Rhythmn Griots
TONY VACCA AND MASSAMBA DIOP
Tony Vacca on balafon, talking drums, percussion, vocals; Massamba Diop on talking drums and vocals; Assane Diop on talking drum; Tim Moran on saxophones; Steve Leicach on djembe, congas, balafon, she [+]Rhythmn Griots
TONY VACCA AND MASSAMBA DIOP
Tony Vacca on balafon, talking drums, percussion, vocals; Massamba Diop on talking drums and vocals; Assane Diop on talking drum; Tim Moran on saxophones; Steve Leicach on djembe, congas, balafon, shekere and percussion; Joe Sallins on electric bass;Sekou Sylla on djembe and sangban; Special guests, Senegalese hip-hop troupe, Gokh-bi System.
Rhythm Griots (pronounced gree-oes) translates into English as "rhythm storytellers," and rhythm is the common ground shared by Massamba Diop and Tony Vacca. Their music is a living, contemporary link between the traditions of West Africa and America. They blend the fiery Wolof drumming of Senegal's famous tama drummer, Massamba Diop, with the percussion spectacle of Tony Vacca's hard-hitting fusion of Jazz, Spoken Word, and World Music.
On this recording, Vacca and Diop conspire with their long-time collaboartors from both America and Senegal to create a powerful and rocking blend of traditions. The West African roots of Jazz rhythms and hip-hop rhymes are present in the form of drummer-brothers Assane and Massamba Diop, and also with djemelfola Sekou Sylla, as well as in the innovative sounds of the Dakar rap scene, provided by Gokh-bi System. As if in mirror image, the African sensibility is alive and well inside the fusion of Jazz and World Music that Vacca's ensemble is so adept at creating. Tim Moran on sax, Joe Sallins on electric bass, and Steve Leicach on percussion let you know they get how these traditions are connected. Massamba Diop reminds us of his griot origins, adding two uniquely Senegalese spoken word/chants to his brilliant drumming.
If you dig Jazz and World Music, and if you get the connection between the griots and hip-hop, then you should hear this.
MORE INFO ON THE GROUP AND THE MUSIC
Tony Vacca is an innovative American-born percussionist whose music incorporates giant West African xylophones, an incredible collection of over twenty Paiste gongs, hand-drums, and a unique drum set/percussion unit. The range of his work could be summarized by the fact that he has performed and/or recorded with pop icon Sting, Senegalese Afro-Pop star Baaba Maal, Jazz and World Music legend Don Cherry, and the Senegalese hip-hop troupe called Gokh-
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