Tony Vacca has become a true “rhythm nomad,” incorporating a world of percussion music and instruments to create something… all his own.
Over the course of his career he has made a habit of pushing the already adventurous conventions of World Music into new territory, both as a soloist and as the leader of his World Rhythms Ensemble. Twenty-one trips to West Africa have contributed to his unique approach and to his depth of knowledge regarding African and American musical traditions.
His solo performances are a nearly non-stop athletic and musical spectacle, to which he adds some of his spoken word and rhythm poetry. Using giant West African balafons, twenty tuned gongs, djembes, djun-djun, talking drums and an outrageous percussion drumset, Tony Vacca has created a unique blend of rhythm, word, and drum that has come to be the signature of his work.
To buy music/albums: https://tonyvacca.bandcamp.com/releases
About where his music is going…
"Once I realized just how much of the music was all about the drama of story-telling, I began to create and include Spoken Word in my concerts. This really challenged me to go beyond my world of sound and find my voice in the world of language. It became part social commentary, part sooth-saying and part spiritual journey. I suppose it's really a return to music in it's most ancient setting."
One of the aspects of Tony's music that has brought him a lot of well-earned attention is his innovative use of the traditional giant xylophones of West Africa. Where most players who study the balafon from outside of Africa concern themselves with the folkloric, traditional songs and dances, Vacca has taken a different approach.
"A lot of folks think that I play traditional African music, or that what I play on the balafon with my ensemble is traditional to the balafon. It's easy for me to see how they get that impression. But actually, I'm immersed in the possibilities of this extraordinary instrument, and how it can be used in the confluence of traditions that makes Jazz and World Music so powerful. Part of every tradition is innovation, and as we practice our traditions and challenge ourselves, we change these traditions, and ourselves as well…”
“I’ve traveled to Senegal, Mali, Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana and Burkina Faso; I've worked with balafon makers and players to learn about the physical qualities of the instrument, and about the spiritual power of it's music. I've studied with various players, and learned some of their songs. But all of this was simply a path towards how they use the instrument and the music in the culture-building process. The athletic playing techniques, the polyrhythms, and the spectacular presentation are all part of the attraction of the music, but for me, it really all comes down to the transmission of knowledge through the development of a personal and universal form of musical storytelling."
Alan Green of Music Revue Magazine said "Tony Vacca certainly walks the walk. He is more than a brilliant musician, he IS music. Even his sweat seems to fall off him in time."
James Heflin of The Valley Advocate wrote, "When percussionist Tony Vacca plays, you become aware that body parts have started moving without your permission; rhythms and melodies tumble out with, on the one hand, an accessible groove, and on the other hand, an ever-shifting complexity. Latch onto a 4-beat pulse, and you'll notice that it's not the only thing happening- there's a 6-beat pulse riding along, or a cascading melody that comes around at unlikely spots in the bigger pattern."
Tony has performed and/or recorded with pop icon Sting, Jazz legends Don Cherry and Yusuf Lateef, as well as renowned poets, Abiodun Oyewole (of The Last Poets), National Beat Poet Laureate Paul Richmond, and Brooklyn-born poet Tantra Zawadi. Through his Senegal-America Project he has performed with Senegalese artists that include Afro-pop star Baaba Maal, Senegalese Hip-Hop artists Bideew Bou Bess, Rap artists Gokh-bi System, and master of the tama/talking drum, Massamba Diop.
Right Now…
In addition to a busy performing and teaching schedule, Vacca's recent projects include a collaborative CD called "Evolution of The Vibe” featuring Abiodun Oyewole of The Last Poets, Brooklyn poet extraordinaire Ms. Tantra Zawadi, and Senegalese performers Bideew Bou Bess, Gokh-bi System, Massamba Diop, Barou Sall, Djibril Ba and many others. Among other things getting his immediate attention are this year's "Projects and Visions" trip to Senegal, a new music video called “You and Me and All Humanity” and a new group called DO IT NOW.