Watch “Get Behind Me Satan” feat. Ted Leonard below
Jesus Christ – The Exorcist will be released on June 14, 2019 via Frontiers Music Srl. on a triple album and double CD set featuring about two hours of music that will encompass all the spectrums and genres Neal Morse is known for and will, of course, tell the Story of Stories.
Jesus Christ – The Exorcist is a monumental project in Neal Morse’s already impressive discography. A progressive rock opera ten years in the making, it is written and produced by Morse and includes performances by Neal and an all-star cast of vocalists and musicians. When asked about what fans can expect from the album, Morse explains, “Oh, it is completely diverse. There are touching ballads, rousing ensemble pieces, classical elements, and dramatic Broadway musical type songs, as well. It is really meant to be listened and experienced all the way through as you would a play or an opera. I hope that people will experience it in that way because I think that’s where they will really find the power in this piece of music.” With a cast of amazing vocalists and musicians like Ted Leonard, Eric Gillette, Nick D’Virgilio, Randy George, Bill Hubauer, Matt Smith, Jake Livgren and others, this progressive rock opera is a landmark event that will leave its mark on every listener.
TRACKLIST CD 1 1. Introduction2. Overture3. Getaway4. Gather The People5. Jesus’ Baptism6. Jesus’ Temptation7. There’s A Highway8. The Woman Of Seven Devils9. Free At Last10. The Madman Of The Gadarenes11. Love Has Called My Name12. Better Weather13. The Keys To The Kingdom14. Get Behind Me Satan CD 2 1. He Must Go To The Cross2. Jerusalem3. Hearts Full Of Holes4. The Last Supper5. Gethsemane6. Jesus Before The Council And Peter’s Denial 7. Judas’ Death8. Jesus Before Pilate And The Crucifixion 9. Mary At The Tomb10. The Greatest Love Of All11. Love Has Called My Name (Reprise)
NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER: “Jesus Christ – The Exorcist” – Neal Morse’s progressive rock opera, ten years in the making!
CAST LIST Ted Leonard – JesusTalon David – Mary Magdalene Nick D’Virgilio – Judas IscariotRick Florian – The DevilMatt Smith – John the BaptistJake Livgren – Peter and CaiaphasNeal Morse – Pilate, Demon 1, Disciple 1Mark Pogue – Israelite 1, the Madman of the Gadarenes, Pharisee 2Wil Morse – Israelite 2, Demon 3, Pharisee 1Gabe Klein – Demon 2, Pharisee 4Gideon Klein – Demon 4Julie Harrison – Servant Girl
Nth Ascension the northwest English Progressive Rockers have looked across the pond for the mixing of their third album. American Progressive Rock multi-instrumentalist Eric Gillette a newcomer with an impressive start. From his beginnings in 2010 with The Swon Brothers (who would later appear on The Voice), as a guitarist and backing vocalist; to working with Neal Morse in 2012 and finally joining The Neal Morse Band as lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter in 2015.
Craig Walker (drums) noticed Eric Gillette’s contributions on The Grand Experiment, The Neal Morse Band’s 2015 release and became an instant fan; seeking out Eric’s solo material soon after.
As the writing of the new Nth Ascension album wound down and the time to enter the studio neared, the band would learn that the mixing engineer and studio (Mat Arnold, Hilltown Studios) of their 2016 release, In Fine Initium wasn’t available for the upcoming album.
Craig had been so impressed with Eric’s work and was aware that he was a mixing engineer in addition to his musical endeavors. Eric had made it known in social media that he was taking on a limited number of projects this fall between his other commitments. Craig contacted Eric to see if he would be interested in providing the mix engineering for Nth’s new project, and the response was positive. Craig then approached his bandmates and they unanimously agreed this was the direction the band would like to pursue their 2019 release.
The new album was completely produced and engineered by the band and is … unmistakably Nth Ascension. This third offering is filled with the signature full rich cinematic soundscapes you have come to expect of them; encompassing dark and light expressed in powerful vocal and lyric structures leading us to a new dimension of consciousness; and certain to capture something just a bit more with the help and talents of Eric Gillette at the mixing board.
Frontiers Music Srl is honored to announce the signing of a monumental project entitled “Jesus Christ – The Exorcist”, a Progressive Rock Opera written and produced by legendary musician and singer Neal Morse with performances by Neal and an all-star cast of singers and musicians.
