Getting it on with Prog

Pekka Pohjola: "Harakka Bialoipokku", a jazz rock fusion masterpiece featuring gorgous brass section, composed by the Finnish bass virtuoso. In 1974 after a session played with Frank Zappa visiting Finland, Pohjola politely refused to join Zappa´s band and continued to concetrate on his own work and compositions. Having listened to his work one will understand why he rejected Zappa."Keesojen lehto" from 1977 is a collaboration with Mike Oldfield, another (minor) masterpiece.

Indeed, anti-US in everything I´d say. That´s why Pohjola rejected Zappa. Sadness is part of human life but I find Bialoipokku´s simple life quite happy and above all, free : ) The woodwinds echoe the life in large forests of the North.
Piirpauke´s two first albums from 1975 and 1976 are other etcnic jazz fusion masterpieces, just listen to "Konevitsan kirkonkellot"... It was the incredibly versatile 70´s.

666 by Aphrodite´s Child. An experimental prog psych etchin fusion epic. Having heard this unbelievable work it´s no wonder why Jon Anderson praised this masterpiece whereas many prog musicians and fans, like one beeing my ELP buddy, just ignored the talent and even hated the band only because of Demis Roussos´ voice that actually is unique with the high vibrato, and is one of the most beautiful male voices in rock´s history. His work is sublime, not to mention Irene Papas´ vocal acrobatics on "Infinity", she´s just another misunderstood unsung hero of the prog era, not even being considered a prog singer/artist in the first place. After departure of Rick Wakeman, Anderson did ask Vangelis to join his band but, well unfortunately or luckily depending on one´s opinion Vangelis refused.
A word of Yes, praised by many as the best prog band, well to me not greatest not even close but their work is quite versatile, from the late 1960´s period to the end of the Wakeman era. Luckily Yes had already made their ultimate work, The Oceans. As for Yes repertoire I prefer the early work Banks/Kaye era for their more psychedelic style/sound with Hammond organ and Bank´s guitar work, musically it´s more interesting and lively and at places as versatile as the Wakeman era symphonic prog, IMO. And Wakeman made triumphant return in late 1970´s culminating in another masterpiece, Tormato in the middle of the dull new wave, the band still experimenting with new sounds and still with great attitude and approach to rock´n´roll and prog rock when major prog acts maybe excepting King Crimson descended into lame pop music. And it was the last great prog and rock album from the incredibly versatile 1970´s, the most ignored and therefore unknown and again sadly hated, at least.
And luckily both Area and Banco did their (minor) masterpieces in the last years of the 1970s, but the Italian scene is a completely different story to be told...

Valentyne Suite by COLOSSEUM, 1969.
COLOSSEUM was the first to combine blues and jazz into classical themes in such convincing way and the title track is a prog epic, even without words as they are not needed at all, it´s that good.
COLOSSEUM LIVE from 1971 is heavy music, and one of the very best live albums from glory days of classic rock. Dave Clempson and Dave Greenslade shine driven by Jon Hiseman´s powerful drumming, man that´s heavy stuff. I saw them in Keitele Jazz August 2011, they were old but played like there is no tomorrow. Absolutely fantastic performance in a small venue in the middle of nowhere.
Thanks info for that Finnish POHJANTÄHTI, how on earth have I missed that ??
 Kalevala: People No Names, 1972 is worth to mention here too.

Gotta get a copy of "Mainhorse" because of Moraz. His talent has always been underestimated and misunderstood and often mixed too low, especially with major English acts like Yes where he was the most innovative musician at the period. Luckily he didn´t waste more time with them.
As for Genesis fame, the best ever concert for me personally, as I never saw the band live back in the day, was GENESIS LIVE REVISITED Spring 2014 in a small venue in Helsinki. Maestro Hackett with his stunning band played 3 hours, all the essential stuff from "Fountain" to "Los Endos" brilliantly true to the original sound and style of early days, there was absolutely no compromises to any modern approach whatsoever. And the audience truly LISTENED to the music, no annoying drunken heads seriously telling you hey listen to this and that, no girfriends to please, no wives, no dricks, all those are well ...
And we found ourselves shouting for "The Knife" ! They also played "The Musical Box" : )
Just that music played brilliantly, and Nad Sylvan singing and and his performance and that attitude to this very difficult and demanding material after Gabriel was the real treat, he really was/is the best substitute to Gabriel and his voice/style fitted the original sound better than I could imagine. Well, some people have the talent, but it was all just unbelieveable and I know it will remain the best I ever experienced and other acts to possibly follow that performance will be anti-climax.