GIUSEPPE SEP SARNO
The Keith Emerson Piano Tribute
Ma.Ra.Cash Records, 2026
Facing Keith
Emerson's repertoire on the piano
alone means measuring oneself against one of the most complex and influential
personalities in the history of progressive rock. Behind the dizzying rides of
ELP there was in fact a musician deeply linked to the classical tradition,
capable of blending virtuosity, rock energy and cultured writing in a unique
language. It is precisely from this assumption that The Keith Emerson Piano Tribute, the new
work by Giuseppe "Sep" Sarno, takes
shape.
Born during
the lockdown and recorded in 2026, the project chooses a path that is as simple
in its idea as it is challenging in its implementation. Emerson's works are
deprived of the support of Hammond, Moog and group arrangements to be brought
back to their original structure. The result is not a mere academic
transcription, but an interpretative work that restores the compositional
solidity of these pages and highlights how much the piano was the true creative
heart of Emerson's writing.
The choice of
songs crosses a large part of Emerson's musical universe. From "Take A
Pebble" to "Trilogy", from "Tarkus" to "Close To
Home", passing through "Fugue", "Inferno" and the
famous reinterpretation of "Nutrocker", the album alternates lyrical
moments and more virtuosic passages while always maintaining a strong sense of
coherence. Alongside the classics of the ELP repertoire there is also
"Creole Dance" by Alberto Ginastera, a tribute to one of the most
important influences in the British keyboardist's training and a particularly
significant choice within the project.
The most
convincing aspect of the album lies precisely in the balance between respect
and personality. Sep Sarno, with a training that includes studies with Vittorio
Nocenzi and a long frequentation of the progressive environment, avoids any
form of exhibitionism as an end in itself. The performance constantly puts the
music at the center of the discourse, letting the architecture of the
compositions and their intrinsic value emerge.
Those who
only know the spectacular side of Emerson may be surprised by the amount of
melodic nuances that emerge in this essential guise. The best-known pages
acquire an almost chamber dimension, while the more complex passages highlight
the extraordinary technical preparation required to tackle a repertoire of this
level.
More than a
simple tribute, The Keith Emerson Piano Tribute appears as an act of
gratitude towards a musician who has left a deep mark in the history of
progressive rock. A work made with competence, passion and cultural awareness,
intended both for ELP admirers and for those who want to rediscover these
compositions from a different, more intimate and collected perspective.
Tracklist
1.
Creole
Dance (A. Ginastera)
2.
Trilogy
(Emerson, Lake)
3.
Close
To Home (Emerson)
4.
Fugue
(Emerson)
5.
Take
A Pebble (Lake)
6.
Inferno
(Emerson)
7.
Tarkus
(Emerson, Lake)
8.
Nutrocker
(Fowley, Čajkovskij)
Credits
Artist:
Giuseppe "Sep" Sarno
Title: The Keith Emerson Piano Tribute
Label: Ma.Ra.Cash Records
Production: Carmine Capasso
Graphics: Carmine Capasso
Mix & Mastering: Carmine Capasso
Cover photo: Rosanna Monaco
Registered: 2026
Distribution: Ma.Ra.Cash Records Limited Edition.
Something more about Giuseppe Sep Sarno
Giuseppe "Sep" Sarno is a pianist and keyboardist of the Italian progressive scene trained under the guidance of Vittorio Nocenzi of Banco del Mutuo Soccorso. During his career he has collaborated with leading musicians of international rock and progressive, including Ian Paice, Alan Clark, Phil Palmer and Giorgio Fico Piazza. He played for a period in the historic The Trip, participating in the recordings of the album Now The Time Has Come, and collaborates regularly with Carmine Capasso and Giorgio Fico Piazza. Since 2022 he has been bringing the project The Keith Emerson Piano Solo Tribute to European stages, which earned him the prestigious Emersonology award in 2025, awarded by the official international fan club of Keith Emerson.
