Live Artists Vinx
Vinx
Links: www.vinx.com
Style: Jazz, African, Soul, Groove, World
Origin: USA
Touring party: 1 - 3
Territory: Exclusive Europe
Availability: on request
VINX is an international recording artist and Berklee College of Music educator, Vinx is as close as you'll find to a 21st century Renaissance Man. He has lived a big life and has shown immense talent in multiple areas. He has performed with such notable artists as Ernie Watts, Sting, Stevie Wonder, Cassandra Wilson, Rickie Lee Jones and Taj Mahal. Known to music fans as a percussionist and vocalist, his music is classified by some as jazz, by some as world music and by others as soul. There is no denying that it remains accessible to a wide variety of audiences for the very reason that it reflects the wealth of his experience and breadth of his interests.
“Vinx is the gift you give to someone that you really care about."
~ STEVIE WONDER
"Imagine a classic R&B voice like those of Sam Cooke or Al Jarreau singing a cappella over a boisterous percussion troupe and you might get a hold on Vinx's magic...It's his yearning voice, alternately full of both anguish and joy, that makes you listen."
~ MODERN DRUMMER
There´s 2 Live shows available:
1) SOLO SHOW - PURE SINGER´S SOUL FOOD
His stage presence and personal warmth make his shows a unique and unforgettable experience. His rhythmic roots lie in the music of Africa, Brazil, Cuba and the Caribbean Islands.
With his velvet timbre and impressive compositions that include elements of American love songs and world music, he suceeded in attracting stars like Herbie Hancock, Sheryl Crowe, Branford Marsalis, Mother's Finest, Taj Mahal and Bill Summers to appear on his debut album, which was produced by none other than Sting! He subsequently collaboratted with Stevie Wonder, Cassandra Wilson, Peter Gabriel, Sinead O'Connor, Elton John, Zucchero, Third World, Manhattan Transfer, Toni Childs, Yothu Yindi, Zap Mama and other top names on the international music scene. He is also known from performances with his trio "JUNGKE FUNK" featuring Will Calhoun and Doug Wimbish.
In his current show, “Pure Singer’s Soul Food,” Vinx serves up a five-course musical meal of a cappella singing, live percussion, technically enhanced multi-vocal acrobatics, songs and improvisation.
2) UMBRELLA JUNGLE
When you find yourself in grooveless thunder, open Umbrella Jungle and you will discover the savagery of tribal drummers under an umbrella of innovative technology. This duo is not playing pre-recorded tracks, this is not a drum circle in the park. First and foremost, this duo is live, it grooves… and it’s nasty. Soaring above this groove is the luscious baritone voice of Vinx, which ties it all together.
Umbrella Jungle is the collaboration of Vinx and David “Fingers” Haynes. Vinx and David are two of the most innovative drummer/songwriters to date. David, YouTube phenom with over one million hits, is known for his work with grammy-winning pop group Arrested Development and the new super group Groove Heroes. David has taken the art of drumming one step further and invented his own finger drumming technique using computer based technology in a way never before accomplished.
In a world of artificial digital static, Umbrella Jungle has got you covered.
3) GROOVE HEROES - featuring Vinx on vocals/percussion, Jamalaadeen Tacuma on bass, David " Fingers " Haynes on beatbox and internationl guests to join
Groove Heroes is a DJ influenced trio of acoustic musicians that play with the virtuosity of jazz greats and the irresistible grooves of your favorite DJ. This is a combination of artists unlike any in the world. A beatbox driven finger drummer lays the foundation to which an electronic Kalimba artist provides chordal textures. Add to this the fire of a master percussionist. But the ingredient that ties all of this eclectic funkness together is the virtuosity of Vinx. Most music fans know him from his Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder and Sting days as One Man, One Voice, One Drum. You will discover that he is much, much more. Together, as the Groove Heroes, they create a musical masterpiece. “I could hear every nuance and inflection of his baritone voice swooping and soaring through melodies that had me open mouthed, gaping in that telling combination of wonder and envy that great artists sometimes provoke. The most interesting thing about his melodies was that within a single vocal line he was able to suggest the harmonic structure of the song without an accompanying chordal instrument. This is a rare talent.” ~ STING
INSTRUMENTATION
Vinx ~ vocals, percussion, live loops
Jamaaladeen Tacuma ~ bass master
David "Fingers" Haynes ~ drum machine, live loops
Amma Whatt ~ vocals, Zen drum, percussion
Jamaaladeen Tacuma
Jamaaladeen was first known as the 19 year old child prodigy bassist for Ornette Coleman during the 70s and 80s. He had great success as bandleader on the Gramavision label. Jamaaladeen's 1988 album Jukebox was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1989. Jamaaladeen has worked with such artists as James "Blood" Ulmer, Walt Dickerson, David Moss, Chuck Hammer, Kip Hanrahan, and David Murray. In the 1980s Jamaaladeen started to perform with a group called "Cosmetic". In 1981 Tacuma received the highest number of votes ever for an electric bassist in the "talent deserving wider recognition" category of the Downbeat magazine critics’ poll. It’s been 10 years since Vinx and Jamaaladeen worked together in Europe. To have these gems working together again is something special to be seen and heard.
David “Fingers” Haynes
"I always wanted to play the drums but when i got on my brother Darryl's kit at age 11, he wasn't so happy about it. Little did I know that the Lord was preparing me to develop a way to sound like a real drummer by playing a drum machine with MY FINGERS!!" So, in 1994, not knowing what the future held in store for him, David set off to Germany to work as a musician. This journey led to an extensive stay for 9 years. David’s initial entry into the music industry came at a show called, “Drummer’s Meeting in Koblenz,” Germany, where his drumming skill was recognized among the likes of Simon Phillips, Dennis Chambers, Will Calhoun and Trilok Gurtu. While living in Germany, David performed in numerous venues all over Europe and was asked to be part of the Music Meese, the European version of NAMM. Being in the right place at the right time, David’s notoriety grew and lead to meetings with artists such as Sheila E (of Prince fame), Rhonda Smith, Kat Dyson, and eventual recording sessions with Prince at Paisley Park. David has worked with numerous other artists, notably Chaka Khan, Mary J. Blige, Stanley Jordan and Lee Ritenour to name a few. He is presently working with Arrested Development.
David's unique style of drumming, particularly his finger drumming, led him to being featured on the front page of You Tube for almost three weeks. One of his videos has garnered over 550,000 hits with over 1.3 million hits for all of them in total. If there are any common denominators when it comes to David Haynes, they are spirit and musicality.
Amma Whatt
Amma's music career began at the tender age of 5 as a touring dancer studying and performing the traditional music and dances of West Africa. Her star has headed straight north since then as a touring vocalist with Glory of NY Gospel Singers and as background vocalist with Ruben Studdard, Karen Clark-Sheard, Ki-Ki Sheard, Shirley Murdock, Howard Hewitt, Melba Moore, Byron Cage, Rob Murat, Tulani Kinard and more. She was a Hollywood finalist in the 2007 season of American Idol and graces the big screen in the movie August Rush where she performs the Academy Award nominated song "Raise it Up". As a staff writer and vocal producer with the Grammy nominated team of women songwriters, Big Drawz Music Group, Amma co-wrote “Just the Way You Are” for Kindred and The Family Soul’s last album “The Arrival”.
