In the realm of popular music Marcos has composed music, taken part in music videos and recorded for The Last Poets- Umar Bin Hassan (Jerome Huling) solo project featuring, Cappadonna of the Wu-Tang Clan, Styles P, Common, Dead Prez, Roy Hargrove and many others. Another project in development he is a part of is a new Jamaican hip-hop sensation “Rally Bop”. He has also worked with acclaimed composers Larry John McNally (Rod Stewart, Bonnie Raitt, Mavis Staples, Alan Toussaint) and Lee Curreri (Fame).
Original Debut album
Legendary bassist Ron Carter contributed to the liner notes for Marcos’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 Marcos’ 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”, “top notch proficiency on his instrument as well as a complete understanding of the history and details of the jazz art form”.
Performances
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L’s Bop by Lenny White
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Performed by: Marcos Varela Quartet
Featuring: Marcos Varela – Bass | Brice Winston – Saxophone | Javier Santiago – Piano | Mark Ferber – Drums
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Colinas De Santa Maria
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Marcos Varela Trio
Marcos Varela – Bass | Jalen Baker – Vibes | Jay Sawyer – Drums
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“Where the Wild Things Are” | Live at Monks Jazz Club
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Performer Marcos Varela Quintet
Featuring Marcos Varela – Bass/Composition | Andre Hayward – Trombone | Jalen Baker – Vibes | Paul Cornish – Piano | Jerome Gilliespie – Drums
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“Colinas de Santa María” | Live at Monks Jazz Club
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Performer Marcos Varela Quintet
Featuring Marcos Varela – Bass/Composition | Andre Hayward – Trombone | Jalen Baker – Vibes | Paul Cornish – Piano | Jerome Gilliespie – Drums
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“Colinas de Santa Maria” | Jazz Polanco Festival, Mexico City, Mexico
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Performer Marcos Varela Trio
Featuring Marcos Varela – Bass | Jalen Baker – Vibes | Jay Sawyer – Drums
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“Colinas de Santa Maria” by Marcos Varela | Clement’s Place
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Performer Marcos Varela Quartet
Featuring Marcos Varela – Bass/Composition | Emilio Modeste – Saxophone | Lex Korten – Piano | JK Kim – Drums
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“I Should Care” | Discovery Green, Houston, TX
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Performer Marcos Varela Quartet
Featuring Marcos Varela – Bass | Sam Dillon – Saxophone | Jay Sawyer – Drums | Perry Smith – Guitar
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“Where the Wild Things Are” | Discovery Green Houston
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Performer Marcos Varela Quartet
Featuring Marcos Varela – Bass | Sam Dillon – Saxophone | Jay Sawyer – Drums | Perry Smith – Guitar
Compositions and Performances
Nu Toon
Arnold Lee-alto sax, Eden Ladin-Piano, Kush Abadey-Drums, Marcos Varela-Bass
Where the Wild Things Are (Live)
w/Donny McCaslin-sax, Sam Barsh-keys, Marcos Varela-bass, Rudy Royston-drums
Nu Toon
Arnold Lee-alto sax, Eden Ladin-Piano, Kush Abadey-Drums, Marcos Varela-Bass
Where the Wild Things Are (Studio Version)
w/Seamus Blake-tenor sax, Sabastian Noelle-guitar, Marcos Varela-bass, Dominik Burkhalter-drums
Between Two Worlds
Arnold Lee-alto sax, Kerong Chok-piano, Aaron Mclendon-drums, Marcos Varela-bass
Zamboanga
w/Steve Hall-sax, Kerong Chok-keys, Marcos Varela-electric bass, Kassa Overall-Drums
Red on Planet Pluto
w/Arnold Lee-soprano sax, Eden Ladin-Piano, Kush Abadey-Drums, Marcos Varela-Bass
You and the Night and the Music (Arrangement by Wolfgang Rainer)
w/ Wolfgang Rainer-drums, Marcos Varela-bass, Jeremy Viner-tenor sax
Where The Wild Things Are (August 2011)
w/Arnold Lee-alto sax, Kerong Chok-piano, Aaron Mclendon-drums, Marcos Varela-bass
I Mean You
w/Jason Moran-piano, Marcos Varela-bass, Micheal Carvin-drums
Billy Hart Sextet- “John Coltrane” by Bill Lee (Live at JVC Jazz Festival)
w/Theo Croker-trumpet, Irwin Hall-alto sax, Patrick Breiner-tenor sax, Sullivan Fortner-piano, Marcos Varela-bass, Billy Hart-drums
Fe-Fi-Fo-Fum
Arnold Lee-sax, Marcos Varela-bass, Aaron Mclendon-drums
Blueprint (Live)
w/ Lauren Sevian-Bari sax, George Colligan-piano, Marcos Varela-bass, E.J Strickland-drums
If I Were a Bell
w/Anthony Wonsey-piano, Marcos Varela-bass, Marc Johnson-drums
Amsterdam After Dark (Live)
w/Lauren Sevian-Bari sax, George Colligan-piano, Marcos Varela-bass, E.J Strickland-drums
Blue Monk
w/Donna “Tulivu” Cumberbatch-Voice, Anthony Wonsey-piano, Marcos Varela-bass, Marc Johnson-drums
One for C Payne (Live)
w/Lauren Sevian-Bari sax, George Colligan-piano, Marcos Varela-bass, E.J Strickland-drums
Outline (Live)
w/Lauren Sevian-Bari sax, George Colligan-piano, Marcos Varela-bass, E.J Strickland-drums
Mainstream / Productions
New Song
Jesse Fisher (Marcos Varela on Electric Bass)
It’s a Jamaican Thing
Rally
Grown Man Shit
Last Poets, Umar Bin Hassan Featuring Cappadonna (Wu Tang) written by Jerome Huling, Will Roberson, Cappadonna and Marcos Varela
Bad Voodoo
Song and lyrics by Larry John Mcnally. Bass – Marcos Varela
Brainstorms
Last Poets, Umar Bin Hassan
Goodbye New York
Song and lyrics by Larry John Mcnally. Vocals/guitar – Adam Levy. Bass – Marcos Varela
Time Takes Time
written by Marcos Varela and Emilie Mover