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Frank Vignola and Bucky Pizzarelli – "Moonglow" Re-Release Date: TBA With just two guitars, legendary virtuosos, Bucky Pizzarelli and Frank Vignola, have crafted a seamless blend of classics from the great American songbook, providing the perfect musical compliment for wherever you are and whatever you are doing. Whether it be a romantic dinner or a relaxing Sunday morning, Bucky and Frank set the mood through gorgeous melodies gently strummed and picked as only these two masters are capable. |
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Frank Vignola – "Looking Up" Release Date: TBA Frank Vignola's "Looking Up" will be a compilation of classic and original tunes that cross multiple genres. From gypsy jazz to Mozart to the folk music of Paul Simon, the tunes perfectly compliment one another and are each distinctively 'Frank'. |
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Frank Vignola's Hot Club – "Django 100" Azica Records Release Date: January 2010 In celebration of Django Reinhardt’s 100th birthday, guitar virtuoso Frank Vignola, a leading proponent of Reinhardt’s ‘Gypsy Jazz’ style of playing, has assembled a searing tribute to one of his earliest musical influences. Tommy Emmanuel and Frank Vignola turn many a well known tune inside out with their virtuosity and unique chemistry as a duo, creating a non-stop chain of magical moments that were captured in a couple of spontaneous recording sessions. They're now available to the world as "Just Between Frets", a truly don't-miss-it CD on Solid Air Records. |
Frank Vignola Teams with Bucky Pizzarelli on “Moonglow” Release
With just two guitars, legendary virtuosos, Bucky Pizzarelli and Frank Vignola, have crafted a seamless blend of classics from the great American songbook that provide the perfect musical compliment for wherever you are and whatever you are doing. Whether it be a romantic dinner or a relaxing Sunday morning, Bucky and Frank set the mood through gorgeous melodies gently strummed and picked as only these two masters are capable.
Dinner music gets a bad rap. When you take a moment to consider evening meal soundtracks, you probably conjure up auditory images of bland sounds that quietly arrive and depart – much like the succulent scents of various dishes – yet never quite register in the old memory bank. But because a musical vibe just happens to go well with nightfall’s tastes and aromas doesn’t automatically make it a bad thing. Fine wine doesn’t get knocked whenever it compliments a meal. In fact, such beverages actually gain respect for how they enhance the dining experience. So why doesn’t music get these same props? Methinks there is a double standard at play here.
Let’s begin undoing this injustice with a few thoughts about Bucky Pizzarelli and Frank Vignola. These two fine acoustic jazz guitarists have just released their excellent Moonglow CD, which goes just as well with beef as it does with fish. Moonglow is a 16-song set of jazz and pop standards, which is comforting on the ears and easy to digest. Nothing here requires concentrated mastication; it all flows together seamlessly in one continuous, beatific aural stream.
Nevertheless, true jazz connoisseurs will likely pick up on the many subtle flavors. Listen closely, and you can hear how notes are carefully bent during “P.S. I Love You,” or just let yourself bask in how “I’m Confessin’” and “Deep Purple” swing easily without ever jerking the listener. “Whispering” features some relatively aggressive rhythmic strumming, but this is only done in order to keep the tempo clicking along. “Moonglow” opens with an amazing string-of-notes solo, but this moment of flash is a rarity; there is very little showing off going on around here.
Producer Joel Dorn utilizes his liner note space to praise a dish of homemade meatballs that Pizzarelli brought to this recording session. So this whole symbiotic relationship between music and meals was established from the very beginning of the project. If you’re driving a gas-guzzling 4x4, while nearly swallowing your double quarter-pounder with cheese whole, AC/DC’s Back in Black is your recommended soundtrack. But for those evenings when the moon is shining in on your romantic dinner, this new Bucky Pizzarelli and Frank Vignola offering hits the spot every time.
Pizzarelli began his professional career at 17 when he joined the Vaughn Monroe dance band in 1944.[3] Near the end of World War II, while in Austria as an infantryman fulfilling wartime military service for the Army, Pizzarelli was absent from Monroe's band (though he rejoined the outfit in 1946 and played for another five years with them). While in the military, he played in an unauthorized dance band.[citation needed] In 1952 Pizzarelli became a staff musician for NBC, playing with Skitch Henderson.[3] In 1964, he became a member of the Doc Severinsen band on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. During his time spent performing for the Tonight Show, Pizzarelli accompanied guest bands and musicians playing through a variety of musical genres, even playing with Tiny Tim (after tuning the performer's ukulele) on the day that Tiny Tim married Miss Vicki on Carson's show.[3] While self-professedly not a big fan of rock and roll, Bucky performed on seven hits with Dion and the Belmonts during this period.
