Frank Vacin

Frank Vacin has been living and working in New York City since 1991. He presently lives with his family in Manhattan .

A baritone saxophonist and woodwind doubler Frank also plays soprano, alto, and tenor saxophones, contra alto, bass, alto and soprano clarinet, flute and bassoon.

Frank began studying music in preschool and piano at age five. He received his first lessons from his Aunt Nancy Darnall in Alva, Oklahoma. He started clarinet in elementary school and began classical saxophone lessons from Vince Gnojek in high school. Frank Vacin has been blessed to have many great teachers over his lifetime, including Rich Matteson, Hamiet Bluiett, Reggie Workman, Jimmy Owens and many others. Most recently Frank has studied flute with Andrew Sterman and bassoon with Kim Laskowski and Ethan Silverman. Frank has attended North Texas State University, the University of Colorado at Denver, The New School for Social Research and New York University.

He has performed across the country, Asia, Europe and at many of the popular jazz venues in New York City. Frank is a member of the Musicians Union local 802.

Russ Anixter's Hippie Big Band: What Next?

Read "What Next?" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
September 4, 2026

A big band by any other name... Arranger and orchestrator Russ Anixter has chosen to call his 11-piece ensemble the Hippie Big Band. Which is fine, Russ. Whatever works for you. Alas, much of the music on What Next? sounds as though it could have been imported from the mid- 20th century. Yes, this is unquestionably jazz even though it does lean rather heavily on rock, funk and even some free improvisation as its bedrock; and ...

Album Review

Russ Anixter's Hippie Big Band: What Is?

by Jack Bowers
March 3, 2025

Although the music of New York-based bandleader and arranger Russ Anixter may leave the average listener bemused and scratching his or her head, even the more perplexed among them would have to concede that Anixter has his personal North Star, and that he and the eleven-member Hippie Big Band follow it to the letter. Having grown up in San Francisco in the 1960s, Anixter was irresistibly drawn to bands such as The Grateful Dead, Santana and others who made improvisation ...