He started at twelve years-old, with his father, in a little martial band in Recife. Gifted with an intense curiosity, which allowed him to go from erudite composer Villa-Lobos up to guitar player Jimi Hendrix, Naná learned to play practically all the percussion instruments. In the 60s he specialized in the berimbau. He uses the berimbau in a very personal way, being recognized as one of the best players in the world.

After the most different musical experiences, the musician moved to Rio de Janeiro and began to work with Milton Nascimento. In the 1970s the Argentinean saxophonist Gato Barbieri invited him to join his group. They played in New York and Europe, with great venues such as the Montreaux Festival Switzerland, where Naná delighted the audience and the critics. At the end of the tour, Naná settled in Paris, France, during 5 years, where he recorded his first album Africadeus (1971). In Brazil, Naná recorded his second album Amazonas (1972). It was the beggining of a very successful partnership with composer and pianist Egberto Gismonti, during 8 years, which earned three albums entiled Dança das Cabeças, Sol do Meio Dia and Duas Vozes. When he returned to New York, together Don Cherri and Colin Walcott, they formed the group Codona. Naná also recorded and toured with the guitar player Pat Metheny and his band.

Working with an ecletic selection artists, Naná Vasconcelos recorded, among others, with B.B. King, with the French violonist Jean Luc Ponty and the American rock band Talking Heads, lead by David Byrne.

Reminding his influences from Pernambuco, Naná idealizes the ABC das Artes Flor do Mangue project, his work with poor children.

The American magazine Down Beat elected him seven times for best percussionist in the world.