Search - Cast Recording :: Leonardo - The Absolute Man

A Renaissance Man

doug taepe | Western NY | 07/30/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been hearing reports of this album for about a year now. Trent Gardner (Magellan, Steve Walsh's "Glossolalia") has been a favorite of mine since I first discovered Magna Carta with the first Magellan album about 10 years ago. He has matured into an incredible arranger and songwriter, pulling the best of the progressive rock traditions (great musicianship) into the 21st century. "Leonardo - The Absolute Man" is written as an emotional view of Leonardo DaVinci, on a similar scope to "Tommy" or "The Wall". Historical references and characters are brought into the mix, but it is more of a view of what Leonardo may have felt than a it is a history lesson. James LaBrie (Dream Theater) puts in an impassioned performance as Leonardo, putting his voice to the best use I have ever heard from the man. Steve Walsh performs a duet with Michelle Young on 'First Commission' which will have Kansas fans wishing Trent Gardner would get involved with their next album.An incredible Rock Opera which sheds its own light on the most famous of the Reniassance Men. "Leonardo - The Absolute Man" is highly recommended for all. The artwork by Dave McKean throughout the package is very rich looking, my only wish is that it was printed on a gatefold album. Who knows, maybe someday."

Beautiful

Istvan A. Aranyosi | Budapest, Hungary | 01/17/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's fantastic. Especially Dream Theater's James LaBrie's voice on "Shaping the Invisible". One of the best voices today! The duets "First Commission" and "This Time, This Way" are incredible. Gardner's songwriting talent is indubitable. Prog and Magna Carta at their best. Highly recommended."

Among the better Magna Carta titles!

AllessandraMari | United States | 10/01/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"After listening a few times, I am really beginning to like this CD--La Brie does a great job on vocals, as do the rest of the cast, although none of the other male performers stand out like Dream Theater's voicebox does (and I am a fan of Shadow Gallery, Cairo and Ice Age); the two females in the cast both do a great job. While not as close to perfection as Dream Theater's "Scenes from a Memory" or Trans-Siberian Orchestra's "Beethoven's Last Night", it is definitely worth having in your collection if you are into good progressive songwriting and performance.
The instrumental tracks could have used a little more standard rock instruments, but they are nice to listen to. The interplay between the cast is also interesting, although on some tracks the chorus vocals seem a little difficult to understand.
Standout tracks include "This Time, This Way", a soaring duet between Leonardo and Mona Lisa. If ever there was a Magna Carta label song deserving of airplay, this is the one! This track is beautiful and very moving. Also of note are "Mona Lisa", and "Inventions".
All in all, this album comes very close to being a five-star album, only occasionally marred by some slow points, which, to me, is to be expected of Trent Gardner's work. While I loved Explorer's Club: "Age of Impact", I am not particulary fond of Magellan (Gardner's fulltime band). I think Gardner really throws everything at all of his projects; sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Case in point: I still don't know how viable the trombone is on a rock album, even a progressive album...but like the rest of his work, I think it's growing on me..."