Yassen Velchev
Biography
Yassen graduated at the Lubomir Pipkov National Music School, and Classical Department of the National Academy of Music in Sofia. As a student he additionally studied jazz composition and modern music. Between 1989 and 1991 Yassen played in two bands: Street Boys, which is jazz-funk oriented and Ferrotone. Ferrotone kept changing its members and so the Band was constantly searching for its own identity and unique musical sound. The ambitious musicians decided to change the band’s name, and from 1991 to 1999 Yassen became the leader of the renamed Bulgarian Funk-Fusion Band called AKAGA, which acquired an iconic status over the years.
During his performances as pianist, composer and arranger, Yassen made brilliant use of his talent with AKAGA so that four successful recordings have been released : “Broken Dreams” (1992), “Why” (1994), “When You See” (1996) and “9” (1999).
This talent as a composer led the band to win a performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1998 and 1999.
After AKAGA’s second performance in Montreux, Yassen left the band and joined the Roberta’s Band with which he went on a national tour. Prior to founding ТЕ, Yassen had been performing on his own, and for a short period took part in the LP Jazz Club Project.
Together with ТЕ, Yassen took part in several concerts with world-famous musicians, like Glenn Hughes, John Lawton, David Garfield, John Pena, Frank Itt.
For a period of 2 years Yassen was a Music Director and Bandleader in the famous Bulagiran TV Show „Music Idol”. At present he plays in the Band of the “Ivan and Andrey Show”, Monday to Friday each week.
The clear tones and harmony radiating from Yassen’s keyboard is the driving force of ТЕ’s music. His unlimited imagination during studio recordings and live performance allows him to fully extend the rich capabilities of Yamaha Motif 8.
