The music community helps its own

When a musician gets in a life-altering jam, the music community tends to respond in a very big way.

One of the latest instances involves West Coast bass player Marc van Wageningen. He and drummer David Garibaldi were injured severely on January 12 when struck by an Amtrak train while were walking to a Tower of Power performance at Yoshi’s in Oakland CA.

Marc VW, a 30-year fixture on the Bay Area’s jazz, funk and Latin music scene, has been subbing in the funk band since 2002. He was the most seriously injured of the pair. He underwent surgery to remove his spleen and repair broken bones and facial fractures. Like many musicians, he had no health insurance.

Multi-instrumentalist and music producer Peter Michael Escovedo organized a benefit concert to help van Wageningen and Garibaldi. He also set up a session the next day to record a studio album to benefit the bassist, called Raise the Marc. The many participating Bay Area musicians included saxophonists Dave Koz and Marc Russo, percussionists John Santos, Jesus Diaz, Pete Escovedo and his daughter Sheila E., guitarist Ray Obiedo and pianist Peter Horvath.

The CD will be released July 14 on the producer's Peter Michael imprint. It’s now available as a digital download here. One track, "Oakland in Da House," was included from an earlier Sheila E. album, captures her band onstage at Yoshi's. It is the only song on Raise the Marc on which Marc VW plays. All proceeds from the CD and digital download sales will benefit Marc and his family, who have been facing substantial medical expenses.

Van Wageningen and Garibaldi were hit by a train near Jack London Square about 20 minutes before the band’s scheduled show at Yoshi’s. Police said four people tried to cross the tracks — while the warning guard arms were still down — after a freight train slowly chugged by. They didn’t see an Amtrak train traveling from the opposite direction on another track. Garibaldi and Van Wageningen were not able to jump out of the way.

In addition to January benefit concert to help both musicians, a Go Fund Me initiative has raised more than $55,000. A second GoFund Me effort has raised an additional $81,000 to date toward van Wageningen’s considerable expenses. 

Dig in and help if you can.