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Leonardo - The Absolute Man

a Studio Release
Release Year:
2001
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Added To Proggnosis on: 07 Aug 2001

Track Listing 

  1. Apparition
  2. Aria for Italy
  3. With Father
  4. Reins of Tuscan
  5. Reproach
  6. Mona Lisa
  7. Il Divino
  8. Inundation
  9. Apprentice
  10. First Commission
  11. Mother of God
  12. This Time, This Way
  13. Inventions
  14. Shaping the Invisible
  15. Introduction to Francois I
  16. Heart of France
  17. Sacrament
  18. End of a World

Performer Credits  


Vocalists:
    James LaBrie
    - Leonardo da Vinci
    Davey Pattison
    - Ser Piero da Vinci
    Michelle Young
    - Caterina
    Josh Pincus
    - Lorenzo de' Medici
    Lisa Bouchelle
    - Mona Lisa
    Mike Baker
    - Melzi
    Trent Gardner
    - Verrochio
    Robert Berry
    - Salai
    Steve Walsh
    - Calco
    Chris Shryack
    - Sforza
    Bret Douglas
    - Francois I
The Musicians:
    Trent Gardner
    keyboards and trombone
    Wayne Gardner
    guitar
    Jeremy Colson
    drums
    Patrick Reyes
    guitar
    Steve Reyes
    bass
    Joe Franco
    drums and percussion on This Time, This Way and Apparition
    Luis Maldonado
    guitar and bass on This Time, This Way

Reviews


review by: NunoIt is a know fact that Leonardo Da Vinci is one of the most brilliant minds that mankind has ever seen throughout it’s whole existence. So in order to rightfully pay him homage through music, it takes a lot of courage and surely a lot of careful work for the risk of failure is just too high.
In this album, written and conceived by Trent Gardner (Magellan & Explorers Club), those regards were taken seriously and so it took a lot of responsible and deep research on the Renaissance Icon’s history, as it took a total commitment and extensive artistic feeling to develop the music concept and conduct it successfully out of obscurity and into the light of day. So the first words in this review go entirely to the brainchild of this project, for his nerve and courage of accepting this monstrous task with its overload rate of possible failure.
The resulting Rock Opera is a conjuring of all sorts, featuring the all star Magna Carta Label Performers. From the typical (and highly original) Magellan textures, with the exquisite use of the Trombone by Trent himself, to the Dream Theater alike feeling (given by LaBrie‘s exceptional vocals), passing by Queen’s typical vocal chorus games (from the Night at the Opera / A Day at the Races era) and adding it a bit of Kansas and occasionally some Yes and ELP keyboarding. This album visits it all.
The music really springs from the Classic, flowing through the Symphonic Progressive to a Heavy/Hard Prog Delta, like it is focused to please the whole specter of Prog Rock fans.
You can both listen to this album song by song or looking it as one big audio experience. I believe the second approach will reveal itself to be more fulfilling, for it will unfold the true vision of the composer.
This is tremendously complex and daring if you look at it as a whole. The combinations of influences and the changing sets where the artists perform become more evident and that will really influence the way you feel about the overall result.
Comparing it to recent Rock Opera albums, this one will take advantage points against Explorers Club or Nikolo Kutzev in almost all parameters, and will beat Ayreon because of its wider conceptuality (though it may tie in terms of melody sense and loose in cohesiveness).
Vocally this is a stellar album. All singers are respected in the prog community and do lend their complete abilities to the success of this quest, especially LaBrie, Michelle Young (Glass Hammer and Lisa Bouchelle (Mastermind). The instrumental performances are also all of the highest caliber, though I would emphasize (other than Trent Gardner) the work of the Dali’s Dilemma members (Jeremy Colson on drums, Patrick Reyes on guitar and Steve Reyes on bass).
Though it has its flaws, the prime observation you will read from me about this album it’s clearly and highly positive for this is really a great work of art. And I will not consider this a masterpiece for the main reason that, to fully tribute the everlasting works of Da Vinci, this album still needs to pass the test of time and that, my friends, only time itself will tell!

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