Das brandneue Werk des ex-Spock’s Beard-Frontmannes umfasst 25 Tracks und zwei Stunden Musik - entweder als Doppel-CD oder als schwarzes 3LP-Set!

Diese Prog Rock-Oper entstand in Zusammenarbeit mit den Sängern Ted Leonard (Spock’s Beard) und Nick D’Virgilio (Big Big Train, Spock’s Beard), sowie den Musikern Eric Gillette (drums), Randy George (bass), Bill Hubauer (keys), Matt Smith u.a.

Die Idee zur Oper hatte Morse bereits 2008, aber es brauchte 10 Jahre bis zur Vollendung des anspruchsvollen und einzigartigen Projekts, welches 2018 seine Live-Premiere vor begeistertem Publikum feiern durfte. Neal Morse gründete 1992 die Band Spock’s Beard, die mit dem 1995er Debütalbum »The Light« trotz des seinerzeit unmodischen Progrock-Sounds weltweit Lob erntete. Nachdem sich Morse um 2000 zum Christentum bekehrt hatte, verließ er Spock’s Beard im Jahre 2002, um u.a. mit seiner Neal Morse Band einen neuen Karriereabschnitt mit religiösem Schwerpunkt zu widmen.

Die vorliegende Prog Rock Oper darf man getrost als Höhepunkt seines bisherigen Schaffens betrachten, bei dem er alle seine musikalischen wie auch spirituellen Überzeugungen zum Ausdruck bringen konnte. Neal Morse hat sich als einer der weltweit führenden Progrock-Musiker etablieren können, der eine eingeschworene Fangemeinde bedient.

“Jesus Christ - The Exorcist” is a monumental project in Neal Morse’s already impressive discography. A Progressive Rock Opera 10 years in the making, it was written and produced by Morse and includeds performances by Neal and an all-star cast of vocalists and musicians. “Jesus Christ the Exorcist” will be released on June 14, 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.  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. One day the phone rang and it was my friend from New York, Michael Caplan. 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 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."

Neal Morse Band - live:
29.03. Köln - Kantine
03.04. Berlin - Heimathafen
04.04. Hamburg - Markthalle
05.04. Leipzig - Halle d / Werk 2
09.04. München - Technikum
10.04. Pratteln - Switzerland - Z7

NEAL MORSE - "Jesus Christ the Exorcist" - A progressive Rock Opera.

mit u.a.:

Ted Leonard – Jesus

Talon David - Mary Magdalene

Nick D’Virgilio - Judas Iscariot

Rick Florian - The Devil

Matt Smith - John the Baptist

Jake Livgren – Peter and Caiaphas

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

Tracklist:

CD1

1.         Introduction

2.         Overture

3.         Getaway

4.         Gather The People

5.         Jesus’ Baptism

6.         Jesus’ Temptation

7.         There’s A Highway

8.         The Woman Of Seven Devils

9.         Free At Last

10.       The Madman Of The Gadarenes

11.       Love Has Called My Name

12.       Better Weather

13.       The Keys To The Kingdom

14.       Get Behind Me Satan

CD2

1.         He Must Go To The Cross

2.         Jerusalem

3.         Hearts Full Of Holes

4.         The Last Supper

5.         Gethsemane

6.         Jesus Before The Council And Peter’s Denial

7.         Judas’ Death

8.         Jesus Before Pilate And The Crucifixion

9.         Mary At The Tomb

10.       The Greatest Love Of All

11.       Love Has Called My Name (Reprise)