I was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela. I was introduced to music at the age of 5 by watching my sister's piano lessons at home, and stared playing the drum-set in my mother’s cauch at the age of 9 with tv music videos, later at age 11 finally got to play a real one and started to learn from recordings.
March 10th 1986 at age 16 I started working as a musician in Caracas, with a group called EXPRESS, playing in local bars.
A year later a friend told me about a music school ARS NOVA where I had the opportunity to study theory an solfege for two years and a half directed by Maria Eugenia Atilano and Gonzalo Mico, also study snare and drum set with Edgar Saume and Later with Ruben “Tuti†Jimenez. Also during that time began studiying arrangement with Maestro Alex Rodrigues.
1989 I started playing with the group CASABLANCA (Alvaro Falcon, Biella Da Costa, Luis Emilio Mauri and Wolfgan Vivas.
Also during this time worked with Mirna Rios under the direction of Oscar Perez.
I moved to NY in 1991. 1994 Studied at MANNES COLLEGE OF MUSIC wich later became part of THE NEW SCHOOL JAZZ AND CONTEMPORARY MUSIC DEPARTMENT. Graduated in 1999.
Currently doing a Master's Progran at QUEENS COLLEGE with Michael Philip Mossman/Antonio Hart.
Currently teaching drum-set at THE HARBOR CONSERVATORY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS in Manhattan.
(www.harborcoservatory.org)
Since I moved to NYC I’ve been blessed and lucky to study with great musicians that have affected in a positive way how I play and think about music. Some For longer periods (Bobby Sanabria, Marvin “Bugalu†Smith, Joe Chambers, Charles Tolliver, Lee Ann Lagerwood, Richard Boukas, Ed Neumaister, Kenneth “Skip†Burny) and others for shorter periods wich I wish would had been longer. (Duduka Da Fonseca, Paolo Braga, Jamey Haddad, Pete Zeldman, Kim Planfield, Robert Quintero)
Mr. De Vivo has toured South America, West Africa, Europe, Russia, China. Has participated with The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the U.S. Department of State
for inclusion in the : "Jazz Ambassadors" program. Touring South America(2003) and West Africa (2006)
Tony performs in NYC with Pablo Moya's "Yuka Seka"
(www.myspace.com/pablomoya) ,
the flamenco group Gazpacho Andalu (www.gazpachoandalu.com) , Pedro Giraudo's Jazz Orchestra (www.pedrogiraudo.com) , among many others artists in the NYC area.
Has has also worked and recorded with:
Aquiles Baez (www.aquilesbaez.com) ,
Juancho Herrera's Global Monkey (www.juancho-herrera.com) ,
Rafi Malkiel (www.rafimalkiel.com) ,
Valerie Troutt (www.valerietroutt.com) ,
Son de Madre (www.sondemadre.com) ,
David Oquendo (David Oquendo) ,
Gary Morgan's big band Pan-americana,
Michael Phillip Mossman (Michael) ,
Mayte Vicens (Mayte) ,
Arturo Martinez ,
Carpentier String Quartet (www.carpentierquartet.com) ,
Karim Noack's play Six months to live
(www.karimnoack.com) ,
Ray Cohen (www.myspace.com/raycohen) ,
Edsel Gomes (www.edselgomez.com) ,
Ben Lapidus (Sonido Isleno) ,
Tama Waipara (Tama) ,
Obliqsound record label (www.obliqsound.com) ,
Nelida Tirado (Flamenco pa dos) (www.nelidatirado.com) ,
Jose Conde (www.joseconde.com) ,
Los hermanos Cintron (www.cintronbrothers.com) ,
Leonardo Granados,
Marco Granados (www.sunflute.com) ,
Juan Carlos Formell (www.myspace.com/juancarlosformell) ,
Obara Melli (www.myspace.com/obaramelli) ,
and many others artists in the NYC area.
Having attended Ars Nova Music School in Caracas,
Fundación Bigott (School of Venezuelan Folkloric music),
Town La vela de Coro, Edo. Falcon Venezuela. (Familia Guanipa),
Town Palmarito Edo. Merida. (Segundo Pulgar),
Town Bobures, Edo. Zulia Venezuela. (Segundo Pulgar),
Mannes College of Music and
The New School in NYC, holds a BFA.
RECORDINGS
1998 Joe Chambers - demo.
(Percusion)
1999 Mo'Guajiro - Pueblo Alegre.
(As Co-leader, arranger, composition, drum-set and Percusion)
2000 Kevin Johansen - The nada.
(Percusion)
2002 Aquiles Baez - Music for a film (El chancecito).
(Percusion)
2003 Yardena - Son Ladino.
(Drum-set and Percusion)
2003 Mango Blue - Video clip at LP pecussion studio.
(Drum-set)
2003 Tama Waipara - Triump of time.
(Percusion)
2003 Pedro Giraudo - Mr. Vivo.
(Cajon)
2003 Valerie Troutt - AfterMaple.
(Percusion)
2004 Chris Koch (Teeter Gray) - Blue love.
(Percusion)
2005 Pedro Giraudo Jazz Orchestra - Desconsuelo.
(Cajon)
2005 Nu Guajiro before called Mo'Guajiro - Paciencia
(As Co-leader, arranger, composition, drum-set and Percusion)
2005 The Obliqsound selection - Tony de Vivo Percussion suite.
(Composer, Percusion)
2005 Benjamin Lapidus - Vive Jazz
(Percusion)
2006 Maite Vicens and Michael Phillip Mossman - dance show DVD
(Drum-set and Percusion)
2006 Gazpacho Andalú - Flamenco de vuelta e ida
(Drum-set and Percusion)
2006 Jose Conde - (R)Evolucion.
(Percusion)
2007 Nu Guajiro before called Mo'Guajiro - Diez
(As Co-leader, arranger, composition, drum-set and Percusion)
2007 Anna Saeki - To be released
(Percusion)
2007 Jose Conde - Baby loves salsa.
(Percusion)
2008 Benjamin Lapidus - Herencia Judia
(Percusion)
2008 Leonardo Granados - To be released
(Percusion)
2008 Chris Koch - To be released
(Percusion)
2008 Chris Koch - (VIDEO)
(Percusion)
2009 Pedro Giraudo Jazz Orchestra - El viaje
(Cajon)
2009 Marta Hernandez - Take me to Bahia
(Producer, Drum-set and Percusion)
2009 Marta Hernandez - Primavera
(Producer, Drum-set and Percusion)