What is ‘Neo-Progressive’ Music?

Progressive Rock, or ‘Prog Rock’ started in the UK in the 1960’s and used the instrumentation of a rock band (drums, bass, guitars, keyboards, etc) with some pop sensibility but techniques and compositions more closely aligned with classical music traditions. This bridged a gap between rock and classical, which had the duel result of making classical (or orchestral) music more accessible for people who enjoyed and/or played rock instruments AND made rock music less accessible for the novice musicians and listeners who liked the simplicity of the basic forms of early rock music.

As a young musician, taking classical piano training (and band to a lesser degree), this music was perfect for me. I was simply never going to be an actual classical pianist: I started too late, didn’t practice 8 hours a day, and did not have the innate talent that is necessary to compete in such an incredibly competitive, cut-throat environment. And I loved rock music!

When I heard Yes, Pink Floyd, ELP, Jethro Tull, The Moody Blues, and even the later Beatles records I was hooked. The complexity and patience and dynamics that I craved, played on instruments that were available (sort of…) and with a much smaller group of people, and SO MUCH COOLER, this was My Music.

As I progressed as a musician, and fully entered the world of keyboards and music tech, the world of prog rock had imploded, the ugly Truth of punk rock in full rebellion of the over-stuffed attitude and pretentiousness of that era of prog. But I didn’t care, King Crimson and Rush rocked my world, and new bands started embracing a harder edge without losing the subtlety and nuance of prog.

Neo-prog rose from the ‘ashes’ of progressive rock and became it’s own sub-genre, with the band Marillion at the helm. More sub-genres evolved after but I like the name neo-progressive so I am using it.

But I think progressive music has never died, that it, like all forms of rock music, have changed with the times. Dream Theater, IQ, RPWL, King Crimson, Seven Wilson, Flower Kings, Spock’s Beard, Opeth, even Tool, they have all embraced the ethic, if not the mantle, of progressive rock.

I choose to call my more progressively-oriented music ‘Neo-progressive’ as a continuation of a genre of rock music that I have always loved, that I respect, to which I still listen. There is an openness to prog that I want to embody, letting any Music influence my taste and appreciation. If you hear a mix of hard rock and classical and folk and Asian scales and African rhythms and Latin grooves and they are somehow all in one song… wonderful! Welcome to progressive rock music. And if it’s new, well, I call it Neo-progressive.