Jack Vees


Jack Vees is an American composer and bassist from Camden, New Jersey.

Biography

Both a performer 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. 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, John Cage, George Crumb, Charles Ives, Erik Satie, Joel Thome, and Captain Beefheart.
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.
Vees currently resides in Guilford, Connecticut with his wife Libby Van Cleve. He is the operations director and instructor of the Center of Studies in Music Technology at the Yale School of Music.

Notable compositions

Solo (with or without electronics)

National Anthem for guitar and electronics
Surf Music Again for guitar and electronics
Rocket Baby for electric cello and midi cellos
Apocrypha for oboe and electronic tape
John Henry for bass guitar

Small ensemble

Piano Trio for three players on two pianos
Tattooed Barbie for 12-string guitar, oboe, and computer
Saints Before the Vanishing Point for small ensemble
Colorized Chaplin for electric guitar and harpsichord
Child Bride for cello, electronics, and midi

Theatrical works / opera / multimedia

Feynman, chamber opera
Piece for Composition for multimedia and percussion

Discography

2001: Ben Verdery – Soe-Pa. CD Baby.
2000: The Restaurant Behind the Pier. Recommended Records.
1998: Emergency Music. Composers Recordings, Inc.
1997: Surf Music Again. Composers Recordings, Inc.
The Book on Bass Harmonics. Alfred Music Publishers. 1981.