There is no modern tradition for what I am doing - but I feel that I come from the ancient tradition of frame drum playing that dates back 3,000 to 4,000 years. By connecting with the ancient instruments, I feel I am part of a tradition. And yet, there are rich and varied traditions of this versatile instrument and music throughout the world. The tambourine is one member of the frame drum family of portable, hand-held drums. The depth of the frames are shallow and the diameters of the heads range from six to thirty inches.
Most frame drums are round, but they can be square or triangle-shaped.
In creating his own style to explore the sonic and expressive potential of these drums, Velez draws on an eclectic mix of instruments and traditions. Each drum creates melodic as well as rhythmic material and provides a different tone color. While Velez has seriously studied all of these traditions, his music is clearly his own. The creation of tradition in a modern setting is at the heart of the dancing hands and singing drums of Velez and company.