Barock Project was born in 2003 and have the goal to match classic music (mainly baroque), rock and a few jazz, substained by a pop structure to renew the beloved Progressive Rock of 70s. The head of project is the keyboard player Luca Zabbini, piano player and composer, affected by the passion for the famous keyboardist Keith Emerson (ELP). In the summer of 2004 Giambattista Giorgi, a young bass player, the drummer Giacomo Calabria and the voice of Luca Pancaldi joined to the band.
In January 2007 they performed live in Bologna with a string quartet. The arrangements are made by Zabbini and Rock In Theater is the DVD of the concert. In the end of the same year come out the first album Misteriose Voci under the label Musea Records and in the summer of 2009 the second record, Rebus under the italian label Mellow Records, gained good reviews both.
In March 2012 the french label Musea Records publish their third album Coffee in Neukölln, wrote totally in english.
Was the work which consacrate Barock Project such as Symphonic Prog Rock international band with a nomination to the Prog Awards 2012.
In the same year joined to the band Eric Ombelli (drum) and Marco Mazzuoccolo (guitar) and in 2014 started recording of the fourth and more complex album. At the end of 2014 the bassist Giorgi left the group and Francesco Caliendo took his place.
In January 2015 Barock Project announce the exit of Skyline,edited by Artalia with the help of a fundraising campaign and with partecipation of two big name of prog: Vittorio De Scalzi (New Trolls) and Paul Whitehead (first cover artist of Genesis).
In November of the same year Alex Mari take the place of Luca Pancaldi.
In May 2016 came out the live Vivo,a double cd of two hours of music, recorded during the tour played in 2015.
In March 2017 the sixth album Detachment saw the light, and the band performed in Holland and at Symphonic Night Festival at Tsutaya O-East in Tokyo.
In 2018 Barock Project was in tour in Holland, in USA at RosFest festival and one more time in Japan at Tsutaya O-West in Tokyo. The band completes the year with a concert to Auditorium Parco della Musica in Roma.
On August 2019 the band signs with the label Immaginifica by Aereostella and in September the band release the new album Seven Seas. /taken from their website)
This is a well-made album with complex compositions and very competent performances on all instruments but, like Dan Brittan’s various highly regarded projects, the music of Skyline simply fails to lure me in. I do like it that Barock’s songs have a distinct if slightly JTULL sound to them, but, like last year’s impressive FREDDEGREDDE album, complexity does not always make for enjoyable or engaging listening. The problem here with Skyline is that even with repeated listens over months none of the songs are making their way into my brain, none of these songs are songs that I want to seek out or push repeat for. Once again: Maybe if I were more lyric oriented . . . (BrufordFreak)
I may have only just come across this Italian outfit with their latest album, ‘Detachment’, but I am determined to make up for lost time so am now listening to their latest studio album, which was actually their fourth. Released in 2015, this is very much the forerunner to the most recent, and although it isn’t quite in the same league is still an incredibly impressive piece of work. The flute only appears on a couple of songs this time, although there is also some cello and viola at times. From the a capella opening, through to the very last note, this is an incredibly polished and controlled album: one that takes the listener on a journey that they are sure to enjoy.
I’m not quite sure why, but there does appear to be a much heavier Jethro Tull feeling to parts of this album, and this has nothing to do with the use of flute, but rather the way that some of the acoustic numbers seem to flow and sweep. I have seen them likened to Echolyn in some places, and I can see why, but to be honest although I always enjoyed Echolyn I don’t think they were quite in the same league as these guys. This the second studio album I have heard, and am still getting to grips with the fact that up to a few months ago I had never heard of them! Still, like finding a good author after he has been going a while (I first read Stephen Donaldson as he was about to release the sixth volume of ‘Thomas Covenant’ novels), it does give one the opportunity to go back and see what else they have been doing over time, and that is something I fully intend to do.
Barock Project are easily one of the most impressive bands currently operating within the progressive scene and I heartily recommend this to anyone who enjoys the more melodic and less challenging forms. (by Kev Rowland)
Personnel:
Marco Mazzuoccolo (guitar)
Eric Ombelli (drums, percussion, loops)
Luca Pancaldi (vocals)
Luca Zabbini (keyboards, bass, guitar, background vocals)
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Giuseppe Franchellucci (cello, viola)
Vittorio De Scalzi (vocals, flute on 03.)
Onelio Zabbini (flute on 04.)
Tracklist:
01. Gold 8.40
02. Overture 3.39
03. Skyline 10.20
04. Roadkill 5.59
05. The Silence Of Our Wake 10.48
06. The Sounds Of Dreams 2.23
07. Spinning Away 6.05
08. Tired 9.57
09. A Winter’s Night 4.37
10. The Longest Sigh 7.52
Music: Luca Zabbini
Lyrics: Antonio de Sarno
ManyFantasticColors 