Glen Velez

Glen Velez (* 1949 ) is an American jazz percussionist and composer who has a worldwide reputation as a master on the frame drum .

Velez, the son of Mexican immigrants, grew up in Texas . His interest in percussion instruments was aroused in his childhood by an uncle who was a drummer. In 1967 he went to New York City , where he studied classical percussion with Fred Hinger at the Manhattan School of Music . In 1969 he returned to Dallas and was then a drummer in a band in the US Army during his military service.

In 1973 he returned to New York, where he became a member of Steve Reich's ensemble , with whom he worked for fifteen years. In 1983 he became a member of the Paul Winter Consort , of which he was a member until 1998.

Glen Velez, Luca Recupero and Alfio Antico - Marranzano World Festival - Catania ( 2007 )

In addition, Velez began a career as a soloist; In 1984 his first album Handance was released , on which he played various percussion instruments, which he complemented with his characteristic overtone singing. Handance is also the name of his teaching method for percussion instruments, which is documented in the video The Glen Velez Handance Method .

In 1989 John Cage composed the Composed Improvisation for One-sided Drum with or without Jangles for him . In 1990 he formed the trio Globo with Eugene Friesen and Howard Levy , with whom he presented several albums. In 1996 Velez took part in the Temurà project of the Spanish saxophonist and clarinetist Javier Paxariño . After separating from Paul Winter in 1998 , Velez mainly worked as a soloist, but also as a partner of the singer Suzanne Vega , the oud player Rabih Abou-Khalil , the guitarist Pat Metheny , the classical clarinetist Richard Stoltzman , the tabla player Zakir Hussain and des Bass player Jonas Hellborg . In 1999, DRUM! Magazine named him Best World Beat Percussionist .

Discography (selection)

• Handdance: Frame Drum Music with Layne Redmond , 1984
• Seven Heaven with Layne Redmond and Steve Gorn , 1987
• Assyrian Rose with John Clark , Steve Gorn, Howard Levy , Layne Redmond , 1989
• Mokave Vol. 1 (1991) - with Larry Karush and Glen Moore
• Songs of Kabir with Eva Atsalis , Amitava Chatterjee , Geraldine James , Gerry James , 1993
• Pan Eros with Gianni Gebbia , Enzo Rao , 1994
• Doctrine of Signatures with Eva Atsalis, Ed Brunicardi , Randy Crafton , Steve Gorn, Jan Hagiwara , 1994
• Border States with Howard Levy and Randy Crafton , 1994
• David Rothenberg / Glen Velez / Graeme Boone On the Cliffs of the Heart , 1995
• Rhythmcolor Exotica with Eva Atsalis, Art Baron , Jan Hagiwara, Yousif Sheronick , 1996
• Rhythms of the Chakras , solo album, 1998
• Breathing Rhythms with Damian Dragichi , Eugene Friesen , 2000
• Rhythms of Awakening with Randy Crafton , Zohar Fresco , Steve Gorn, Howard Levy, Shane Shanahan , Yousif Sheronick, 2005
• Rhythms of the Chakras Volume 2 , 2018

Web links

• Glen Velez in the Internet Movie Database (English)
• Glen Velez 'homepage