Marc Wagnon "Earth is a Cruel Master"
After 5 recordings with Tunnels, Marc returns to his own musical vision, combining great jazz-rock with thought-provoking themes such as recent scientific discoveries, climate change and the human condition. Marc takes on the lion's share of the instrumentation, returning to his first love: the drum set- and is joined by long-time collaborators Van Manakas and Leo Traversa.
After playing with Headhunters, Brand X and Tunnels, the only thing left for a percussionist to do is go solo and step into the shoes Bill Bruford is leaving behind as he trots off into retirement. It’s too easy to call him Bruford’s heir apparent, but it does fit the bill. Playing with a wide range of interests and textures, Wagnon is the new progressive darling to watch now that he’s calling his own shots. Right in that progressive/jazz/rock pocket, you know who you are if you’re a fan of this, and if you are, you will be a fan of this. Right on the money throughout. MidWest Record.
With Earth Is a Cruel Master, Marc Wagnon made his return in the summer of 2010. In the interim—specifically in April 2010—Morris Pert passed away at the age of 63; he was a percussionist not only for Brand X but also a prolific session musician and solo artist. R.I.P. On this release, Marc Wagnon returns to playing the marimba and vibraphone acoustically—a departure from his previous solo albums, where he relied predominantly on MIDI vibes. Furthermore, he features as a drummer and percussionist, as well as a keyboardist. Marc Wagnon is accompanied by Van Manakas (electric guitar), Leo Traversa (electric bass), and Danny Stone (acoustic bass). The eight instrumental pieces were composed by Wagnon himself and were recorded between June and November 2009 at Buckyball Studio in New York City. The sound quality is superb—expansive, crystal-clear, and rich, remaining fresh and vibrant across the entire sonic spectrum. The jazz-rock here has taken on a more contemplative tone. While Marc Wagnon’s jazz-rock has always possessed a thoughtful quality, a contemplative patina now permeates the entire work—even during those moments when a piece surges forward with greater power and vigor. The compositions are structured with less complexity and exhibit less technical extravagance—though neither element is entirely absent—resulting in songs that feel simultaneously more evocative and more ethereal. The performance is intense, leaning less toward "rock"; instead, a faint whiff of bebop hangs in the air. The compositions are abstract yet expressive, while the execution is virtuosic, compelling, lively, and powerful. A sense of earnestness defines even the most spirited passages and tracks. The title Earth Is a Cruel Master speaks for itself. Perhaps Marc Wagnon has discovered a new artistic depth—one rooted as much in his life experiences as in his music—that compels him to focus on fewer elements, yet... to reflect more deeply and, accordingly, to find music. Back in the day—from the eighties through the early nineties—Marc Wagnon was navigating the terrain of harsh avant-garde with Dr. Nerve, fusing metal guitars with the sheer force of extreme jazz in aggressive, wiry, No Wave-inflected jazz-rock—lively, playful, and highly eccentric, dissonant radical battles and wild mini-epics. Marc Wagnon has fully lived out all that radicalism and wildness; indeed, his latest endeavor offers a glimpse of a certain wisdom that has blossomed within him—at least musically—a wisdom capable of punching its way through difficulties and consistently finding its way back to an exquisite and novel sonic language, even amidst shifting personnel. Ragazzi