Wolle Aretz is a German drummer and percussionist living in Gran Canaria, Spain.

 

Wolle Aretz was born on 7.8.1962 en Wiesbaden, Germany,  grew up in Düsseldorf and started playing drums and percussion at the age of 15.

During the first years he played mainly in school bands, jams with friends, especially with the singer, guitar and bass player Guido Block. 

In the beginning his most important teachers were Ronnie Gardiner, Jazz-Drummer of Dizzy Gillespie, Gerry Mulligan ect. and Frank Sanden.

Later he participated in seminars of drummers like Dave Weckl,  Horacio Hernandez, Robbie Ameen, Richie Flores for example.

He studied at the “Berklee College of Music”, Boston, USA and with teachers from the “Manhattan School of Music” at the Conservatorium of Amsterdam, Netherlands.

 

Since 1985 he is working as professional musician, playing all kinds of styles,

participating in Jazz Festivals like the ”Festival Internacional de Canarias" and the "Heineken Jazz Festival" in Canary Islands,

Blues Festivals like “Corralejo 2007” in Fuerteventura and “Santa Blues” in Tenerife “,

Harley Davidsson Events like “Llunática in Benicassim, Valencia” or

World Music Events like “Womad”, “Pirineo Sur”, "Bimbache Open Art" and “Sonidos del Mundo, Navarra”

 

He plays with "La Iguana Blues Band", group around the Canadian Blues-Rock guitar-player and singer Dave O'Connor, having recorded several albums and giving concert all over the Canary Islands and the Spanish Mainland. The latest album has been released in 2023 entitled " Return of the reptile"

 

He gave concerts all over the world with the Canarian Folk-Pop Band "Mestisay”,

 

and was involved in musical projects with musicians like Jon Eardley, Alberto Dogliotti, Errol Woiski, Victor Manuel, Alvita Rodríguez, Marti Walker, Stan Serafin, Wolfgang Hefter, Torsten de Winkel, Jóse Carlos Díaz, Kike Perdomo, Andreas Prittwitz, Jóse Antonio Ramos, Aristides Moreno, Luis Vecchio, Ray Cooksey, Rayko León, Carlos Mompeó, Santi and Mingo Roque, Demian Dominguez, to mention a few.

 

In 2023 Wolle Aretz released the album with original compositions: Wolle Aretz & friends: The joy of inner peace

 

His deep interest in Eastern and Western religion and philosophy had leaded him to practice Yoga and Meditation since 1980.

He has given Reiki and Meditation Seminars regulary since 2000.