View a excerpt form our first performance

Jazz@stronomy is the brainchild of Marc Wagnon, who has always had an interest in astronomy. He is a volunteer for NASA and JPL as a Solar System Ambassador, as well as a member of NYC Amateur Astronomer Association. this project is a way to merged his passion for music and astronomy and to also use his skill as an educator.

Here is a short description of the project:

Jazz@stronomy is an exploration of the conjunction between the visuals in the planetarium, lecture and live music. The correlation between these elements complement themselves on several levels. The science of sound and the exploration of the electromagnetic spectrum are connected as they both rely on frequencies, and although traveling in different mediums, they are both subservient to time and space. Additionally, as a Solar System Ambassador, I will introduce the topics covered with a short introduction about each subject presented on in the evening’s event.

To mix these in an open give-and-take situation, and performed live in front of an audience, they will synergistically enhance each other.

Here are a selective few examples of what topics I have in mind, which would also be visually represented with OpenSpace and interpreted sonically:

-    Mars exploration

-    Asteroids

-    Inner and outer Solar System

-    Our place in the cosmos

These topical segments will each be preceded by a short introduction. The aim is to present what is sometimes an overwhelming subject in a relaxing and entertaining way.

The musicians including myself and an OpenSpace operator flying through space. The music is improvisational, developing a unique sequence for each section or part.