of physical art); and the newly expanded 2-CD anthology, Carl, Do Ya Wanna Play?, a compilation covering 50 years of recordings band by Carl Palmer with Emerson Lake & Palmer, ASIA, Carl Palmer Legacy, The Craig, PM, Mike Oldfield, and other acts he has worked with. 

 

"I am very excited to have these titles coming out and available finally for my fans," says Palmer, who has been touring since his group launched its 2014 tour with a sold out show in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, in January. 

 

"Decade is a complete show by my band, and features our power trio interpretations of the greatest songs of ELP and select classical composers. If you loved ELP but want to hear these songs done in a completely different musical environment, this DVD is something you will want to see and own. We are extremely proud of the final product, which was captured at one of our shows on the 2011 tour."

 
Adds Palmer: "The Solo was an art film I was asked to be involved with by film maker Andrew Cross. The idea was to show the audience that a drum solo and exploration of various percussion instruments could be positioned as a work of art." The film has received screenings done in art museums in England.

 

The newly expanded version of Palmer's UK-only released two disc CD compilation, Carl, Do Ya Wanna Play- The Carl Palmer Anthology, features many of the greatest recorded works of Palmer's career with ELP, ASIA, Atomic Rooster, Mike Oldfield and as a solo artist. It even includes a rare track of Palmer performing with the Buddy Rich Orchestra, at the insistence of the famed jazz drummer and long time friend of Palmer's.

 

Carl Palmer's ELP Legacy is a red-hot power trio that features Palmer on drums and percussion; guitarist Paul Bielatowicz and bassist Simon Fitzpatrick.

 

"Since 2001, I have been playing with my own power trio, replacing the keyboards with electric guitar," says Palmer. "I felt that was the only honest way to approach the music of ELP. I didn't want to have a singer trying to sound like Greg Lake. ELP did so much instrumental music, this format made sense to me.  Hearing the keyboard parts done on guitar is certainly different, but just as satisfying. The idea was to re-invent the music; there will be several new classic ELP tunes this time around."

 

As for ELP, Palmer closed that chapter of his life when the band played a final show in 2010 at London's High Voltage Festival, where they celebrated their 40th Anniversary. "ELP has ended its on again off again existence when we did High Voltage.  We had a great run and remain friends, but the best way I can honor our musical legacy is to present that music the way I do with my own band.

 

These MVD releases come in conjunction with the release of a new ASIA studio album, Gravitas (and 2014 tour), and Palmer's acclaimed second collection of modern art available at www.CarlPalmerArt.com.

 

On tour Carl Palmer's ELP Legacy will play nearly two hours and drum enthusiasts can expect an evening of compelling percussive skills, from the man who brought the drum set to the forefront of rock n roll music.