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Vince Giordano

In 30 years as a bandleader, Vince Giordano has become the authority on recreating the sounds of 1920s and '30s jazz and popular music. "I just love the energy of the early jazz," says Giordano. "I wanted to recapture some of that." Early appearances with Leon Redbone and on Prairie Home Companion and lending his talents to Francis Ford Coppola’s film The Cotton Club, led to working with Dick Hyman's Orchestra in half a dozen Woody Allen soundtracks then as a bass player in Sean Penn’s band in Woody’s Sweet and Lowdown. He and band were featured in Gus Van Sant’s film Finding Forrester, in Martin Scorsese’s The Aviator, Robert DeNiro’s film, The Good Shepherd and most recently in Sam Mendes’ upcoming film: Revolutionary Road. Also a big-band historian and collector, Giordano has more than 30,000 scores in his collection. Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks are renowned on the New York scene for their commitment to preserving and authentically presenting 1920s jazz and popular music.

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Album Review

The Bix Centennial All-Stars: Celebrating Bix!

Read "Celebrating Bix!" reviewed by Nicholas F. Mondello


Cornetist Leon Bismark “Bix" Beiderbecke, while certainly heavily influenced by Louis Armstrong, developed his own highly stylized way of playing and improvising jazz. One wonders what musical highlights might have been accomplished had he lived beyond his 28 years. Celebrating Bix!, originally released in 2003 as a single CD album, adds selections which, due to size constraints, did not make the original release, but they all certainly “make it" here as a double CD and vinyl release. What ...

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Album Review

The Bix Centennial All Stars: Celebrating Bix!

Read "Celebrating Bix!" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Here's a new album by the Bix Centennial All Stars honoring the legacy of the renowned cornetist Bix Beiderbecke. Sort of. Actually, most of the music on Celebrating Bix! was recorded and released in March 2003, the actual centenary of Beiderbecke's birth in Davenport, Iowa. This expanded twentieth anniversary edition includes a trio of songs not released at that time owing to limited space, and has been reissued on two CDs instead of one. Having said that, ...

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New York Beat

Vince Giordano at Iguana

Read "Vince Giordano at Iguana" reviewed by Nick Catalano


If you go to Iguana on 54th St. and sit down on a Monday or Tuesday evening to dine on some sensible Mexican food you can also do some time traveling. When the Nighthawks hit at 8:00pm you won't have any trouble imagining that it is 1925 and you are in a speakeasy at the musical height of the Jazz Age. Hot tune after hot tune (some titles you won't recognize even if you're a maven) are performed so flawlessly ...

1
Live Review

Vince Giordano: New York, NY, August 14, 2012

Read "Vince Giordano: New York, NY, August 14, 2012" reviewed by Andrew J. Sammut


Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks Sofia's Restaurant New York, NY August 14, 2012 Vince Giordano receives well-deserved attention for the twenties and thirties repertoire he's brought to the radio on A Prairie Home Companion, films such as 2008's Revolutionary Road and 2004's The The Aviator, and most recently the HBO series Boardwalk Empire, for which Giordano and his band the Nighthawks received a Grammy. Coverage also mentions Giordano's home, full of records, ...

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Jazz That Scratches, Swings and Pops

Vince Giordano: Toe-Tapping and Timeless

Read "Vince Giordano: Toe-Tapping and Timeless" reviewed by Andrew J. Sammut


Welcome to the inaugural column “Jazz That Scratches, Swings and Pops We've all heard King Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton and Bix Beiderbecke on the Smithsonian Jazz Collection. We know the names because they're “important," but do we ever listen because they're just plain good? What about Papa Celestin, Red Nichols or Jabbo Smith? Not exactly names jumping out of the radio or iTunes. Save for a precocious thesis or specialty store, the musicians ...

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Live Review

Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks at Club Cache, NYC

Read "Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks at Club Cache, NYC" reviewed by Daniel Kassell


Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks Club Cache at Sofia's Restaurant, Edison Hotel (downstairs) New York City May 5, 2008

Sofia's Restaurant, Club Cache at 221 W. 46th Street, NYC last saw music of this ilk--improvised jazz instrumentalists favoring the swing-jazz rhythms of the 1920s and 1930s--so many years ago in this room downstairs under the Edison Hotel hardly anyone remembers. Vince Giordano and his Nighthawks Orchestra will attempt to revive a midtown New York ...

