Vince Delgado is a master percussionist and composer who has played music for over fifty years. He is a jazz musician, Middle Eastern musician and has studied classical North Indian music extensively. He was the executive director of the Ali Akbar College of Music in 1968 under the guidance of the great sarodist Ali Akbar Khan. Some of his recent notable performances: Saman Yolu Television in Istanbul with renowned oud player Necati Celik and kanunist Mimi Spencer; in Paris with Zakir Hussain, Vikku Vinayakaram, Selva Ganesh and Shivamani; on the United States East Coast and in Canada with Zakir Hussain and the Rhythm Experience; in the San Francisco Bay Area with jazz pianist Larry Vuckovich, and with the Murasaki ensemble

Vince has his own group, Jazayer, which performs classical and traditional Arabic and Turkish music. He has his own music company, Chente Publications, producing compact discs in the Middle Eastern genre. Vince's percussion work may be heard on numerous CDs, including Diga with Mickey Hart, Remembrances (and other recordings) with Jazayer; Zakir Hussain and the Rhythm Experience; Closer To Me with Bronislav Bubalo; Magenta with the Murasaki Ensemble; and on many other recordings as a guest artist and studio musician.

Throughout his career, he has performed with many jazz artists,Middle Eastern artists, and world music drummers from Latin America, Africa, India and the Orient.

 ©Vince Delgado's website

Vince Delgado Quintet - Beginning (2005)
Percussionist Vince Delgado's newest CD Beginning has no beginners playing on it. These are first class musicians who know how to play together and they have something to say and they take you out to the cosmos when the say it. You won't be able to pigeon hole this music with adjectives like eclectic, dynamic, fusion, energetic, creative. Instead call it what it is - great new music made with care and innovation, call it Jazz.

Rhythm drives every original tune and every tune is beautifully evocative whether it's driving in eleven beats or a sensuous ballad. Tom Shader, string bass, is solid and plays with total commitment to the beat, the tune and to his own great take on melody making his bass lines a pleasure to listen to. Joey Edelman on keyboards, and Matt Eakle on flute, make every melody sing with fire whether its modal, chordal or just plain sweet and catchy.

Susu Pampanin and Vince Delgado never let the poly-rhythms dissipate into aimless wanderings - they have a path and it is with commitment and passion that they lay it down. This recording is as vibrant and alive as its cover. If you can only listen to one new and original recording this year, Beginning is the place to start, you'll want to hear it again.

 ©Vince Delgado's website