From 1956–1957, Pizzarelli performed with The Three Sounds trio along with bassist Andy Simpkins and pianist Gene Harris. He toured several times off and on with Benny Goodman up and until 1986, the year of Goodman's death. Beginning in the 1970s, Pizzarelli began recording as a leader, performing many tributes to musicians of the 1930s era. Bucky has performed at the White House in Washington, D.C. with artists such as Benny Goodman, two performances for President Ronald Reagan and one for President Bill Clinton. He also played a private birthday party for Pat Nixon, President Richard Nixon's wife, at the Nixon home.
"Jersey Jazz Guitars" was the name of a 1985 concert held at the Rutgers University Nicholas Music Center in New Brunswick. The ticket featured Bucky, Les Paul, Tal Farlow, and Bucky's son John. The concert was aired on New Jersey's PBS station as part of their 3-part New Jersey Summerfare Series. Bucky and Les Paul had performed together before with one another, as they were neighbors and cordial friends. The show aired for one hour in August 1985, with son John adding his vocals on two selections.
Frank is one of the most accomplished, multi-dimensional players walking the planet today. Monster player, composer and improviser, Frank plays proficiently in every genre, from jazz to bluegrass, and works with everyone and their brother. Frank’s pedigree is a mile long, but a quick Google will illustrate why he is considered one of the best on the planet.
Whether he is featured on a Donald Fagen recording, a jam with David Grisman, as Les Paul's right hand man or leading his own groups throughout the years, he has proved himself to be in the elite creating his own unique sound.
Born on suburban Long Island, Vignola was raised in the New York area. The Italian-American started playing the guitar at the age of five and grew up admiring a variety of guitarists. Far from a jazz snob, Vignola never listened to jazz exclusively and was also a major fan of rock, R&B, and pop. The guitarists that he admires range from Django and George Barnes to rock icons like Frank Zappa and Eddie Van Halen. As a young adult, Vignola studied at the Cultural Arts Center of Long Island and went on to enjoy an enormous amount of sideman gigs in the 1980s including recording and touring with the likes of Madonna, Leon Redbone, Ringo Starr as well as coming into his own as a leader in 1988 with his famed Hot Club of France tribute which was hailed in the NY Times as one of the top ten acts in 1988 and forged the way for the many Django Hot Club groups that followed. The New Yorker was 27 when, in 1993, he signed with Concord Jazz and recorded his first Concord session as a leader, Appel Direct. Many more Concord releases followed in the 1990s as well as 3 releases for the Telarc label as co-leader of the group Travelin' Light. The early 2000's found Vignola recording for Acoustic Disc, Hyena Records as well as making featured appearances on Atlantic, Sony and Warner Brothers Records with the likes of Donald Fagen, Queen Latifah, Mark O Connor and Wynton Marsalis. Mr. Vignola has also recorded several DVD's for Mel Bay Records. "Gypsy Jam" features Jimmy Rosenberg and "Favorite Solo's" features Frank with one of his guitar heroes, Bucky Pizzarelli. Frank has written 18 guitar instruction books for Mel Bay Publications and has recorded several CDROM educational products for Truefire.com. He has performed hundreds of clinics and masterclasses at major universities and colleges throughout the country including Julliard and Boston University.
