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Frank Vignola: Vignola Plays Gershwin
ByHis version of "S'wonderful, S'marvelous totally takes wing, with especially zippy background support from fellow guitarist Corey Christiansen. Throughout, Christiansen serves as a most syntonic shadow behind Vignola on rhythm guitar; other musicians on the set include bassist Tom Kennedy and drummer Joe Ascione. There's joie de vivre to spare throughout with tunes like "They Can't Take That Away From Me, on which Vignola's fluid fingering evokes the ebullient, tapping spirit of the immortal Fred Astaire (who introduced this and a great many of the other songs on this disc through shows including Lady, Be Good, Funny Face, Shall We Dance and A Damsel in Distress). One can easily envision these two masters enjoying each other's company.
One of the earliest Gershwin tunes of the set, "Somebody Loves Me, is infused with a totally unexpected mood through a deliciously Latin-flavored hip-swaying beat. For contrast there's "The Man I Love, a song too-often performed soaked in bathos. The emotionality of this song, and others like "Love Is Here to Stay, is expressed with the eloquence that only an instrumentalist who understands lyrics can, and using chops for miles that never sacrifice the music for mere showiness.
Track Listing
I Got Rhythm; Summertime; S' Wonderful; Our Love Is Here To Stay; They Can't Take That Away From Me; The Man I Love; Somebody Loves Me; Strike Up The Band; Nice Work If You Can Get It; Fascinating Rhythm; Embraceable You; Lady Be Good; How Long Has This Been Going On.
Personnel
Frank Vignola
guitarFrank Vignola: guitar; Joe Ascione: drums; Tom Kennedy: bass; Corey Christiansen: guitar.
Album information
Title: Vignola Plays Gershwin | Year Released: 2007 | Record Label: Mel Bay Records
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