Speak/Sing Native™ Artist Archive
Dr. John-Carlos Perea PhD
Mescalero Apache Tribe
“John-Carlos Perea (Mescalero Apache, Irish, Chicano, German) joined the faculty of the School of Music at the University of Washington in Fall 2023 as Associate Professor of Ethnomusicology. An electric bassist, singer, cedar flutist, composer, and ethnomusicologist, Perea’s research interests include jazz and improvised music performance and composition, urban American Indian lived experiences and cultural productions, music technologies, recording and archiving practices, social constructions of ‘noise,’ Native and African American jazz cultures, and the Creek and Kaw saxophonist Jim Pepper." (Source: University of Washington School of Music)
“In April 2019, Perea was recognized by the San Francisco Arts Commission’s American Indian Initiative for his musical contribution “to reclaim space, to challenge false narratives, and to reimagine public art from the perspective of Indigenous Peoples.” He has previously served as Associate Professor and Chair of American Indian Studies at San Francisco State University (2010-2023), as Visiting Associate Professor in the Department of Music at UC Berkeley (2021-22), and as Visiting Researcher, Composer, and Performer (2022-23) at the Center for New Music and Audio Technologies (CNMAT).” (Source: University of Washington School of Music)
Associate Professor, Ethnomusicology
Adjunct Associate Professor, American Indian Studies
School of Music, University of Washington, Seattle
Ph.D., Music, University of California, Berkeley, 2009
M.A., Music, University of California, Berkeley, 2005
B.A., Music, San Francisco State University, 2000
Professional Information
“In addition to his scholarly activities, John-Carlos maintains an active career as a GRAMMY® Award - winning multi-instrumentalist and recording artist. He has recorded on eighteen albums as a sideman and three as a leader.”
Albums as a leader:
2001 - First Dance
2014 - Creation Story
2023 - Cedar Flute Songs
Albums as a sideman:
2004 - Various Artists: Bridge Across the Blue
2005 - Colin Farish and John-Carlos Perea: The Salt Song Trail Film Soundtrack
2005 - Various Artists: Songscapes Of Native America
2007 - Paul Winter Consort: Crestone: A Celebration of the World of Crestone
2011 - Various Artists: Red Earth Singing: Voices of Indigenous Wisdom
2012 - Coyote Jump: Waking from the Roots
2017 - Paul McCandless with the Paul Winter Consort: Morning Sun: Adventures with Oboe
Albums as a sideman on electric bass:
1997 - Theo Gonzalves: Superflip: Music from The Motion Picture
1999 - Gathering of Ancestors: Gathering of Ancestors
2002 - Jen Shyu: For Now
2002 - Lewis Jordan: More Travels of a Zen Baptist
2003 - Doug Yokoyama: Thanks for Stopping By
2003 - John Worley, Jr.: Worldview
2006 - Sarine Balian: Juxtaposed
2012 - Karl Evangelista/Grex: Suite: Taglish
2021 - Brent Michael Davids: Lenapehoking
Paul Winter, Paul McCandless, Colin Farish, Theo Gonzalves, Jen Shyu, Lewis Jordan, Doug Yokoyama, John Worley, Jr., Sarine Balian, Karl Evangelista, G-Rex, Brent Michael Davids, many others
“In addition to his scholarly activities, John-Carlos maintains an active career as a GRAMMY® Award - winning multi-instrumentalist and recording artist. He has recorded on eighteen albums as a sideman and three as a leader.”
Albums as a leader:
2001 - First Dance
2014 - Creation Story
2023 - Cedar Flute Songs
Albums as a sideman:
2004 - Various Artists: Bridge Across the Blue
2005 - Colin Farish and John-Carlos Perea: The Salt Song Trail Film Soundtrack
2005 - Various Artists: Songscapes Of Native America
2007 - Paul Winter Consort: Crestone: A Celebration of the World of Crestone
2011 - Various Artists: Red Earth Singing: Voices of Indigenous Wisdom
2012 - Coyote Jump: Waking from the Roots
2017 - Paul McCandless with the Paul Winter Consort: Morning Sun: Adventures with Oboe
Albums as a sideman on electric bass:
1997 - Theo Gonzalves: Superflip: Music from The Motion Picture
1999 - Gathering of Ancestors: Gathering of Ancestors
2002 - Jen Shyu: For Now
2002 - Lewis Jordan: More Travels of a Zen Baptist
2003 - Doug Yokoyama: Thanks for Stopping By
2003 - John Worley, Jr.: Worldview
2006 - Sarine Balian: Juxtaposed
2012 - Karl Evangelista/Grex: Suite: Taglish
2021 - Brent Michael Davids: Lenapehoking
Traditional, jazz, New Age
Musician, composer, educator, ethnomusicologist, bandleader
Bass, Flute, Percussion, Vocals
Video
- John-Carlos Perea - Paul Winter Consort
Witchi Tai To - John-Carlos Perea - Paul Winter Consort
Venue: Paul Winter Consort - Crestone album
Format: Official
Duration: 5:29
Crestone won the Best New Age Grammy in 2008
- the John-Carlos Perea Sextet
Prayer - the John-Carlos Perea Sextet
Venue: 15th Native Contemporary Arts Festival, San Francisco, CA
Format: Live
Duration: 6:11
- John-Carlos Perea with guest Frode Fjellheim
MMaP Research Centre Special Event: Global Spirit - John-Carlos Perea, PhD, with guest Frode Fjellheim - John-Carlos Perea with guest Frode Fjellheim
Venue: University of Toronto, Canada
Format: Official
Duration: 13:17
Medley including: (Intertribal social dance song)(Boarding school song), Witchi Tai To, Lonely Woman, Naima
Tribal Information
Mescalero Apache Tribe
also known as "Mescalero Apache"
“WELCOME TO OUR SACRED LANDS - The Mescalero Apache Tribe, located in South Central New Mexico, welcomes you to familiarize yourself with our history, traditions, and the current vision of our Tribe.”