Tony Vacca is an innovative percussionist, and his music is a hard-hitting, earthy fusion of World Music, Jazz and Spoken Word. 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. He is part of a wave of 20th century musicians whose work has fueled the rediscovery of the power of the drum, and the power of music to build global common ground. His sixteen trips to West Africa have contributed to his unique approach to playing the balafon, and to his depth of knowledge regarding African and American musical traditions.
All this is part of the reason he has recorded and/or performed with such a wide range of musicians. These include pop icon Sting, Senegalese Afro-pop star Baaba Maal, Jazz trumpeter and World Music legend Don Cherry, poet Abiodun Oyewole of The Last Poets, Senegalese Hip-Hop stars Gokh-bi System, and Massamba Diop, Senegalese master of the tama or talking drum.
Tony Vacca’s solo performances are a nearly non-stop athletic spectacle of percussion music and spoken word. 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.
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.
“A lifetime career in the realm of World Music and Jazz has taught me the value of having mentors and role models. There were many of them in my life: from my first drum instructor, to the many drummers I’ve met and worked with around the world, to the more famous names like Don Cherry and Baaba Maal. Their generosity was a lesson to me, and now I’ve made sure to return the favor by working with young students in a variety of settings; from in-school to after school, to summer camps…and from elementary to high school levels, and especially middle schools.”
In addition to performing as a soloist, he heads an extraordinary group of musicians in Tony Vacca’s World Rhythms Ensemble, and works with an international cast of guest performers for concerts and special projects. The stable of players associated with Tony’s World Rhythms programs includes Tim Moran on saxophones, Joe Sallins on electric bass and percussion, Steve Leicach on percussion, and Derrik Jordan on electric violin, percussion and voice. Special guests like Sekou Sylla on djembe and dance, and tama drummer Massamba Diop, tour with the group as often as circumstances allow.
