Vasconcelos was born in Recife and moved to Rio de Janeiro, where he met and played with a young Milton Nascimento. He toured with saxophonist Gato Barbieri, later staying in Europe where he started collaborating with the avant-garde trumpeter Don Cherry. His first album as a co-leader with Egberto Gismonti, “Dança Das Cabeças”, began a long recording career with ECM. In the late 1970s, he recorded with Jon Hassell and Brian Eno, including their seminal album “Fourth World Vol.1: Possible Musics”. Vasconcelos also formed the fusion trio Codona with Collin Walcott and Don Cherry. He passed away at his home in Recife aged 71.