Neal explains, “Sometimes providence comes with a whisper; sometimes it comes with an unexpected phone call. A friend of mine who works in the music business called me from New York one day in 2008 and said “Hey man, a friend and I were listening to Jesus Christ Superstar last night and were saying, ‘Man, somebody ought to do a new rock opera based on the Jesus story.’ I told my friend, ‘I know the guy!'” He went on to tell me I ought to write an epic prog piece based on the gospels. With a New York accent he said, “Ya gotta do it!” I laughed and said, “Well, I’m busy right now, but I’ll think about it.” Over the next couple of months, I began to feel that “yes” inside and spent a few months writing the first draft. The strong sense that I was onto something continued to grow and the people that sang on the original version were really into it. However, my friend from New York, (Michael Caplan) shopped it around and a lot of people loved it, but it never found a home….until NOW! Again, the phone rang and it was Michael. He said, “You’re not gonna believe this, but I’ve got a company interested in the musical!” I replied, ‘”That’s great, ’cause I am in the middle of a rewrite as we are putting it on at Morsefest 2018 in a few months.” Very timely! The company is called Frontiers Music Srl and after some communication, we struck a deal! Cool! So, here we are…ready to record and release this collection of songs and themes that is very dear to my heart and I believe tells the greatest story ever told in a powerful, new way.”
With a cast of amazing singers and musicians like Ted Leonard, Eric Gillette, Nick D’Virgilio, Randy George, Bill Hubauer, Matt Smith, and others, this progressive rock opera is a landmark event that will leave its mark on every listener. “Let him who has ears to hear…let him hear!”
With recordings set to commence imminently, the record will be released in 2019 on a double album set featuring about two hours of music that will encompass all the spectrums and genres Neal Morse is known for and will, of course, tell the Story of Stories. In the meantime, you can hear an audio sample of DEMOS of the musical here: https://youtu.be/s1qAjOGJ928
Additionally, the project will be performed live for the very first time on Saturday, September 15th at [Morse]Fest 2018 in Cross Plains, TN! “JESUS CHRIST – THE EXORCIST”, the world premiere of a musical written by Neal Morse will be performed by a Prog Rock all-star cast featuring Neal Morse (keys, guitar), Paul Bielatowicz (lead guitar), Bill Hubauer (keys), Randy George (bass), and Eric Gillette (drums). Featured vocalists will include Ted Leonard (Spock’s Beard, Enchant), Nick D’Virgilio (Big, Big Train, Spock’s Beard), Jake Livgren (Protokaw), Matt Smith (Theocracy), Wil Morse and more. Also, John Schlitt (Petra) and Rick Florian (White Heart) have been added to the performance as well.
Neal Morse’s Jesus Christ – The Exorcist roll call video.
FULL CAST:
Ted Leonard – Jesus
Talon David – Mary Magdalene
Nick D’Virgilio – Judas
Rick Florian – The Devil
John Schlitt – Caiaphas
Matt Smith – John the Baptist, Pharisee 3
Jake Livgren – Peter, Pharisee 4
Neal Morse – Pilate, Demon 1, Disciple 1
Mark Pogue – Israelite 1, the Madman of the Gadarenes, Pharisee 2
Wil Morse – Israelite 2, Demon 3, Pharisee 1,
Gabe Klein – Demon 2, Pharisee 4
Gideon Klein – Demon 4
Julie Harrison – Servant Girl
Plus strings, horns, orchestral percussion, vocal ensemble, and choir!
Visuals by Christian Rios.
More info and ticket information for [Morse]Fest 2018 is available HERE
Widely regarded as one of the world’s leading Progressive (“Prog”) Rock musicians, there is now no doubt that Neal Morse is a prolific musical driving force and his desire to move people through his music burns brighter than ever before. Born in California in 1960 to a musical family, Morse played in many bands during his youth, learning and mastering several instruments along the way. In 1995, he wrote and recorded “The Light” with his then new band, Spock’s Beard. It was an album grounded strongly in the then-unfashionable progressive rock genre, but the album and especially the title track became modern prog classics and brought Morse and the band global recognition. Over the next seven years, Spock’s Beard released six critically acclaimed studio recordings and multiple live recordings, while establishing a passionate fan base in the Prog Rock community.
