In demand jazz bassist talks touring the world, teaching in New York City, and upcoming projects
Exclusive video interview with FBPO’s Jon Liebman
September 23, 2024
Marcos Varela is an accomplished bassist, composer, bandleader, and educator from Houston, Texas. He’s performed at jazz festivals all over the world and shared the stage with an impressive list of artists, including the Charles Mingus Big Band, Jason Moran, Martha Wainwright, Kendrick Scott, Leslie Odom Jr., Roy Hargrove, and Umar Bin Hassan of The Last Poets. As a composer and producer, Marcos has scored music for numerous movies and television programs, including the film Roots in Water directed by Domenica Cameron-Scorsese. After releasing his debut solo album San Ygnacio in 2016, Marcos has been featured on notable albums such as Peter Zak’s One Mind in 2018 and Andrew Moorhead’s 2023 debut release Interleaved. A master of both upright and electric bass, Marcos can be heard regularly on the New York City jazz scene and is currently on faculty at The New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music as well as Montclair State University.
Watch our interview with Marcos!
