Eric Velez

Eric Velez Eric Velez counts as influences an elite cadre of players, including Giovanni Hidalgo, Patato, Eddie Montalvo, Tito Rodriguez, Milton Cardona, Manny Oquendo, and as he says, "all the old school guys who laid it down for us". Eric's reverence for the traditional techniques is shown in his own style, based heavily on indigenous Afro-Cuban technique, to which Eric has contributed a number of unique variations. One typical example on conga drum is best compared to a tap dancing move translated to the hands: The "heel" of the palm and "toe" (fingers) alternate rapidly, enabling Eric to achieve frightening speed as well as generate exciting alternating timbers, from low rumble to crisp highs. In order to perform such techniques, Eric prefers congas that he doesn't have to fight to play quietly or loudly-responsive drums made by Toca that are sensitive to finger tips and loud slaps. Tossing his preferences into the mix, Eric worked with Toca designers on a signature conga with wider bottom (for expanded low-end and projection) but with a two-inch height reduction (for controllability).

Born in The Bronx borough of New York City, Eric Velez learned chops from his peers, many of whom were drummers and percussionists from Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and elsewhere; such is the rich diaspora of his barrio. Eric has been playing since he was a pre-teen. As a youngster he initially chose bongos, but he remembers his percussionist brother, Jose, jamming with the greats, including Bobby Allende, Tito Allende, Tito Puente and Harry Fernandez. Wide-eyed with wonder, young Eric gravitated to congas and absorbed all the rhythms by osmosis. He took up with mentor Eddie Palmieri at age seventeen and began carving out an impeccable relationship with D.L.G., Willie Colon, Isidro Infante, the RMM Band (featuring Tito Puente and Celia Cruz!), and later La India, Jimmy Bosch, and Conjunto Classico. For traveling outside the Cuban realm, Bashiri Johnson became a model, showing Eric how to tastefully add percussion to pop tracks.

Arguably, Eric's greatest feat was scoring the coveted gig with Jennifer Lopez and Mark Anthony, for which he invokes his considerable stage savvy, charisma, passion for executing clean, correct rhythms, and his preference for drums that are responsive and fat. "Fat" is a word that comes up more than once during a conversation with Eric Velez about the ideal drum: It must articulate at a whisper, then explode thunderously-a tall order.

"I like people in the audience to feel a drum," Eric enthuses. "I want them to know it's there!" Obviously, Velez has not lost a jot of his childhood enthusiasm. He's simply carried it from the Bronx to Britain to Asia...and everywhere else his choice gigs land him.

Eric was honored with his own line of Toca drums. The Eric Velez Signature Series Congas and Bongos are made of premium Asian Oak and feature a natural sunburst high gloss finish accented by black mirror chrome hardware for a sleek look and appeal. Eric worked closely with Toca's Product Development Department to ensure that the drums would have features that percussionists look for in congas and bongos. Like Eric's playing, the drums feature a combination of "old school" and "new school" styling.

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