Interesting read...all your nominees. But I think you missed my point. Or maybe I didn't say it that clearly.

It's not about who has the fastest hands in the West or who can play Ave Maria on one hand while simultaneously playing In the Mood on the other and the Flight of the Bumblebee with their foot pedals, or who can play six gazillion styles of music while eating a 16" pizza, or who can play their keyboard by mental telepathy, etc.

There are many that I'd be the first to agree are top-notch, superior in every respect, first-line players. There are just NONE, in my book, who make great MUSIC. The kind you just can't stop tapping your feet to...the kind that when you hear it you want to get up and dance, even if you're sitting in a bus! Players who really get into the music mastery, NOT the keyboard mastery. Players who FEEL the music first and then play what they feel. Not players who just play notes as I'm starting to observe so many do nowadays.

I pulled out my Peter Bartmann audios and listened to five of them. Technically brilliant playing, but no really great driving melody in the notes.

Again, I agree with all the names mentioned here.....they're all top of the line, first rate players. No one in their right minds would deny that. But I feel they just put notes out there in any order, just as long as they get them out.

BTW.....it's only recently I thought about what I'm saying here. Up until this point, I also stood there with my mouth wide open and jaw dropped down to my knees when I heard some of what they do with their keyboards. But you're got to remember, the artistry is NOT just in being a keyboard whiz....there's just as much hard work that goes into making great music also.

Definition of "great music:" something that seems to have gone the way of mom's home-made apple pie.

I see it this way......it comes down to "good music" vs "good keyboard technique." There's a huge difference. Do you want to impress other musicians or do you want to make beautiful music for your listening audience?

BTW Part II......kudos to Gary. He came closest to recognizing what I was trying to say!

BTW Part III....yes, Donny might have been joking, but Don M is a good example of someone who "gets your feet tapping" with those great C&W tunes I've heard of his!