Jack Vees

Jack Vees (born 1955) is an American composer and bassist from Camden, New Jersey.[1]

Biography

Both a performer (electric bass[2]/guitar and electronics) and a composer, Vees has written music for his own ensemble, Chez Vees,[2][3] and for groups such as Ensemble Modern, California EAR Unit,[4][5] and Zeitgeist (ensemble). He has collaborated with performers Ashley Bathgate, Libby Van Cleve,[3][6] Amy Knoles,[4] Jeffrey Krieger, and Ben Verdery,[7] as well as various choreographers and video artists. Influences include Louis Andriessen, John Cage, George Crumb, Charles Ives, Erik Satie,[8] Joel Thome, and Captain Beefheart (Don Van Vliet).[9]

Vees holds an undergraduate degree from Glassboro State College and an M.F.A. from California Institute of the Arts. Previous composition teachers include Louis Andriessen, Vinko Globokar, Stephen L. Mosko, Bernard Rands, and Morton Subotnick.[1]

Vees currently resides in Guilford, Connecticut with his wife Libby Van Cleve. He was formerly the operations director and instructor of the Center of Studies in Music Technology at the Yale School of Music.[10]

Notable compositions

Solo (with or without electronics)

National Anthem (2000) for guitar and electronics[11]

Surf Music Again (1996) for guitar and electronics[2]

Rocket Baby (1994) for electric cello and midi cellos[2]

Apocrypha (1986) for oboe and electronic tape[6][12]

John Henry (1984) for bass guitar[13]

Small ensemble

Piano Trio (Hulk Smash!) (1994) for three players on two pianos[14]

Tattooed Barbie (1991) for 12-string guitar, oboe, and computer[2][6]

Saints Before the Vanishing Point (1990) for small ensemble[3]

Colorized Chaplin (1989) for electric guitar and harpsichord[15]

Child Bride (1988) for cello, electronics, and midi[5]

Theatrical works / opera / multimedia

Feynman (2003-2005), chamber opera[16]

Piece for Composition (1987) for multimedia and percussion[4]

Discography

2001: Ben Verdery – Soe-Pa. CD Baby.[17]

  • Strummage

2000: The Restaurant Behind the Pier. Recommended Records.[18]

  • The Restaurant Behind the Pier
  • John Henry
  • Monsiur Piñata
  • Surf Music II

1998: Emergency Music. Composers Recordings, Inc.

  • Prom Face Devotion

1997: Surf Music Again. Composers Recordings, Inc.[19]

  • Tattooed Barbie
  • Stigmata non Grata
  • Piano Trio
  • Rocket Baby Electric
  • Piano Trio (Hulk Smash!)
  • SPNFL
  • Surf Music Again

Publications

The Book on Bass Harmonics. Alfred Music Publishers. 1981.[3][20]

References

  1. ^ a b "Tge". Turquoise Guitar Editions. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
  2. ^ a b c d e Tommasini, Anthony (1996-09-09). "The New Innovators Salute the Old". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
  3. ^ a b c d "The Tuscaloosa News - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
  4. ^ a b c WAGER, GREGG (1988-04-22). "Music Reviews : California E.A.R. Unit at County Museum of Art". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
  5. ^ a b WAGER, GREGG (1989-02-10). "Music Reviews : Theatrical Program by the E.A.R. Unit". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
  6. ^ a b c "Oboe Unbound". Libby Van Cleve, oboist and author. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
  7. ^ sàrl, GlobalVision Communication sàrl & Lauriedesign. "Arts Global - Benjamin Verdery - Biography". www.artsglobal.org. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
  8. ^ "Repent Walpurgis : Jack Vees". www.palersproject.com. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
  9. ^ "OHAM: Jack Vees Table of Contents | Yale University Library". web.library.yale.edu. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
  10. ^ "Center for Studies in Music Technology - Yale School of Music". Yale School of Music. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
  11. ^ "All Hail Benjamin Verdery | SFCV". www.sfcv.org. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
  12. ^ Madsen, Emily (2010). "Music for Oboe and Electronically Produced Sounds". University of Maryland Doctoral Degree Recital Program. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  13. ^ "Bang on a Can Marathon - R.A.P.P. Arts Center - 1988 - Bang on a Can". bangonacan.org. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
  14. ^ WOODARD, JOSEF (1997-04-11). "Flirting With Rock and Chamber Classics". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
  15. ^ "Bang on a Can Marathon - New York Society for Ethical Culture - 1992 - Bang on a Can". bangonacan.org. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
  16. ^ Wise, Brian (2005-06-19). "Quantum Theory And Opera". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
  17. ^ "Musician Interviews & Biographies". www.guitarramagazine.com. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
  18. ^ Man, Undercover Black (2008-12-18). "Undercover Black Man: Bonus freebie: Jack Vees". Undercover Black Man. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
  19. ^ "Recent Articles and Reviews". www.american-music.org. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
  20. ^ "This Week in New Haven (February 4–10)". Daily Nutmeg. 4 February 2013. Retrieved 2016-03-26.


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