Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

Brazil

Birth

:

August 2, 1944 in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil

Death

:

March 9, 2016 in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil

Genre

:

Film

 

Naná Vasconcelos was a Brazilian percussionist and vocalist who was born on August 2, 1944, in Recife, Brazil. He grew up in a musical family and began playing the drums at a young age. He was influenced by the traditional music of his region, including maracatu, coco, and ciranda. Vasconcelos began his professional career in the 1960s, playing with local bands in Recife. He moved to Rio de Janeiro in 1967 and quickly became a sought-after session musician, playing on recordings by artists such as Milton Nascimento and Edu Lobo. In 1969, Vasconcelos joined the experimental group Grupo Um, which blended jazz, rock, and Brazilian music. The group released several albums and toured extensively in Brazil and Europe. Vasconcelos gained international recognition in the 1970s, when he began collaborating with musicians from around the world. He played on recordings by American jazz musicians such as Don Cherry, Pat Metheny, and Jan Garbarek, as well as African musicians such as Ali Farka Touré and Baaba Maal. Vasconcelos also released several solo albums during this time, including Saudades (1979), which featured his vocals and percussion playing. The album was well-received and helped establish Vasconcelos as a solo artist. In the 1980s, Vasconcelos continued to collaborate with musicians from around the world. He played on Peter Gabriel's album So (1986) and toured with Gabriel as part of his band. He also worked with Brazilian musicians such as Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso. Vasconcelos received several awards and honors throughout his career. He won the Best Percussionist award at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1979 and 1983. He also won the DownBeat Critics Poll award for Best Percussionist in 1984, 1985, and 1986. In 1992, Vasconcelos was awarded a Grammy for his work on the album Global Drum Project, which he recorded with Mickey Hart, Zakir Hussain, and Giovanni Hidalgo. The album featured percussion music from around the world and was well-received by critics and audiences alike. Vasconcelos continued to perform and record throughout the 2000s and 2010s. He released several albums, including Sinfonia & Batuques (2001) and Chegada (2016). He also collaborated with younger musicians, such as the Brazilian singer Céu. Vasconcelos passed away on March 9, 2016, at the age of 71. He left behind a legacy as one of the most innovative and influential percussionists of his generation. His music continues to inspire and influence musicians around the world.

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