You can find my music and latest releases on bandcamp here
The Rescue of Luminous Being actually began a little before sunrise in a fishing village in Senegal. I was there with our Senegal-America Project to perform at a festival, to record some new music and then do a series of community concerts.
One morning, just before sunrise, I wake up to the sound of the Islamic call to prayers. I walk towards the wave of voices emanating from the mosque and down to the edge of the ocean. The first of the fishermen are preparing for their day’s journey, and I’m feeling... transported. Next thing I know I’m writing the words “my soul likes to travel.” Thoughts just start coming up, like the flow of the rolling waves in front of me, and I’m swept up in an imaginary soundtrack.
That's when I began to imagine the music you now have before you.
So many of the things I have seen and felt these many years as a performing musician and poet just came pouring out of me that day and throughout that entire week. The message that was being conveyed to me seemed to be that we are magnificent creatures envisioning our ways forward on a planet filled with miracle and wonder.
I guess that vibe has stayed with me because it’s four years later and I’m ready to share the music and the book of words that grew from that morning. And it sure seems like this is the moment, as tangled and as precarious as it is... it really seems like this is the moment for us all to embrace, reclaim and be the rescue of our luminous being.
While most of this recording is me with one other person, I had a lot of friends with me helping to shape two of the songs that became the anthems of this project. So thank you all: Abiodun Oyewole, Tantra Zawadi, Massamba Diop, Barou Sall, John Sheldon, Bideew Bou Bess, Avery Sharpe, Helen Kirlan-Smith, Derrik Jordan, Tim Moran, Backa Niang, Issa Ndour, Jo Sallins, and Charles Langford.
released March 4, 2021
Purchase CD Here
Evolution of the Vibe
CD-2015- “Evolution of the Vibe” is the second and most recent recording done by The Senegal-America Project. It’s a wide open free flow between longtime collaborators from Senegal and America. Electric and acoustic compositions and improvisations that feature instrumentalists, vocalists and poets. These include Project founders Tony Vacca on balafon, percussion, donsongoni; Massamba Diop on tama drum; Senegalese Hip-Hop groups Bideew Bou Bess and Gokh-bi System; Barou Sall on hodddou and vocals; Derrik Jordan on electric violin; Tim Moran on saxophone and flute; vocalist and drummer Backa Niang; Steve Leicach on congas and shakere; Djibril Ba on riiti and vocals; Saraba on fula flute; Bada Seck on djembe and saber drums, Pitz Quattrone on didgeridoo and poets Tantra Zawadi and Abiodun Oyewole.
Purchase CD here.
Rhythm and Flow
CD-2008 - A live-in-the-studio, red-hot, way-cool, free-flow fusion of World Music, Jazz, and Spoken Word. Musicians from Senegal, Guinee, Ethiopia and America create some distinctive flavors and great chemistry.
Rhythm and Flow is the third recording in the "rhythm trilogy" that includes "Rhythm Mission" and "Rhythm Griots." It's a look into how this ensemble has evolved and changed over two decades, and how this evolution has changed the music.
Tony Vacca: balafon, djun-djun, gongs, percussion; Derrik Jordan, electric violin; Joe Sallins: electric bass; Tim Moran: alto & soprano saxophones; Steve Leicach: djembe, shekere; with special guests; Massamba Diop: tama drums; Sana Ndaiye, ekonting; Backa Niang: djembe; Helen Kerlin-Smith, vocals.
Purchase CD here
Senegal-America Project
CD 2006
Tony Vacca & The Senegal-America Project Musicians
A collaboration of musicians from Senegal and America: World Music, Spoken Word, Jazz, Hip-Hop and traditional West African styles make this a remarkable recording.
Massamba Diop: tama drums; Gok-b iSystem: ekonting,djembe, spoken word, vocals ; Barou Sall: hoddou, vocals; Abdourakmane Diallo: vocals; Fafadi: vocals; Sang B: vocals; Fata: spoken word, vocals; Bada Seck: djembe, sabar; Yourell Ka: vocals; Daouda Dia: ritti; Mbaye N'diaye Tilala: vocals; Tony Vacca: balafon, djun-djun, percussion; Derrik Jordan: electric violin; Joe Sallins: electric bass; Tim Moran: saxophones; Steve Leicach: congas; Abimael Robles: drum set; Abiodou Oyewole: spoken word.
Purchase CD here
Rhythm Griots
CD 1999, Tony Vacca & Massamba Diop
Recorded in Senegal and America, this CD is an adventurous, grooving hybrid of the best of both those worlds. From handrums to sweet vocals, from saxophone to Spoken Word, from electric bass to the gentle ekonting, all these elements sound like they belong together; like it's always been this way.
Personnel: Tony Vacca: balafon, tama drum, percussion; Massamba Diop: tama drums; Tim Moran: saxophones; Steve Leicach: percussion; Joe Sallins: electric bass; Sekou Sylla: djembe; Omar Ndiaye: vocals; Gokh-bi System: vocals, djembe, ekonting.
Purchase CD here
Rhythm Mission
CD 1998, Tony Vacca & The World Rhythms Ensemble
Elegant and Slamming; A hard-hitting, earthy fusion of Jazz, Spoken Word and World Music, featuring Tony Vacca's World Rhythms Ensemble with special guest Massamba Diop, tama drummer for Baaba Maal.
with: Tony Vacca: balafon, gongs, tama drum and percussion; Massamba Diop: tama drums;
Tim Moran: saxophones; Steve Leicach: percussion; Joe Sallins: Electric Bass
Purchase CD here
Zen Rant
CD 2002, Tony Vacca
A streetwise fusion of Jazz, World Music and Spoken Word. Strong support by performers from Senegal and America, including one of the founding fathers of the Rap genre, Abiodun Oyewole of The Last Poets.
CD includes performances by: Gokh-bi System: West African Hip Hop, Tim Moran: saxophones, Massamba Diop: tama drum, Abiodun Oyewole of The Last Poets, Steve Leicach: percussion, Omar: Senegalese praise singer, Joe Sallins: electric bass, Barou Sall: xalam, voice
Listen to CD or Order Now through CD Baby
Message From Home
...Suma Deuk Waay, CD 2001, Gokh-bi System
A globally aware, five-language look at contemporary life in Senegal and the world. It features Senegalese Hip-Hop troupe Gokh-bi System, with Massamba Diop, Tony Vacca, and Abiodun Oyewole of The Last Poets.
To Order Contact: tonyvacca@comcast.net