Josef Wagner's Memory Control - Mardo (2019)

For his second album "Mardo", Austrian bassplayer and composer Josef Wagner hasturned his band "Memory Control" into a sextet. As a result, the well-established rhythm section of "Memory Control" consisting of Philipp Jagschitz – this time exclusively – on Fender Rhodes, Thomas Froschauer on drums and Wagner on bass, are joined by Christian Maurer on bass clarinet and alto sax, Mario Vavti on trombone and guitar player Frank Schwinn. Specially for this line-up, Wagner has written two 20-minute suites, which move through a variety of moods and styles. The arrangements are generally complex and sophisticated, but the tension is repeatedly resolved by catchy melodies or down-to-earth grooves. Likewise, through-composed sections alternate with inspired improvisations by Wagner's excellent band members. Anything but boring!