Tony Vacca is an American percussionist specializing in
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...
and an early innovator in
world music. He incorporates percussion instruments from a world of traditions that includes African, Caribbean, Asian and Middle-Eastern influences, to which he adds some of his spoken word and rhythm poetry. Tony has been active in the Jazz and World Music stage since the early 1970s.
Vacca plays both as a soloist and with his
World Rhythms Ensemble. His frequent trips to West Africa have contributed to his unique approach to playing the
balafon
The balafon is a gourd-resonated xylophone, a type of struck idiophone. It is closely associated with the neighbouring Mandé, Senoufo and Gur peoples of West Africa, particularly the Guinean branch of the Mandinka ethnic group, but is now f ...
, and to his depth of knowledge regarding African and American musical traditions.
Vacca has recorded and performed with such a wide range of musicians such as
Sting, Senegalese Afro-pop artist
Baaba Maal
Baaba Maal ( ff, 𞤄𞤢𞥄𞤦𞤢 𞤃𞤢𞥄𞤤, italics=no, born 13 June 1953) is a Senegalese singer and guitarist born in Podor, on the Senegal River. In addition to acoustic guitar, he also plays percussion. He has released several al ...
, Jazz trumpeter
Don Cherry
Donald Stewart Cherry (born February 5, 1934) is a Canadian former ice hockey player, coach, and television commentator. Cherry played one game in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Boston Bruins, and later coached the team for five se ...
, poet
Abiodun Oyewole
Abiodun Oyewole (born Charles Davis, February 1948), is a poet, teacher and member of the African-American music and spoken-word group The Last Poets, which developed into what is considered to be the first hip hop group. Critic Jason Ankeny ...
, Senegalese Hip-Hop artists
Gokh-bi System, and
Massamba Diop.
Vacca's performances have been described as a "non-stop athletic spectacle of percussion music and spoken word." Percussion instruments from around the world are combined, including West African balafons, 20 Paiste gongs, djembe, djun-djun, talkin drums and a drumset.
Vacca often collaborates with other artists, including
Sting on
Soul Cages
''The Soul Cages'' is the third full-length studio album released by English musician Sting. Released on 21 January 1991 it became Sting's second No. 1 album in the United Kingdom. This was Sting's first album to feature guitarist Dominic Mill ...
.
Discography
* ''Dance Beneath the Diamond Sky'' (
Columbia, 1992)
* ''City Spirits'' (Philo, 1994)
* ''Three Point Landing'' (
Half Note
''Half Note'' is a live album by saxophonist Clifford Jordan which was recorded in 1974 and first released on the SteepleChase label in 1985. , 2002)
* ''Rhythm Griots'' (World Rhythms, 2004)
* ''Rhythm Mission'' (World Rhythms, 2004)
* ''Zen Rant'' (Tony Vacca, 2004)
* ''Senegal-America Project'' (World Rhythms, 2006)
With Winds of Change
* ''Far East Subway Blues'' (Muse/Art, 1983)
References
External links
Tony Vacca's official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vacca, Tony
American jazz drummers
Living people
Year of birth missing (living people)