Tony Vacca at Hawks & Reed

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.