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Vince Tampio

“Basically he’s the go-to cross-genre horn-blowing utility man of the Philly scene” (John Vettese, WXPN’s The Key). Vince Tampio is a professional musician, arranger, composer, producer, engineer, and teacher based in Philadelphia, PA. Although firmly rooted in jazz, he is comfortable with a wide variety of genres including rock, soul, funk, folk, classical, and electronic.

Vince’s original music has been described as “a contemporary instance of fusion done right,” and whose “nontraditional instrumentation maintains a spacious environment that proves ideal for a set brimming with imaginative, drawn-out improvisation” (Matthew Aquilin, All About Jazz). His latest album, Adult Children (2020), is a full length instrumental jazz album informed by Hard Bop and inspired by Highlife. “[Vince has] an approach that is more soulful, yet laid back in a way. The influence of Latin music adds more fuel to the fire.” (Homer Jackson, Philadelphia Jazz Project). Adult Children is preceded by Tides (2019), The Nook (2018), and Sound Plan (2017).

Vince has contributed to 75+ music and film productions; view his partial discography and filmography. He arranges for and frequently performs with York Street Hustle (trumpet), You Do You (trumpet), and the John Byrne Band (trumpet, banjo). Vince founded the Philly Phatness horn section, which has recorded with regional, national, and international artists. He also serves as Musical Director and bassist with Phloyd – A Pink Floyd Tribute. "His horn croons and wahs with touches of funk or blues, bridging the futuristic digital age with a snazzy sense of classic cool" (Geno Thackara, All About Jazz).

Vince authored and published Chromatic Cell Permutations for Trumpet, a technical studies book that explores permutations of chromatic cells as performed on trumpet. Vince earned the Master of Music degree in Jazz Performance from the University of the Arts; and earned the Bachelor of Science in Music degree concentrating in Jazz Studies and Theory & Composition from the State University of New York (SUNY) at New Paltz. He studied trumpet under John Swana, Rebecca Coupe Franks, and John Maguda, and studied composition under Don Glanden, Evan Solot, John B Hedges, and Vinnie Martucci.

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4
Album Review

Vince Tampio: Adult Children

Read "Adult Children" reviewed by Geno Thackara


At first glance, it's unclear whether Vince Tampio wants to imply something optimistic or dystopian with the strange cityscape on the cover of Adult Children (and with the title, for that matter). As a reflection of some strange times, such a striking image has plenty of room for interpretations positive and negative. It also could not be more apt for the funky urban-Afro-jungle-dub-jazz party within. This affair is a thick fusion stew with loud electric jazz and rhythm-heavy highlife music ...

3
Album Review

Vince Tampio: The Nook

Read "The Nook" reviewed by Geno Thackara


There's always something reassuring about the pleasingly familiar, whether it's a favorite shirt, a nice helping of comfort food or the coziness of a frequent neighborhood hangout. jny: Philadelphia's Tattooed Mom Bar fits the bill for Vince Tampio and a few good friends. Besides evoking that welcoming atmosphere with its title and cover, The Nook's classic-sounding bop and swing should make Blue Note or Prestige Records aficionados feel right at home from the first downbeat. For a trumpeter ...

1
Album Review

Vince Tampio: Sound Plan

Read "Sound Plan" reviewed by Geno Thackara


Just about every musician has those moments when they get stuck in overly familiar territory or unsure where to turn next. When in doubt, it helps to consider: WWMDD (What Would Miles Davis Do)? If following the Chief's example (understandably) isn't a universal rule in real life, it's still a mostly good one in the musical world. For trumpeter Vince Tampio, that means changing musical gears the way someone else might put on different pants. When not playing ...

2
Album Review

Vince Tampio: Live at PafA

Read "Live at PafA" reviewed by Matthew Aquiline


The long-standing practice of incorporating non-Western instruments within a jazz setting is further evolved on up-and-coming trumpeter and composer Vince Tampio's self-produced album Live at PafA. More specifically, the Philadelphia/New York-based musician culled various percussion instruments from Eastern Europe alongside an Indian tanpura for a performance of five original compositions recorded live at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Besides enhancing the pervading atmosphere of alluring exoticism, the nontraditional instrumentation maintains a spacious environment that proves ideal for a ...

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“However much he may genre-hop, use exotic instruments or play with sound processing, those aren’t just gimmicks and his playing can stand on its own in a fine style. So too does his composing.” (Geno Thackara, All About Jazz)

"Tampio’s trumpet playing bounce[s] between classic jazz and a looser free jazz." (John Vettese, WXPN's The Key)

"Vince Tampio proves himself a very creative composer. I look forward to hearing more from this upcoming composer & instrumentalist." (Fred "Rock Steady Freddie" Reiter, New York Ska Jazz Ensemble)

"Live at PafA skillfully straddles the border dividing orthodoxy and unconventionality and, more importantly, validates that old, time-honored axiom declaring jazz as a universal language." (Matthew Aquiline, All About Jazz)

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Primary Instrument

Trumpet

Location

Philadelphia

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

Vince privately teaches trumpet, guitar, electric bass guitar, arranging, composition, music theory, ear training, and improvisation to students of all ages and levels. Vince earned the Masters of Music degree in Jazz Performance from the University of the Arts; and earned the Bachelor of Science in Music degree concentrating in Jazz Studies and Theory & Composition from the State University of New York (SUNY) at New Paltz. He studied trumpet through undergraduate and graduate school with Rebecca Coupe Franks, Dennis Wasko, and John Swana

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Adult Children

Self Produced
2020

buy

Tides

Self Produced
2019

buy

The Nook

Self Produced
2018

buy

Season's Greetings

Self Produced
2018

buy

Live at PafA

Self Produced
2017

buy

Sound Plan

Self Produced
2017

buy

Videos

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