My name is Christian Vela and I'm from San Jose, California. I learned to play guitar while in junior high school, and formed my first band as part of a seventh grade science project. I've worked in performing arts theaters as a production technician from the time I was in high school. I graduated from Foothill College in Los Altos Hills California with a degree in Music Technology. I grew up playing and touring in Latin, Ska, Jazz, Reggae and Punk bands. I'm fluent in English & Spanish and can moderately comprehend Portuguese, French and Italian. Playing music, working in production (management) and identifying methods to elevate production values are my passions.

Currently, I'm the Senior Production Manager at
SFJAZZ in San Francisco, Senior Production Manager for the annual San Francisco Jazz Festival and I also Tour & Production Manage various artists and organizations. Pinke Records has become a multifaceted outlet for my production work.

SOME ARTISTS I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE TO HAVE WORKED WITH INCLUDE:

  • Los Tigres Del Norte
  • Y La Bamba
  • Mavis Staples
  • Amadou & Mariam
  • Manu Chao
  • Chicano Batman
  • Omara Portuondo
  • Lila Downs
  • Lee Fields & The Expressions
  • Fishbone
  • Robert Glasper
  • Bilal
  • Wynton Marsalis & Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
  • Arturo Sandoval
  • Herbie Hancock
  • Wayne Shorter
  • Ravi Coltrane
  • Savion Glover
  • Joey Alexander
  • Gregory Porter
  • Chucho Valdes
  • Marc Ribot
  • Afro Cuban All-Stars
  • Ry Cooder
  • Dee Dee Bridgewater
  • Monsieur Perine
  • Ahmad Jamal
  • Mike Patton
  • Bonnie Raitt
  • Buika
  • Laurie Anderson
  • Doc Severinsen
  • Terri Lyne Carrington
  • Kevin Eubanks
  • Stanley Clarke
  • The Milk Carton Kids
  • Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio
  • Caetano Veloso
  • El Michels Affair & Black Thought
  • Buddy Guy
  • Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band
  • Branford Marsalis
  • Ellis Marsalis
  • Fantastic Negrito
  • Jose James
  • Omar Sosa
  • Snarky Puppy
  • Maceo Parker
  • Natalia Lafourcade
  • La Santa Cecilia
  • Pacific Mambo Orchestra
  • Paris Combo
  • Esperanza Spalding
  • Dianne Reeves
  • Mariza
  • Terence Blanchard
  • Allen Toussaint
  • Preservation Hall Jazz Band
  • Marcus Miller
  • Brad Mehldau
  • Pat Metheny
  • Veruca Salt
  • Gilberto Gil
  • Sergio Mendes
  • Kronos Quartet
  • Los Van Van
  • Taj Mahal
  • Bobby McFerrin
  • Orquesta Akokan
  • Cindy Blackman Santana
  • Miles Electric Band
  • Hermeto Pascoal
  • Mattson 2
  • Gonzalo Rubalcaba
  • Dakhabrakha
  • Jack Dejohnette
  • Chris Botti
  • Chick Corea
  • Kid Koala
  • Pink Martini
  • Terrace Martin
  • Zakir Hussain
  • Chester Thompson
  • Seun Kuti
  • Charles Lloyd
  • Aaron Neville
  • Roy Ayers
  • Christian McBride
  • Kamasi Washington
  • Brothers of Brazil (Supla & João Suplicy)
  • Diego El Cigala
  • Cecile McLorin Salvant & Aaron Diehl
  • Goran Bregovic
  • Vijay Iyer
  • Brian Wilson & The Beach Boys
  • Rosanne Cash
  • Emmylou Harris
  • Lucinda Williams
  • Herb Alpert
  • Charles Bradley
  • Ana Moura
  • The Sachal Jazz Ensemble
  • Laurie Anderson
  • Spanish Harlem Orchestra
  • Charlie Musselwhite
  • Sun Ra Arkestra
  • Hiromi
  • Billy Hart
  • Mickey Hart
  • Angela Davis - author / activist
  • Danny Glover - actor
  • Claude Steele - author
  • + more

I'VE ALSO SUPPORTED HIGH PROFILE CLIENTS & EVENTS INCLUDING:

(NEA) National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Awards
Hewlett Packard
Google
YouTube
TED Talks
New York Times
World Cafe : NPR
John Coltrane's A Love Supreme : 50th Anniversary
KCRW
Dolby Labs
Old Navy
ECM Records
Salesforce
The Bold Italic
The Emmy's
Netflix
Duke Ellington's Concert of Sacred Music : 50th Anniversary at Grace Cathedral
Stanford University
President Barack Obama at SFJAZZ
+ more

I'VE REPRESENTED MY CLIENTS IN FESTIVALS & VENUES WITH HIGH PRODUCTION VALUES WHICH INCLUDE:

The Hollywood Bowl
Bonnaroo
Lollapalooza
SummerStage in Central Park
Osheaga
Outside Lands
Noise Pop
Walt Disney Concert Hall
Monterey Jazz Festival
Austin City Limits
Montreal Jazz Festival
Van's Warped Tour
SXSW
Monterey International Pop Festival : 50th Anniversary
+ more.

MY ROLES AND DUTIES HAVE INCLUDED:

Production Manager
Tour Manager
Stage Manager
Production Assistant
Artist Assistant
Event Technician
Touring & International Travel
Show Advance & Daily Ops
Logistics & Execution
Video Director
Camera & Gimbal Operator
Teleprompter Operator
Backline Technician:
  • Guitars
  • Bass
  • Piano / Keyboards
  • Drums / Percussion
  • World Music Instruments

I have also represented my clients across international clubs, theaters, opera houses, performing arts centers, symphony halls, radio, tv and beyond. The journey continues, working with great musicians in conjunction with great organizations.

At your service,
Christian Vela
@mrchristianvela
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