Paolo Vinaccia

An Italian-born drummer, composer, and percussionist of wide-ranging output, Paolo Vinaccia has made his home and career in Norway since arriving there in 1979. After completing formal studies at multiple Italian conservatories and universities, he settled in Oslo and took the drum seat with the Jonas Fjeld Band, remaining for three years before moving on to the Oslo Rhythm N Blues Ensemble. Subsequent associations included various ensembles alongside guitarist Jon Eberson, singer Sidsel Endresen, and a trio completed by bassist Bjørn Kjellemyr.

His first appearance as co-leader came with the 1981 release Sami Ædnan, recorded with Mattis Hætta and Sverre Kjelsberg; the album’s title track served as Norway’s entry in that year’s Eurovision Song Contest. Since the 1980s Vinaccia has contributed to more than one hundred sessions, among them projects by Terje Rypdal, Bugge Wesseltoft, Sondre Bratland, Jon Balke, and the Miki N’Doye Orchestra, while also touring with Jon Christensen, David Darling, Mike Mainieri, and Palle Mikkelborg.

His next album under his own leadership, 1997’s Mbara Boom, featured bassist Arild Andersen together with the award-winning Sardinian vocal ensemble Il Coro di Neoneli. Six years later the six-disc box set Very Much Alive documented live performances with Rypdal, Mikkelborg, and Ståle Storløkken. Vinaccia joined Andersen’s trio alongside saxophonist Tommy Smith in 2008; their first recording, Live at Belleville, earned universal praise and brought its leader the Prix du Musicien Européen from France’s Académie du Jazz. The studio follow-up Mira appeared in January 2014. In 2017 Vinaccia collaborated with Norwegian guitarist Eivind Aarset on the album Dommedag ifølge Paulus.