Marco Bernard – The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up (2023)
Artist: Marco Bernard
Album: The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up
Genre: Progressive Rock, Symphonic Rock
Label: Seacrest Oy – SCR-1039
Year Of Release: 2023
Quality: FLAC (tracks+.cue)
Tracklist:
01. Overture 6:14
02. Never Never Land 11:24
03. The Lost Boys 10:20
04. The Home Under the Ground 9:54
05. The Pirate Ship (Hook or Me) 10:37
06. The Return Home 6:59
07. Lunar Boy (“Asylum” Reloaded) 7:57
Personnel:
– Marco Bernard / Shuker basses
– Octavio Stampalìa / keyboards
– Brody Green / drums
– Steve Hagler / electric guitar
– Marc Papeghin / French horn, trumpet
– Steve Unruh / vocals, flute, violin
– Alessandro Di Benedetti / keyboards
– Ruben Alvarez / electric & acoustic guitars
– Kimmo Pörsti / drums
– Sara Traficante / flute
– John Wilkinson / vocals
– Mimmo Ferri / keyboards, additional guitars
– Beatrice Birardi / xylophone, bongos, tambourine, doumbek
– Gennaro Piepoli / acoustic & electric guitars
– Marco Vincini / vocals
– Andrea Pavoni / keyboards
– Cam Blockland / vocals
– Carmine Capasso / electric guitar
– Adam Diderrich / violin
– Audrey Lee Harper / vocals
– Daniele Pomo / drums & percussion
– Marco Grieco / keyboards, electric guitar, backing vocals
– Matthew Parmenter / vocals
– Hans Jörg Schmitz / drums
– Marcel Singor / electric guitar
– Oliviero Lacagnina / keyboards
– Marek Arnold / saxophone
– Rafael Pacha / classical guitar
– Charles Plogman / electric guitar
– Riccardo Spilli / drums
– Giorgio Mastrosanti / Telecaster guitar
– Juhani Nisula / electric guitar
– Bo-Anders Sandström / vocals
“The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up” is the latest concept album by Finland-based Italian composer and bass player Marco Bernard and his progressive rock colleagues from The Samurai Of Prog. Marco Bernard is the founder of the Samurai Of Prog so, as you would expect, the album presents the familiar sound of symphonic progressive rock rooted in the great bands of the 1970s and classical music as well.
The concept of the album is based on the story of Peter Pan, written by playwright James Matthew Barrie. The main theme throughout the album is to emphasize the message of keeping the child within us alive.
The album features compositions by various international progressive rock keyboardists such as Argentine musician Octavio Stampalia (Anima, Jinetes Negros) and various Italian players, Alessandro Di Benedetti (Mad Crayon, Samurai of Prog and The Guildmaster, and Inner Prospekt); Mimmo Ferri (Floating State, Samurai of Prog); and Andrea Pavoni (Greenwall).
The musical offerings include superb instrumental tracks and then compositions with vocal performances by different artists. On the downside, some vocal parts are exasperating, resembling a Broadway musical rather than progressive rock. Track 5, “The Pirate Ship (Hook or Me)” is the top offender with lyrics that get under your skin. It’s a shame because American singer Matthew Parmenter delivers a great performance in the second part of the song.
Otherwise, the album produced by Marco Bernard and Kimmo Pörsti is highly enjoyable, featuring finely crafted instrumental work and stellar vocal performances. In addition, as is customary in Seacrest Oy’s outstanding productions, the remarkable artwork is by Ed Unitsky.
Musicians: Marco Bernard on Shuker basses; Octavio Stampalia on keyboards; Brody Green on drums; Steve Hagler on electric guitar; Marc Papeghin on French horn, trumpet; Steve Unruh on vocals, flute, violin; Alessandro Di Benedetti on keyboards; Ruben Alvarez on electric & acoustic guitars; Kimmo Pörsti on drums; Sara Traficante on flute; John Wilkinson on vocals; Mimmo Ferri on keyboards, additional guitars; Beatrice Birardi on xylophone, bongos, tambourine, dumbek; Gennaro Piepoli on acoustic & electric guitars; Marco Vincini on vocals; Andrea Pavoni on keyboards; Cam Blockland on vocals; Carmine Capasso on electric guitar; Adam Diderrich on violin; Audrey Lee Harper on vocals; Daniele Pomo on drums & percussion; Marco Grieco on keyboards, electric guitar, backing vocals; Matthew Parmenter on vocals; Hans Jörg Schmitz on drums; Marcel Singor on electric guitar; Oliviero Lacagnina on keyboards; Marek Arnold on saxophone; Rafael Pacha on classical guitar; Charles Plogman on electric guitar; Riccardo Spilli on drums; Giorgio Mastrosanti on Telecaster guitar; Juhani Nisula on electric guitar; and Bo-Anders Sandström on vocals.
by Angel Romero
