Jack Vees (born 1955) is an American composer and bassist from

Camden, New Jersey Camden is a City (New Jersey), city in Camden County, New Jersey, Camden County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is part of the Delaware Valley metropolitan region. The city was incorporated on February 13, 1828.Snyder, John P''The Story of ...

Biography

Both a performer (electric bass/guitar and electronics) and a composer, Vees has written music for his own ensemble, Chez Vees, and for groups such as Ensemble Modern, California EAR Unit, and Zeitgeist (ensemble). He has collaborated with performers Ashley Bathgate, Libby Van Cleve, Amy Knoles, Jeffrey Krieger, and Ben Verdery, as well as various choreographers and video artists. Influences include

Louis Andriessen Louis Joseph Andriessen (; 6 June 1939 – 1 July 2021) was a Dutch composer, pianist and academic teacher. Considered the most influential Dutch composer of his generation, he was a central proponent of The Hague school of composition. Although ...

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, Joel Thome, and

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(Don Van Vliet). Vees holds an undergraduate degree from Glassboro State College and an M.F.A. from

California Institute of the Arts The California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) is a Private university, private art school in Santa Clarita, California. It was incorporated in 1961 as the first degree-granting institution of higher learning in the US created specifically for ...

. Previous composition teachers include

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, Stephen L. Mosko, Bernard Rands, and

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. 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 The Yale School of Music (often abbreviated to YSM) is one of the 12 professional schools at Yale University. It offers three graduate degrees: Master of Music (MM), Master of Musical Arts (MMA), and Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA), as well as a joi ...

Notable compositions

Solo (with or without electronics)

''National Anthem'' (2000) for guitar and electronics ''Surf Music Again'' (1996) for guitar and electronics ''Rocket Baby'' (1994) for electric cello and midi cellos ''Apocrypha'' (1986) for oboe and electronic tape ''John Henry'' (1984) for bass guitar

Small ensemble

''Piano Trio (Hulk Smash!)'' (1994) for three players on two pianos ''Tattooed Barbie'' (1991) for 12-string guitar, oboe, and computer ''Saints Before the Vanishing Point'' (1990) for small ensemble ''Colorized Chaplin'' (1989) for electric guitar and harpsichord ''Child Bride'' (1988) for cello, electronics, and midi

Theatrical works / opera / multimedia

''Feynman'' (2003-2005), chamber opera ''Piece for Composition'' (1987) for multimedia and percussion

Discography

2001: Ben Verdery – Soe-Pa. CD Baby. * ''Strummage'' 2000: The Restaurant Behind the Pier.

Recommended Records Recommended Records (RēR) is a British independent record label and distribution network founded by Chris Cutler with Nick Hobbs in March 1978. RēR features largely "Rock in Opposition" and related music, but it also distributes selected musi ...

. * ''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. * ''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.

References

21st-century American composers 1955 births Living people Musicians from Camden, New Jersey {{US-composer-stub