# Jack Vees

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American composer and bassist

**Jack Vees** (born 1955) is an American composer and bassist from [Camden, New Jersey](/source/Camden%2C_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](/source/California_EAR_Unit),[4][5] and [Zeitgeist (ensemble)](/source/Zeitgeist_(ensemble)). He has collaborated with performers Ashley Bathgate, [Libby Van Cleve](/source/Libby_Van_Cleve),[3][6] Amy Knoles,[4] Jeffrey Krieger, and [Ben Verdery](/source/Benjamin_Verdery),[7] as well as various choreographers and video artists. Influences include [Louis Andriessen](/source/Louis_Andriessen), [John Cage](/source/John_Cage), [George Crumb](/source/George_Crumb), [Charles Ives](/source/Charles_Ives), [Erik Satie](/source/Erik_Satie),[8] [Joel Thome](/source/Joel_Thome), and [Captain Beefheart](/source/Captain_Beefheart) (Don Van Vliet).[9]

Vees holds an undergraduate degree from [Glassboro State College](/source/Glassboro_State_College) and an M.F.A. from [California Institute of the Arts](/source/California_Institute_of_the_Arts). Previous composition teachers include [Louis Andriessen](/source/Louis_Andriessen), [Vinko Globokar](/source/Vinko_Globokar), [Stephen L. Mosko](/source/Stephen_L._Mosko), [Bernard Rands](/source/Bernard_Rands), and [Morton Subotnick](/source/Morton_Subotnick).[1]

Vees currently resides in Guilford, Connecticut with his wife [Libby Van Cleve](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Recommended_Records).[18]

- *The Restaurant Behind the Pier*

- *John Henry*

- *Monsiur Piñata*

- *Surf Music II*

1998: **Emergency Music**. [Composers Recordings, Inc.](/source/Composers_Recordings%2C_Inc.)

- *Prom Face Devotion*

1997: **Surf Music Again**. [Composers Recordings, Inc.](/source/Composers_Recordings%2C_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***](#cite_ref-:4_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:4_1-1) ["Tge"](http://www.turquoiseguitar.com/en/composers/index.php). *Turquoise Guitar Editions*. Retrieved 2016-03-26.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:0_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-:0_2-4) Tommasini, Anthony (1996-09-09). ["The New Innovators Salute the Old"](https://www.nytimes.com/1996/09/09/arts/the-new-innovators-salute-the-old.html). *The New York Times*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0362-4331](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). Retrieved 2016-03-26.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:1_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:1_3-3) ["The Tuscaloosa News - Google News Archive Search"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1817&dat=19940828&id=ukogAAAAIBAJ&pg=4193,9106984&hl=en). *news.google.com*. Retrieved 2016-03-26.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:2_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:2_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:2_4-2) WAGER, GREGG (1988-04-22). ["Music Reviews : California E.A.R. Unit at County Museum of Art"](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-04-22-ca-1827-story.html). *Los Angeles Times*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0458-3035](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0458-3035). Retrieved 2016-03-26.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:3_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:3_5-1) WAGER, GREGG (1989-02-10). ["Music Reviews : Theatrical Program by the E.A.R. Unit"](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-02-10-ca-2389-story.html). *Los Angeles Times*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0458-3035](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0458-3035). Retrieved 2016-03-26.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:5_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:5_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:5_6-2) ["Oboe Unbound"](http://libbyvancleve.com/oboe-unbound/). *Libby Van Cleve, oboist and author*. Retrieved 2016-03-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** sàrl, GlobalVision Communication sàrl & Lauriedesign. ["Arts Global - Benjamin Verdery - Biography"](http://www.artsglobal.org/en/people/benjamin-verdery/). *www.artsglobal.org*. Retrieved 2016-03-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Repent Walpurgis : Jack Vees"](http://www.palersproject.com/looking-glass/repent_vees.htm). *www.palersproject.com*. Retrieved 2016-03-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["OHAM: Jack Vees Table of Contents | Yale University Library"](https://web.archive.org/web/20151219164241/http://web.library.yale.edu/oham/vees_TOC). *web.library.yale.edu*. Archived from [the original](http://web.library.yale.edu/oham/vees_TOC) on 2015-12-19. Retrieved 2016-03-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Center for Studies in Music Technology - Yale School of Music"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160326082655/http://music.yale.edu/resources/csmt/). *Yale School of Music*. Archived from [the original](http://music.yale.edu/resources/csmt/) on 2016-03-26. Retrieved 2016-03-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["All Hail Benjamin Verdery | SFCV"](https://www.sfcv.org/reviews/festival-of-new-american-music/all-hail-benjamin-verdery). *www.sfcv.org*. Retrieved 2016-03-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Madsen, Emily (2010). ["Music for Oboe and Electronically Produced Sounds"](http://drum.lib.umd.edu/bitstream/handle/1903/13312/Madsen.pdf;jsessionid=B5F2EB796A5546F7F95BA534CFDBE9FE?sequence=1). *University of Maryland Doctoral Degree Recital Program*. Retrieved March 26, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Bang on a Can Marathon - R.A.P.P. Arts Center - 1988 - Bang on a Can"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160601151621/http://bangonacan.org/1988/may/bang_on_a_can_marathon_rapp_arts_center). *bangonacan.org*. Archived from [the original](http://bangonacan.org/1988/may/bang_on_a_can_marathon_rapp_arts_center) on 2016-06-01. Retrieved 2016-03-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** WOODARD, JOSEF (1997-04-11). ["Flirting With Rock and Chamber Classics"](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-04-11-ca-47530-story.html). *Los Angeles Times*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0458-3035](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0458-3035). Retrieved 2016-03-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Bang on a Can Marathon - New York Society for Ethical Culture - 1992 - Bang on a Can"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170510131101/http://bangonacan.org/1992/may/bang_on_a_can_marathon_new_york_society_for_ethical_culture). *bangonacan.org*. Archived from [the original](http://bangonacan.org/1992/may/bang_on_a_can_marathon_new_york_society_for_ethical_culture) on 2017-05-10. Retrieved 2016-03-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Wise, Brian (2005-06-19). ["Quantum Theory And Opera"](https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html). *The New York Times*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0362-4331](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). Retrieved 2016-03-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Musician Interviews & Biographies"](http://www.guitarramagazine.com/BenjaminVerdery). *www.guitarramagazine.com*. Retrieved 2016-03-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Man, Undercover Black (2008-12-18). ["Undercover Black Man: Bonus freebie: Jack Vees"](http://undercoverblackman.blogspot.com/2008/12/bonus-freebie-jack-vees.html). *Undercover Black Man*. Retrieved 2016-03-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["Recent Articles and Reviews"](http://www.american-music.org/publications/bullarchive/artic233.htm). *www.american-music.org*. Retrieved 2016-03-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["This Week in New Haven (February 4–10)"](http://dailynutmeg.com/2013/02/04/this-week-in-new-haven-february-4-10/). *Daily Nutmeg*. 4 February 2013. Retrieved 2016-03-26.

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