Glen Velez

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

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

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

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

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

Discography (selection)

  • Hand Dance: 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
  • Ramana Jan Hagiwara, Howard Levy, Layne Redmond, 1990
  • 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
  • Rhythm Color 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
2007 Zakir Hussain (musician) John Clark (musician) Damian Drăghici Integrated Authority File
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