Upon Oanda's Wing (1977): Gary Marks's Second Album, Recorded with Art Lande's Band
The second album by Gary Marks, American singer-songwriter, recording artist, and author.
Made with Art Lande and Rubisa Patrol
Upon Oanda's Wing (1977) was Gary Marks’s second recording, completed at the age of 26. This album was recorded with the virtuoso jazz pianist Art Lande (ECM Records).
Members of Art Lande's band, Rubisa Patrol, played on Oanda along with Art himself. Those band members included Bill Douglass on acoustic bass, and Kurt Wortman on drums.
A Shared 1976 Performance with Art Lande at the Santa Barbara Opera House
Art Lande and Marks also performed together outside the studio. In 1976, Marks opened for Lande at the Santa Barbara Opera House.
Released on Gary's Own Arewea Label
The album was released on Marks's own Arewea Company imprint, catalog number Arewea 2001, with session credits confirming Ron Stallings on soprano sax and Brian Atkinson on vibraphone alongside Lande, Douglass, and Wortman, the same personnel now documented on this page.
Front Cover by Maja Weber
he front cover was painted by Maja Weber, wife of ECM bassist Eberhard Weber. A friendship with both of them began after Art Lande shared my album Gathering with them. Maja’s artwork graced the covers of many ECM records, including Eberhard’s Yellow Fields. Link to Maja’s artwork: https://insheepsclothinghifi.com/maja-weber/
What the Critics Wrote
Jazz Magazine, Vol. 3: “Review of Upon Oanda’s Wing,” Summer 1979
“… might closely resemble some of Milton Nascimento's EMI albums, which still serve as a paragon for anyone trying to be equally convincing across the board, from tight vocals and arrangements, to wide open instrumental playing.”
“… has long eschewed contract offers from major record companies, opting to found his own Arewea label rather than be marketed as a male surrogate of Joni Mitchell.”
“… what James Taylor and those of his ilk can only pull off in a pedestrian manner, Marks is doing here with taste.”
“Lande and Marks both deserve better than their relative obscurity, but the hard sell has always been a more powerful tool than good taste in creating ‘successful’ musicians.”
(Note: Marks thinks Sweet Baby James was a brilliant album, and even now loves James’s very underrated guitar work.)
Stella Records (Japan): “Review of Gathering and Upon Oanda’s Wing,” 2012
“… a songwriter with both brilliance and charm …”
“… folk-rock-jazz masterpieces … have gracefully withstood the test of time.”
— Stella Records (Japan)
Upon Oanda's Wing on Musicbrainz