In 2000, he formed the prog supergroup Transatlantic with drum legend Mike Portnoy (Sons Of Apollo, Winery Dogs, ex-Dream Theater), Marillion’s Pete Trewavas, and The Flower Kings’ Roine Stolt. In a remarkably brief but productive few days together, they knocked out “SMPTe”, a richly received, massive work of vintage, long form prog. Two years later, the sophomore release, “Bridge Across Forever”, solidified Transatlantic’s global appeal. Additionally, in 2008 he also joined another prog rock supergroup, Flying Colors featuring Dave LaRue (Dixie Dregs, Steve Morse Band, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai), Steve Morse (Dixie Dregs, Deep Purple, Kansas), Mike Portnoy(Dream Theater, Transatlantic), and Casey McPherson. The band has released two studio albums and two live releases.
In 2001, Morse shocked his followers with word that he was stepping away from secular music…with no indication of where he was heading. Morse was now walking an unknown road. After success with Spock’s Beard, he was starting all over again, this time boldly declaring his Christian faith and risking fan rejection and financial failure. He needn’t have worried. As the “Testimony” Live DVD triumphantly documented, his solo tour was full of magical moments and was a deeply life affirming experience. Morse returned to the studio with Mike Portnoy and touring bass player Randy George to record 2004’s “One”, a conceptual album that was a vast, rewarding piece of music that reached new heights. Morse, Portnoy, and George stayed on this musical journey together until Bill Hubauer and Eric Gillette were added as permanent members of the Neal Morse Band in 2015 on “The Grand Experiment” album: a collective effort that saw collaboration between all of the members and has subsequently yielded another studio album, the astonishingly brilliant “Similitude Of A Dream” and two live releases.
Frontiers looks forward to partnering with Neal on his continuing musical explorations and extending his progressive rock legacy with his latest creative vision.
The Neal Morse Band’s triumphant double-album, “The Similitude Of A Dream,” is the most acclaimed release that Morse has helmed to date. The 2017 “Road Called Home” tour was their most extensive yet, including new continents for the band. At the 013 in Tilburg, Holland, the stars aligned for the most commanding performance of the run, captured for live release in stunning quality. Now the Neal Morse Band is releasing on June 15th “The Similitude Of A Dream” Live in Tilburg, Netherlands 2017 2CD/2DVD Set.
“An epic night on an epic tour” proclaims Neal. Released from Radiant/SONY/Metal Blade, it will be available on Blu-Ray and DVD/CD. Join Neal Morse, Mike Portnoy, Eric Gillette, Bill Hubauer, and Randy George for over two hours of musical magic, as they play the album in its entirety, as well as a four-song encore that will leave you breathless!
“This is the Neal Morse Band playing arguably our greatest album to date at one of the greatest venues we have ever played for one of the greatest audiences ever! It’s kind of the pinnacle of everything we have done thus far.” – Neal Morse
Track Listing
Disc 1
0. Intro
1. Long Day
2. Overture
3. The Dream
4. City of Destruction
5. We Have Got To Go
6. Makes No Sense
7. Draw the Line
8. The Slough
9. Back to the City
10. The Ways of a Fool
11. So Far Gone
12. Breath of Angels
Disc 2
0. Slave to Your Mind
1. Shortcut to Salvation
2. The Man in the Iron Cage
3. The Road Called Home
4. Sloth
5. Freedom Song
6. I’m Running
7. The Mask
8. Confrontation
9. The Battle
10. Broken Sky / Long Day (Reprise)
Encore
11. Momentum
12. Author of Confusion
13. Agenda
14. The Call
Would you like to spend a week learning music composition, arranging, and audio recording with NEAL MORSE? The Radiant School is your opportunity to do just that!
Neal says: “We have had two Radiant School weeks over the last few years and they have been so cool! I have been astounded by the quality of people that have come to Nashville to join me in my studio for a week of creating together. I’m not sure right now which engineer is going to join us but it will be awesome I am sure. While I was on the Similitude tour last year, many people told me that they would like to be a part of the Radiant School, but they needed more notice. So, here you go!”
Each student will have a small space to set up their music workstations. Neal will demonstrate an example of how he composes and records. Then he will be listening to the participants and giving ideas as they compose and work together. Students will take turns coming into the tracking room with Neal and working on their music. Then we will spend some time recording some of the best music that is written. This will be determined by Neal. On the last day we will mix as much of the music as we can. (You are free to use any recordings from this class as you wish.)
When: Monday, July 23rd – Friday, July 27th Where: Radiant Studios in Cottontown, TN
Click here for more information on pricing and logistics.
SPACE IS EXTREMELY LIMITED! We are only accepting a small number of students, so secure your spot today.
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