Fran Vielma - Pan American Jazz Orchestra

“a percussion colourist of great distinction... leans heavily on his aptitude for, and particular genius for counterpoint and most of important of all – his understanding of instrumental timbre...” – Raul Da Gama, Latin Jazz Network 2018.

Hailing from the Venezuelan Andes, Fran Vielma is a critically acclaimed and award-winning multi-percussionist, composer, and educator. His continuous research on the rhythms of America, and beyond, is integrated with his attraction to concert music and the freedom of jazz. Fran Vielma's performance and compositional esthetic integrates rhythmic elements of his native Venezuela, the nuance and variety of classical and world music styles, as well as the freedom of jazz! 

This stellar band was premiered in 2021 to showcase contemporary Pan-American jazz, a historic blend that started around the 19th century in New Orleans with the Afro-Caribbean diaspora greatly encouraged by the Haitian Revolution. Artists like Justo Aspiazú, Chano Pozo, Mario Bauza, Machito, Chico O’Farrell, Dizzy Gillespie, as well as Lucho Bermudez in Colombia, Aldemaro Romero in Venezuela, and Astor Piazzolla in Argentina have been an inspiration to the multi-awarded composer and percussionist Fran Vielma.

The orchestra is working on its debut album to be released in 2025, featuring a cast of world-class musicians after holding a residency at Mr. Henry’s Jazz Club-DC since 2022.