Naná Vasconcelos was an esteemed Brazilian percussionist, vocalist, and berimbau virtuoso, renowned for his adept fusion of indigenous Amazonian influences with jazz and other international music styles. Born Juvenal de Holanda Vasconcelos on August 2, 1944, in Recife, Brazil, he was commonly referred to as Naná. His career spanned over four decades, during which he became a celebrated figure in the world of percussion, celebrated for his improvisational skills and unique soundscapes that paint a vivid picture of Brazil's rich cultural tapestry.

Naná Vasconcelos was a true innovator in the realm of world music, known for his ability to produce a universe of sounds from a single instrument, the berimbau. His mastery over this Brazilian single-string percussion instrument—coupled with his creative use of the voice, body percussion, and other instruments—allowed him to communicate with an elemental force that transcended language and cultural barriers. Throughout his career, he collaborated with a variety of legendary musicians, such as Pat Metheny, Don Cherry, and Gato Barbieri. Vasconcelos was also an integral member of the pioneering world music trio Codona, featuring fellow luminaries Don Cherry and Collin Walcott. His creativity continued to flourish until his last releases, such as "Café no Bule" and "4 Elementos," which embraced a broad spectrum of sounds, from ambient textures to the rhythmic complexity that characterized his earlier work. Naná Vasconcelos passed away on March 9, 2016, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire musicians and music lovers around the world.

Genres

Bossa Nova

Brazilian Jazz

Brazilian Percussion

Jazz Drums

Related Artists

Egberto Gismonti

Moacir Santos

Itamar Assumpção

Sivuca

Arrigo Barnabé

Hermeto Pascoal

Guinga

Quarteto Novo

Jards Macalé

Mestre Ambrósio

Jorge Mautner

Ná Ozzetti

Latest Release

Café no Bule

Naná Vasconcelos•

Zeca Baleiro

Album - 13 Tracks - Released September 4, 2015