Profile
Marcos Varela is regarded as a masterful performer of both acoustic and electric bass and has made a name for himself as one of the most well respected musicians in the American and International Jazz scene. His talents have earned him multiple awards including: YoungArts, Creative Capital, Jazz Road, among others; and accolades as a musician, composer, producer, band leader, and educator.
A native of Houston, TX, Varela attended the renowned High School for the Performing & Visual Arts, which paved the path for him to attend The New School on scholarship. Varela has taught Master classes and provided private lessons across the globe. In addition to teaching classes at New School Jazz, he is also currently a professor and on faculty at Montclair State University.
As a professional musician, he continues to be very active in the New York jazz and contemporary music scene, and has made a name for himself as one of the most in-demand bassists in NYC and worldwide both as a sideman and band leader. He regularly has performed, recorded and toured nationally and internationally with a wide variety of ensembles and band leaders including: Ingrid Jensen, Billy Hart, Eddie Henderson, Nasheet Waits, Charli Persip Big Band and Trio, Vincent Gardener’s Big Band - Jazz Houston, The Mingus Big Band, Nasheet Waits, George Cables, Antoine Roney Trio, Clifton Anderson, Jason Moran 713-212 Generations Project, Geri Allen, The Last Poets, Leslie Odom, Jr., Frank Lacy’s Vibe Tribe, Kendrick Scott, Billy Harper, Tyshawn Sorey, and John Holiday, among countless others.
Varela was also selected as a member of Jazz at Lincoln Center trombonist Vincent Gardner's Jazz Houston, which has featured guests such as Gregory Porter, Wynton Marsalis, Ruben Blades, Stixx Hooper and Jon Faddis with a recent performance at the Kennedy Center, Duke Ellingtons hometown for Duke’s 125th birthday celebration hosted by his granddaughter, Mercedes Ellington.
Legendary bassist and Mentor to Marcos, Ron Carter contributed to the liner notes for Varela's Origin Records debut album "San Ygnacio,” where Carter writes that Varela's "Tone, Choice of Notes and Compositions will place his playing and name on the list of bassists to be heard.”
In addition, Mr. Carter has made statements regarding Varela’s musical contributions, saying of him “a valuable asset to any musical organization,” “a truly unique musician,” “Mr. Varela belongs in the top bass players in the industry and his impressive resume confirms my words,” “a fine example of talent that is essential to the scene,” and “top notch proficiency on his instrument as well as a complete understanding of the history and details of the jazz art form.”
As a composer, Varela has also composed music for several film and television projects, including director Domenica Cameron-Scorsese's film "Roots in Water." Which was an official Tribeca Film Festival Selection
Varela’s European tour’s featured a festival headlining performance of the music off his debut album “San Ygnacio” at the historic Jazz á Liège festival in Liege, Belgium. This project (Marcos Varela featuring Billy Hart) shared a billing with Fred Hersch's Trio at the festival. He has also headlined an all star quartet at Prishtina’s Jazz Week in Kosovo, in March of 2020, opened for the Legendary Mavis Staples with his “San Ygnacio Project” in his hometown at Discovery Green in October 2021, and headlined the 30th anniversary of the Bilbaina Jazz Association in Bilbao, Spain at the Teatro Arriaga Antzokia in December 2021.
Varela is a recent recipient of 2 South Arts “Jazz Road” grants and is a Creative Capital fellow and Awardee. The newest addition to his “San Ygnacio Project”, funded by Creative Capital dives into his mixed Hispanic and borderlands roots. He recently toured the southwest performing this music in late October 2024 and a new record is to be recorded and toured in 2025 with performances in CDMX, Mexico and Hispanic communities of the southwest United States.
Marcos is an NS Design, Aguilar Amplification, Kolstein, D’Addario strings, Fishman music, Mono Creators, and Fodera Artist