Natural Selection

“Light Gathering”

(Buckyball)

Vibraphonist Marc Wagnon and bassist Percy Jones assembled the avant-garde fusion ensemble Tunnels in the early 1990s. The group toured and recorded a handful of albums in a dozen years, culminating with the 2006 release Natural Selection (Buckyball). Frequently operating as a quartet on their various sessions, Tunnels pared down to a trio for their last release, with Wagnon and Jones joined by drummer John O’Reilly Jr. and some guest musicians who shared a history with the band. Wagnon’s use of midi-vibes provides some intriguing colors and textures on his composition “Light Gathering,” included here, which rides an irrepressible groove provided by Jones’ rumbling fretless bass and O’Reilly’s unrelenting backbeat.