Adrian Terrazas Gonzalez

Background

Born on October 17, 1975, and raised in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México, Adrián Terrazas-González grew up surrounded by the traditional music of Central America from Danzón, Boleros and Rumba, to Son and Mambo. Terrazas-González began developing his musical ability starting at the age of eleven. He was inclined to play the flute and the tenor saxophone with an understanding of classical music and a distinct attraction to jazz, and five years later chose to take on the clarinet. His grandmother, a "Danzón Nut" according to Terrazas-González, urged her grandson in that direction, but the young player was adamant towards a newfound paragon for himself: Hubert Laws.

2001 was a year that would have a profound impact on Terrazas-González’s music. While pursuing Sociology and Music Studies at The University of Texas, El Paso, he learned more about the transmission of these ideas and theories through music. In an effort to track the development of marked philosophical and spiritual traditions observed by ancient cultures, Terrazas-González arranged to meet, learn, and creatively collaborate with musicians involved with traditions originating from West Africa. One of his primary interests was the Yoruba tradition (predominantly out of Western Nigeria), the ancient African religion underlying Santeria (Cuba and Puerto Rico), Candombl (Baha, Brazil), Vodun (Haiti), and Cu Taan (México).

In May 2002 Terrazas-González was diagnosed with Cancer that spread to his stomach and abdomen, treatments included surgery and extensive radiation treatment to the stomach and abdomen. In 2004, he was declared cancer free and in the same year he joined the band The Mars Volta as a full-flesh member.

The Mars Volta

In 2004 Terrazas-González joined The Mars Volta recording the studio album, “Frances the Mute”, and continues to work with the band (as a full-fledged member) on subsequent albums (“Live Scabdates” 2005, “Amputechture” 2006, “The Bedlam in Goliath” 2008) and all of The Mars Volta side projects (movie scores, DVD‘s, etc.). The Mars Volta is composed of guitarist Omar A. Rodriguez-Lopez, lyricist/vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala, bassist John Alderete, guitarist Paul Hinojos-González, drummer Thomas Pridgen, percussionist Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez, and keyboardist Isaiah “Ikey” Owens. Through his work with The Mars Volta, Terrazas-González went on to earn his first Grammy Award in 2008 for the “Best Rock Performance” category with the song "Wax Simulacra". Working with The Mars Volta has enabled Terrazas-González to gain further exposure as a multi-instrumentalist, particularly in Europe. Television performances of The Mars Volta include (but not limited to): The Henry Rollins Show, The Tonight Show with David Letterman, and The BBC.

The Studio/Touring Musician

Terrazas-González’s solid performance and versatility have allowed him many opportunities to collaborate with a vast array of professionals worldwide. Terrazas-González has shared the stage and/or recorded with the likes of Larry Harlow, Antonio Sánchez, Bob Sheppard, Edwin Livingston, Erik A. Unsworth, Dr. Willy Hill, Dr. Donald G. Wilkinson, Damo Suzuki, Lenny Castro, Money Mark Nishita, Los Lobos, EMI Gospel Artist Smokie Norful, Lisa Papineau (Big Sir), Omar A. Rodriguez-Lopez Quintet/Group (Se Dice Bisonte, No Búfalo 2007, music scoring for the Guillermo Arriaga Jordan and Jorge Hernández Aldana film on El Búfalo de la Noche on La Neta Films/Naco Films performed by The Mars Volta), Hans Glawishing, John Beasley, Brian Lynch, Shaila Dúrcal, John Frusciante, Tosin Abasi (Animals As Leaders), Ken Schalk, Juliette Lewis, Nuriya Michan, Deantoni Parks, Candiria, The Memorials, Trevor Hall, Oscar Stagnaro, Billy Ray Cyrus, David Fiuczynski and Freedom Bremner of Screaming Headless Torsos, Pete Escobedo, Oskar Cartaya, Hadrien Feraud, and Luis Conte, Jack Costanzo among others.

Terrazas-González’s professional involvement with the music industry has continued to develop under his own publishing and record label, EL REGIMEN Music BMI, leading T.R.A.M. and as a led member of one of the strongest lineups in improvisational music TRANSIENT. This dignified and prolific musician collaborates with an eclectic number of international musicians, tours internationally on an intense and annual schedule, all the while teaching workshops to numerous school districts and universities around the globe. Terrazas-Gonzalez has also had the great honor of being featured on 2014's Channel 22 México and Channel 22 International.

T.R.A.M.

It's extremely rare to come across a band that flips the script of conventionality, throwing caution to the wind. The debut effort from T.R.A.M. (Terrazas Reyes Abasi Moore) does just that, while blazing a trail of creativity quick to turn heads throughout the world. This unit will easily be referred to by many as a “Super Group”. However, the members of this dynamic unit aren't in this for any reason other than to use it as a platform to further express their art without limitations or any preconceived notions.

T.R.A.M. includes such renowned and musically proficient artists as Adrián Terrazas-González (The Mars Volta) on saxophone, flute, bass clarinet and percussion, Javier Reyes Animals As Leaders on guitar, Tosin Abasi (Animals As Leaders) on guitar, and Eric Moore II (Suicidal Tendencies) on drums. This is a group of likeminded individuals that are naturally gifted with the collaboration of their unique talents resulting in something truly amazing. Their much anticipated debut album, “Lingua Franca”, was released February 2012 through Sumerian Records.

Terrazas-González states: “Tosin Abasi and I were originally introduced by a mutual friend, Raanen Bozzio (Terry Bozzio's son), summer of 2010. This meeting also served as my first introduction to Animals As Leaders and Javier Reyes. Since then, Abasi, Reyes, and I have developed a great relationship. We got together almost every day to try out ideas, and after a month we had already formulated a majority of the record. At this point we contacted Eric Moore, an incredible drummer and the most joyful person to be around, and soon everything we had envisioned rhythmically came together on our first meeting/ recording session (at the Farias Productions Studios) on what is now T.R.A.M... I never know how people will respond to our music, I just never know! My goal is to try to instill a strong feeling or energy in people and I feel that collectively we achieved this goal tenfold with this new project. We all have a great enthusiasm and desire to perform this material live and see this band further develop. We look forward to hearing what you all think of it.”

Solo Releases

The Mars Volta

Omar Rodríguez-López

Alavaz Relxib Cirdec

Juan Alderete

Zechs Marquise

Troker

Alex Otaola

T.R.A.M.

Ten Kens

BG5

Trevor Hall (singer)|Trevor Hall

("The Change-Up" Movie Soundtrack) Written by Trevor Hall, Jimmy Messer; Courtesy of Vanguard Records, a Welk Music Group Co. Under license from EMI (film) & Television Music

The Memorials

Le James Davey

Billy Ray Cyrus

The Greatness Design

JAZZTEC

(All Woodwinds and Minor Percussion On All Tracks).

Mister Sparx

"Default Jazz / 800-Pound Records (2014)

Pop Cautious

“Tyler Porterfield / Pop Cautious Records (2015)

Candiria

“MKT Records / Rising Pulse Records (2015)., (7 inch Single Release).”

“While They Were Sleeping / Metal Blade Records (2016)

WI R E S

“Lithopedion (2015)

Breaking Fuel

Halo Orbit

“Alpha Pup Records (2016/2017)

Equipment