James Wetzel

Contact Teacher

Teacher

Instruments:

Drums, Piano, Electric Bass

Music Genres:

Jazz, Rock, Blues, Latin Pop

Offering

Private Lessons

Composing

Performing

Special Events

Recording

HT Group

Bio

I have been playing music in professional and educational ensembles for over 10 years. I started in Houston Tx. in high school playing cymbals tenors and snare in the marching band. Eventually I began competing in winter season drumline events as well. While in high school I was an active participant in the wind ensemble and concert bands receiving first chair status within a year of joining. On the weekends and during the summers I played in rock bands and did some occasional gigging around the Houston area. I studied privately with well over five different instructors in marimba orchestral percussion marching percussion and drum At the age of 18 I moved to LA to study music at the USC school of music in the percussion department. While I was there I studied under Erik Forrester Greg Fields and Brian Bartell. I played in the school percussion ensemble orchestra and wind ensemble for four years. During the last three years of my education I also studied orchestral composition privately under the tutelage of David Fick. I was involved with the Trojan Marching Band Drumline taught by Tad Carpenter for two years and marched the tenor drums. In my free time I and some friends formed The Purple Esquire a progressive jazz rock quartet in which I have been playing as vocalist bass player and composer. Now in the summer of 2005 we are starting to play out heavily in the LA In 2004 I was commisioned to write a work the USC Thornton percussion ensemble. My work Percussion for 5 Players was premiered at the fall percussion concert in 2004.
I have written numerous pieces for film and for rock albums as well arranged strings and brass for independent artists. Currently I am finishing the Purple Esquire's first full length album An Evening With The Purple Esquire which should be done in

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