Guitarist pays tribute to Gypsy jazz legend
Written by Vicki L. Kroll
Frank Vignola reminisced about the first time he heard guitar great Django Reinhardt. "It was 'Limehouse Blues,' the classic jazz composition, and I remember I was 6 years old," Vignola said. "When my dad got me the record, I couldn't take it off the record player; I was just very intrigued by that sound... http://www.toledofreepress.com/2009/11/12/guitarist-pays-tribute-to-gypsy-jazz-legend/
"Vignola aims to seduce listeners, not dazzle them, and he consistently hits his mark." - Washington Post
Frank Vignola's Hot Club - Video Rebroadcast
If you missed the Frank Vignola's Hot Club concert at the Wagon Shed on October 2, 2009, you missed a fantastic show. GREAT NEWS! You can watch a rebroadcast on-demand of the original show - right on your computer. Only $2 for 12 hours. www.songside.com/tickets
**Presenters – Contact The Roots Agency for password**
Frank Vignola's Hot Club "Gypsy Mania"... http://bit.ly/1ZzS3I
"Frank Vignola is a phenomenon - a guitar virtuoso who plays each tune with warm affection. This 43-year-old native of Long Island has toured with Madonna and Ringo Starr, along the way becoming intrigued by the jazz of Django Reinhardt...” Baltimore Sun... http://bit.ly/4hzTfa
Classic Vignola comedy (yes, comedy!) at 3:25 into clip!... http://bit.ly/4lFLhG
No one plays Rimsky-Korsakov like Frank Vignola's Hot Club!... http://bit.ly/9Wmx8
Frank Vignola’s Hot Club reviewed in Jazz Guitar Life:
"Front and center was Vignola’s envious command of the fret-board. His rhythmic intensity and improvisational skills alone could have stolen the show as he played rapid fire lines, swift octaves and engaging chord solos... But what made this Trio experience magical on all levels was the lively interaction between Frank, Vinnie, and Gary as they assisted each other in giving 110 percent to the music and audience." http://www.jazzguitarlife.com/Jazz-Guitar-Life-Reviews-Frank-Vignola-Trio-JazzFest2009.htm
The Frank Vignola's Hot Club tribute to Django Reinhardt’s 100th birthday kicked off Friday, October 2nd at the Wagon Shed Concert Series ... These guys will knock your socks off!...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfgCJ6WgDR8
Frank Vignola’s Hot Club - Django Reinhardt Centennial Tribute
Few jazz legends have a more exotic mystique than Django Reinhardt, the Belgian-born gypsy guitarist and banjo player who, during the 1930s and 40s, led the legendary Parisian ensemble known as Quintet of the Hot Club of France.
In celebration of Django Reinhardt’s 100th birthday, guitar virtuoso Frank Vignola, a leading proponent of Reinhardt’s gypsy jazz style of playing, has assembled an electrifying and charismatic quintet, Frank Vignola’s Hot Club, for a searing tribute to one of his earliest musical influences. An accomplished and influential guitarist in his own right, only a musician the caliber of Frank Vignola could dare tackle the monumental task of honoring the centennial of the legendary Django Reinhardt.
Check out what Jazz Guitar Life has to say about Frank Vignola: “Front and center was Vignola’s envious command of the fret-board. His rhythmic intensity and improvisational skills alone could have stolen the show as he played rapid fire lines, swift octaves, and engaging chord solos...” http://www.jazzguitarlife.com/Jazz-Guitar-Life-Reviews-Frank-Vignola-Trio-JazzFest2009.htm
Vignola dominated the night... exhibiting his acoustic mastery in exhilarating single string runs, complex flurries, and astounding full-register riffs. When speed and clarity were demanded, Vignola stunned. – Downbeat (Jazz at Lincoln Center 'Django Reinhardt/Charlie Christian Tribute')
Frank Vignola – "Looking Up"Release Date: Fall 2009
Frank Vignola's "Looking Up" will be a compilation of classic and original tunes that cross multiple genres. From gypsy jazz to Mozart to the folk music of Paul Simon, the tunes perfectly compliment one another and are each distinctively 'Frank'.
Frank Vignola's Hot Club – "Django 100"
Azica Records
Release Date: January 2010
In celebration of Django Reinhardt’s 100th birthday, guitar virtuoso Frank Vignola, a leading proponent of Reinhardt's 'Gypsy Jazz' style of playing, has assembled a searing tribute to one of his earliest musical influences.
Frank Vignola (Vignola Collective) – "Gypsy Grass"
Dare Records
Release Date: March 24, 2009
Frank Vignola's Vignola Collective creates a new genre of music, melding contemporary gypsy jazz, bluegrass, toe-tapping swing, blues, and acoustic rock.
The album was produced by Michael Anthony Taylor, and features the amazing vocal group Take Six, Casey Driessen on violin, Matt Flinner on mandolin, Vinny Raniolo on guitar, master bassist Gary Mazzaroppi , and Rick Zukor on percussion performing classic Django, Zappa, Mario Brothers, and fresh new originals.
"Gypsy Grass" has been charting on the Jazz Week Jazz Chart since its release in March.