ANTARTICA
1982
About the Band
…and the reason for these pages
For composer and keyboardist Marc Soucy, Antartica represents one of the most important chapters in his musical life. These pages exist to preserve the original instrumental music he composed for the trio and to celebrate the remarkable musicians who helped bring it to life. Against the odds, a number of live recordings survived, making it possible to restore and share them more than four decades later.
In the years leading up to Antartica's formation, Marc immersed himself in music. He performed professionally in bands covering progressive rock, arena rock, pop, dance music, and more while studying jazz piano, impressionistic classical music, and music theory. At the same time, he became fascinated by the rapidly evolving world of synthesizers and electronic instruments, continually expanding his compositional palette by blending diverse musical influences.
In 1981, Marc joined forces with drummer Ray Lavigne and bassist Jeff Carano to form Antartica, a progressive fusion trio built around original instrumental compositions. Ray brought exceptional musicianship and creativity from an early age, while Jeff, a Berklee College of Music graduate, contributed both technical skill and melodic instinct. Together they pursued an ambitious musical vision rooted in curiosity, collaboration, and fearless performance.
Rehearsals were demanding, energetic, and deeply collaborative. Some compositions were carefully structured, while others evolved naturally through improvisation and interaction.
"There was always pressure on me to come up with something... and I loved every minute of it. Ray and Jeff were always rising to the occasion with the right performances to drive each piece forward."
The trio also shared an enthusiasm for discovering new music, continually exchanging ideas and drawing inspiration from progressive rock, jazz fusion, and any recording that demonstrated originality and exceptional musicianship.
Although changing musical trends and life's practical realities brought the project to a close in 1983 before it reached a wider audience, Antartica remained one of Marc's most cherished creative experiences.
"I've always been grateful to Jeff and Ray for their musicianship, friendship, and commitment to what we were trying to create together. Restoring these recordings and sharing them now is my way of honoring that remarkable period in our lives."
The spirit of Antartica never disappeared. Many of the compositional ideas first explored within the trio continue to influence Marc Soucy's work today, making ANTARTICA LIVE both a historical document and an important foundation for the original instrumental music he continues to compose and release.
To learn more about Marc Soucy as a composer, keyboardist, and producer,
please explore the rest of this website.
