Fabian Hevia

Fabian Hevia is an Australian jazz musician.

Biography

Hevia was bon in Chile, and migrated to Australia in 1975 where he undertook classical training at University of Wollongong Creative Arts faculty, later studying jazz at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

Hevia has toured, recorded and performed with Australian musicians and overseas artists including James Morrison, Don Burrows, Dale Barlow, Carl Orr, Don Harper, Miroslav Bukovsky (Wanderlust), Lonnie Liston Smith (USA), Budi Assad (Brazil/ USA), The Catholics, Steve Hunters 9 Lives, Kristen Cornwell, Vince Jones, Lily Dior, Jimmy Little (Messenger), Karma County (Into The Land Of Promise), Tim Hopkins, Guy Strazzullo, The Mighty Reapers, Jeremy Sawkins, Barnie McCall, Kevin Hunt, Birth of the Cool (2003 Sydney Festival).

International tours include performances at Montreaux Jazz Festival, The North Sea Jazz Festival, Nice, Festival de Jazz Vitoria - Gasteiz, Aarhus, Jazzfest Wiesen, Toronto - Quebec & Vancouver Jazz Festival, Rome, Beijing and the Sweet Basil in Tokyo.

Hevia

José Ángel Hevia Velasco, known professionally as Hevia (born October 11, 1967 in Villaviciosa, Asturias), is a Spaniard bagpiper – specifically, an Asturian gaita player. He commonly performs with his sister, Maria José, on drums. In 1992 he was awarded first prize for solo bagpipes at the Festival Interceltique de Lorient, Brittany.

Possibly his most recognisable composition is the 1998 piece Busindre Reel, from his first album Tierra de Nadie. Hevia is known for helping invent a special brand of MIDI electronic bagpipes, which he is often seen playing live. The instrument was developed with Alberto Arias (pupil and computer programmer) and the electronic technician Miguel Dopico.

Two of Hevia's tracks, La Línea Trazada and El Garrotin (single release), appeared on the cross-platform video game Vigilante 8: 2nd Offense. His music also features in Walt Disney World at Epcot, just before the nightly IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth fireworks show.

Early Years

Hevia first came into contact with the bagpipes when he was four years old during a procession in Amandi when he was with his grandfather. It was there that the image of a man and his bagpipes had an impact on the very young Jose Angel. The unity between the pipe player, his music and the instrument seemed magical to him.