Bio:

Marc Wagnon

Marc Wagnon was born in Switzerland where he started studying music at an early age on the piano; he got his first taste of being a percussionist by playing the drum in marching bands. At the age of fifteen he got his first drum set and formed his own band for which he composed music and lyrics much influenced by the British progressive rock scene of the 70's (King Krimson, Soft Machine, Led Zepplin) and others.

He went on to study classical percussion at the Geneva Conservatory where he studied for five years; during those years he participated in many local bands, theater and dance projects as a percussionist. He became attracted to the vibraphone as well as increasingly drawn to jazz and jazz-rock, inspired by artists such as Miles Davis, Mahawishnu Orchestra, Return To Forever, and the Art Ensemble of Chicago.

Marc went on to study at the Berklee College of Music in Boston for a year where he furthered his mallet technique and composition technique. He also met some great like-minded musicians in Dave Douglas and Dave Kikowski and decided to go down to New York City to have a taste of the real thing. In New York Marc took private conga lessons with the late Frankie Malabe and joined a Brazilian percussion group where he became familiarized with Latin American rhythm.

Marc co-founded the band Dr. Nerve with guitarist Nick Didkowski which went on to record 7 albums; he then went his own way to start his band Shadowlines which was stylistically closer to his musical vision and released two CD "Shadowlines" and "An Afterthought". Marc's style developed in both composition and free improvisation in working with numerous musicians in the downtown scene.

In the early 90's Marc founded the group Tunnels with world renowned bassist Percy Jones, releasing a critically acclaimed CD in 1994, followed by "Painted Rock" in 1999 and is now working on a third release. Marc is also featured on "Manifest Destiny" a CD with the legendary English band Brand X .

Marc has been a teacher for the past ten years, most notably with visually impaired musicians at the Lighthouse Music School, teaching both privately and ensembles. Marc also teaches a regular workshop at the EJMA jazz school in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Marc is also involved with the group Nuove Musiche with singer Sarah Pillow which put together an ambitious CD, along with guitarist John Goodsall, which mixes jazz, r&b and early baroque music.

Marc latest release along with Drummer Mike Clark and Bass Player Paul Jackson, called "Conjunction" was released this spring, the CD features four original compositions from Marc, as well as some by Jed Levy, Neal Kirkwood, and Paul. Marc and Sarah created Buckyball Music, a music service company designed to bring musicians together on a variety of levels in performing, teaching, exchanging ideas and sound creation.

Musicians Featured On:

Shadowlines

Tim Ouimette (trumpet), Josh Roseman (trombone), Sarah Pillow (vocals), Van Manakas (guitar), Leo Traversa (bass), Jim Mussem (drums)

An Afterthought

Sarah Pillow (vocals), Frank Katz (drums), Van Manakas (guitar), Greg Jones (bass), Dace Douglas (trumpet), Ray Anderson (trombone)

Conjunction

Mike Clark (drums), Paul Jackson (bass), Dave Fiuczynski (guitar), Chris Speed (reeds), Jed Levy (reeds), Josh Roseman (trombone)

Press:

Quotes for Shadowlines:

ãThis album can be seen as an initial endeavor by a talented player who has expanded his writing skills to encompass a wider palette.ä - JeffMelton Exposé

ãYour adrenaline will most certainly rise while listening to Shadowlines! A tour-de-force, hard hitting yet sonorous affair that bridges the gap between similar yet historically detached genres. You get a little of everything here, but the winning formula resides within the strong compositions, near flawless execution, meaningful solos and overall sense of unity! This is craftsmanship of an exalted order. Highly recommended! * * * * *ä - Glenn Astarita, AllAboutJazz.com

ãElectronic vibraphonist Marc Wagnon plays challenging new music that seems to confuse rock and swing, inside ballad plying with outside noise,and structure with anarchy in a delightful way. A must hear.ä - German Review, Volkmar Mantei Ragazzi

ãWagnon avoids the usual fusion cliches while staking out some adventurous new territory.ä
ãIt's a heady mix that communicates with power and passion; - Bill Mikowsky, Liner notes

Quotes for An Afterthought:

ãWagnon is the bond between the complex rhythms and horns as he insinuates the themes and melodies while displaying clever multitasking qualities...ä
ã...the band, come at you like a freight train yet perform with the grace and elegance of an eagle in flight!ä
ã...an exhaustively explosive affair!ä
ãA vibist who could probably rip many of his peers to shreds in a cutting contest, Wagnon also excels as being somewhat of a modern visionary and high-achiever whether performing on vibes or as a composer-leader.ä
ã...unique statements that sound remarkably fresh and somewhat futuristicä
ãHighly recommended! * * * * * ã - Glenn Astarita, AllAboutJazz.com

ãWhere Zappa meets Coreaä
ãWagnon displays beatiful melody and texture on the vibesä
ãGuitarist Van Manakas gets to stretch his chops on "old New World" while the closing piece "Postlude" allows drummer Katz to "go ballistic". ã
ãVery creative horns lines and thoughfull improvisation make this release enjoyable... ã
- Mike Haid, Fuse Magazine

ãThe result is something I think prog fans with a sense of adventure might really enjoy.ä
ãFans of fusion, Canterbury music, and even Frank Zappa are sure to find this album right up their alleyä - John Covach, Progression

ãThis recording holds interest from start to finish, the musicianship and originality is lofty, and Wagnon should be quite proud of this individualists effort. Recommended. -- ã
- Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide

ã...the more I listened to "An Afterthought" the more deeply I got impressed by this incredibly interesting, distinctly original and in many ways innovative album.â
ãSarah has an amazingly beautiful voice, and her vocal qualities are so strong that she can use her singing not only as a real musical instrument, but can also work with it as effectively as each of her band-mates does with his respective instrument.ä
ãSarah's vocal parts in each composition she sings on are so wonderfully rich in emotions and diverse in arrangements that they outclass even that instrumental canvas (rich in itself) that is behind her singing. I couldn't even imagine that I'll ever hear such an incredibly innovative thing as using wonderful female (very female) vocals, performed mostly in a symphonic key, in a work of Jazz-Fusion...
ã...an album-masterpieceä - VM, August 25, 2001

Quotes for Conjunction :

ã...a jazz fusion hot foot that slowly climbs up your leg and ass and soon has your entire shaking like multiple schlorosis.ä - Ben Ohmart, Assistant Editor

ã...the disc is a great example of how fusion is trying to adapt to match a musical horizon that is in a state of flux: - Jeff Mellon, Exposé

ãThe music on Conjunction manages to wring all the booty-shaking impulse out of funk rhythms, which makes it a more interesting listen than an enjoyable one.ä ÷Aaron Steinberg JazzTimes

ãAs jazz/rock fusions go, Conjunction is something special.ã
ãthis is a group record, and a tight one at that. ã - Nils Jacobson, AllAboutJazz.com

ãSomething rare in jazz...ä
ã...Conjunction makes an enjoyable album both for casual listening and for close-up inspectionä
ãyou can spend hours studying Wagnonâs intricate patternsä - François Couture, All Music Guide April 2001

ãIf only all albums would start as powerful as this! ã
ãDrums, bass and vibraphone create an ultra-exciting Jazzrock at the first downbeat.ä
ã...all of them are excellent musicians...ä - Volkmar Mantei Ragazzi (translationf rom german by Ulrich Dewald)