Solo Career

SEFoS/Singers Beyond Borders

This amazing group of classically trained opera singers and musicians performed across the U.S. and the world. Wes joined SEFoS for a number of concert events between 2005-2012 including “Secrets of the Sky and Sea” for Emory University and the Berkshire Opera Company, “An Evening of Wine and Song” for the Bar Harbor Music Festival, a concert for the Dallas Symphony to celebrate the world tour of the Jean Paul Gaultier’s “From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk” and the Singers Beyond Borders tour of Hawaii, China, and Singapore.

These events were multimedia events that featured singers, dancers, voice actors, pianists, cello players, and more depending on the show. Music selections spanned more than 200 years and included Mozart, Gershwin, the Beatles, Nick Drake, art songs, some great show tunes, and “heavier” classical numbers all based around a common show theme.

The Club, Vail CO

The Club dubbed the “World’s Greatest Ski Bar” was a staple of the music scene in Vail, Colorado from 1987 til 2012. This high-energy bar was always packed with international tourists, Colorado regulars, college groups on break, local ski bums and mega-moguls. Seeing The Club at full steam and packed to capacity was an amazing experience…some mighty versions of “Won’t Get Fooled Again” were played in the early morning hours… Crisp and white, Vail glowed like Christmas lights in the winter and turned vibrant green and cool in the summers. Wes was a ski season and summer regular from 2004 to 2012 and performed hundreds of shows there. An occasional full-time resident as well, he called Vail home for 2 years.

A Voice from Home

Wes’ first solo cd was released in 2009. He played or programmed most of the parts, bringing in some of his friends from his travels: Sean McIntyre, Rin Vinson, Hank Barbee, Andy Kilinski, Aaron Thompson, and Shana Blake Hill to provide additional parts and terrific colors. (Look for the soaring, operatic vocals by Blake in Embers Burning.) Ranging from Americana to Peter Gabriel-influenced tunes, the album covered a wide array of musical styles and textures. I think “Grey Holiday” (about one of my SEFoS trips in the Berkshires) and “Embers Burning” are two of my best…