Exploring themes of science, history and contemporary times, Marc Wagnon releases his fourth solo album which features some longtime musician friends and young new players. These songs embody intricate arrangements, fluid vocal lines, and engaging solo performances. Stylistically firmly anchored in contemporary jazz, this inspired mix is a commentary on our history and our future.

Watch the video of the first two songs: SYNERGY and Hypatia

The full album’s musical line-up features some of the most sought after seasoned jazz/rock players on the scene, who have countless recordings and performances to their credit; as well as some young up and coming players who are just making themselves known.

Singer Sarah Pillow travels effortlessly across the musical boundaries of jazz, opera, pop and early music, as a solo performer and with her jazz quartet, her crossover project Nuove Musiche, and her early music ensemble Galileo’s Daughters. Her full range comes into bloom on this recording, which blends seamlessly with Marc Wagnon’s various eclectic musical directions.

Marc Wagnon is known as a pioneer on the vibraphone, pushing the boundaries of the instrument throughout his career with groups like Tunnels and Brand X. A consummate percussionist, Marc plays half of the drum tracks on this album as well as percussion. This fourth solo release reflects on the very “Interesting Times” we live in, and it all translates into a realistic and hope-filled view of the future.

• Marc Wagnon: vibraphone, drums, percussion

• Sarah Pillow: voice

• Maria Grand: tenor sax

• Tim Ouimette: trumpet

• Kevin Oliver: alto sax

• Kevin Moehringer: trombone

• Van Manakas: guitar

• Leo Traversa: bass

• Jonathan Price: bass

• Tony Green: acoustic bass

• John O’Reilly Jr.: drums

Reviews:

Intricate enchanting engaging jazz Marc Wagnon – INTERESTING TIMES:  I don’t often think of a jazz album in the context of “science” and “history”, but this marvelous set of creations from Marc and his players (Sarah Pillow: voice; Maria Grand: tenor sax; Tim Ouimette: trumpet; Kevin Oliver: alto sax; Kevin Moehringer: trombone; Van Manakas: guitar; Leo Traversa: bass; Jonathan Price: bass; Tony Green: acoustic bass and John O’Reilly Jr.: drums) does that and much, much more… I was first exposed to his intricate, enchanting and highly engaging style when I reviewed his “Earth Is A Cruel Master” (quite some time back), and gave him high marks then… you’ll see why I’m even more impressed as you watch the official release video for “Heliopause“… …you’ll find MANY more highly creative videos from Marc, as well as other Buckyball artists, when you SUBSCRIBE to the Buckyball YouTube channel, too… I subscribed right away. One of the most engaging, laid-back and mellow jazz performances I have heard (yet) in 2020 is the 5:22 “This Moment“… I predict that DJ’s of every stripe and persuasion around the globe will be spinning this full-bodied tune frequently! If you just love vibraphone work, you won’t find any that’s more creative than what Marc creates for you on the beautiful “Hypatia“… Sarah’s vocal will transport you to “higher ground”, and together with the other players, gives you a real sense of motion and travel; in fact, the song takes you to the very outer reaches of the galaxy. I get a kind of “outdoorsy” vibe as I listen to the splendid closer, “Lightning Strikes Once“… every note is “on time”, the recording is flawless, and there’s a nice “ride groove” going on all the way through the tune. There was no question in my mind what my choice for personal favorite was going to be on this album… “Proxima Centauri” (nearest star) has a LOT of vibraphone woven into and through some totally splendid sonic beauty… I absolutely LOVED this song! I give Marc and his players a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating, with an “EQ” (energy quotient) score of 4.99 for this most memorable exploratory jazz excursion.  Get more information on the Buckyball Music web page for the release.  Dick Metcalf, editor, Contemporary Fusion Reviews

Swiss born, New York based percussionist Mark Wagnon should need no introduction to long-time readers of Exposé, but since this is his first release in almost ten years, all should know he has a long history as a member of some of the finest bands around New York City area, including Tunnels with Percy Jones, Brand X, and Doctor Nerve before that. Interesting Times is Wagnon’s fourth solo album on his own Buckyball label, on which he composed all of the music, played vibraphone throughout, and drums on four of the album’s eight tracks, six of which could be considered vocal jazz, and feature gifted singer Sarah Pillow, who crosses numerous musical boundaries with her jazz quartet, her group Nuove Musiche, and her early music ensemble Galileo’s Daughters, plus she has featured on previous Marc Wagnon albums, as he has on hers, and on the album at hand, where there are lyrics, she wrote them or had a hand in writing them, and their creative muse fuses seamlessly. The rest of the players are all top-shelf, including tenor saxophonist Maria Grand, much credited trumpeter Tim Ouimette, alto saxophonist Kevin Oliver, trombonist Kevin Moehringer of Breakdown Brass and a multitude of sessions, guitarist Van Manakas who played with Scott Cossu on several of his Windham Hill era albums. There are several different exceptional bassists featured, and on the tracks where Wagnon doesn’t drum, the featured drummer is John O’Reilly Jr. One of the album’s two instrumentals “Heliopause” occasionally reminds me of early-70s Zappa — the entire band is on fire. The lyrics cover a number of subjects, from the Drake equation (“Proxina Centauri”) to ancient Egypt (“Hypatia”) to more conceptual tunes like “In Our Minds” and “This Moment.” The opening cut, “Synergy,” features singing and spoken parts, plus a spoken clip from Buckminster Fuller; while I’m not a big fan of spoken words over music, this one seems to work and has a lot of good things to say. The instrumental closer, “Lightning Strikes Once,” is a gently laid-back funky piece that gives the horn section and Manakas plenty of space to stretch out, plus a beautiful vibraphone solo. All taken, Interesting Times is another superb offering by Marc Wagnon and friends. Peter Thelen, -Exposé Magazine

MARC WAGNON/Interesting Times: Hippie lyrics under pinned by 70s jazz rock from a cat that banged it out with Brand X---and it all sounds timely. With some wonderful cats we haven't heard from in a while on board as well, overall, this sounds like state of the art 2020 prog rock. It's even more wild that this was made by older cats that could teach snotty, tattooed, young malcontents a thing or two about hitting the nail on the head. Really different stuff for really different ears. Chris Spector, -Midwest Records