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Interview

Vince Giordano: Hot Jazz for The Aviator

Read "Vince Giordano:  Hot Jazz for The Aviator" reviewed by David French


Vince Giordano, 52, has long been the premier authority on performing 1920s and '30s jazz and popular music. Woody Allen, Madonna, Terry Zweigoff, Garrison Keillor and the New York Philharmonic have all used Giordano and his eleven-piece big band, the Nighthawks, to summon up the days of Busby Berkeley and bathtub gin. Most recently the Nighthawks recorded 22 note-perfect recreations of vintage hits for the soundtrack of The Aviator , Martin Scorsese's Howard Hughes biopic. Giordano appears in the film ...

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Event

Highlights In Jazz 44th Anniversary Gala with Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks on Thursday, February 9, 2017 at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center

Highlights In Jazz 44th Anniversary Gala with Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks on Thursday, February 9, 2017 at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

Jack Kleinsinger’s Highlights In Jazz, New York’s longest running jazz concert series, proudly kicks off it 45th season at 8:00 PM on Thursday, February 9, 2017 at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center of Borough of Manhattan Community College, 199 Chambers Street, NYC with The Highlights In Jazz 44th Anniversary Gala featuring the swinging jazz and blues of Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks with vocalist Ms Vinnie Knight and the festive multi-dimensional music of Cynthia Sayer and her Joyride Band featuring ...

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Festival

The Litchfield Jazz Festival Returns To Goshen, CT And The Great Outdoors

The Litchfield Jazz Festival Returns To Goshen, CT And The Great Outdoors

Source: Lindsey Turner

GOSHEN, CT — At the request of its many fans, Litchfield Jazz Festival returns to its roots at the Goshen Fairgrounds in Goshen CT. The site features many things jazz fans have come to love, chief among them the best in jazz under an airy Mainstage tent and from acres of lawn. Along with these, the Fest offers excellent food and drink, arts and crafts, activities for kids, artist talks and music by the talented students of Litchfield Jazz Camp ...

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Event

Feinstein's Presensts a New Year's Eve Celebration with Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks

Feinstein's Presensts a New Year's Eve Celebration with Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks

Source: Miller Wright & Associates

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed “Best of New York" by New York Magazine, and “an invaluable New York institution" by The New York Post, will celebrate New Year's Eve with VINCE GIORDANO AND THE NIGHTHAWKS in the Feinstein's at Loews Regency Ballroom. Recently featured on the acclaimed HBO program “Boardwalk Empire," Giordano will feature early jazz favorites from the 1920s and 30s. The evening includes a three-course dinner, dancing and open bar. The celebration takes place at the ...

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Performance / Tour

Good Old New York: Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks (August 30,2010)

Good Old New York: Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks (August 30,2010)

Source: Jazz Lives by Michael Steinman

n any Monday or Tuesday night, those who love jazz and pop — to listen and dance to—should make their way to Club Cache, in the basement of the Hotel Edison (221 West 46th Street), to catch Vince Gordano and the Nighthawks, playing from 8-11 PM.

I did just that last Monday.

The Nighthawks were Mike Ponella, trumpet; Harvey Tibbs, trombone; Dan Levinson, Dan Block, Mark Lopeman, reeds; Andy Stein, violin / baritone sax; Pater Yarin, piano; Ken Salvo,banjo / ...

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Performance / Tour

March 25 Swing Concert with Vince Giordano

March 25 Swing Concert with Vince Giordano

Source: All About Jazz

Blue Rhythm Fantasy: The Music of Chappie Willet

At 7:30pm on Wednesday, March 25, John Wriggle will present Vince Giordano & His (Augmented) Nighthawk Orchestra in performance at the City University of New York Graduate Center's Elebash Recital Hall.

The program features the jazz big band music of composer and arranger Francis “Chappie" Willet (1907-1976), one of the forgotten giants of the Swing Era music world. Willet was best known for providing the production music for such iconic New York ...

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Performance / Tour

Mingus Legacy (Tues) Vince Giordano and His Nighthawks (Wed) Chuck Mangione (Thu-Sun) at the Iridium Jazz Club

Mingus Legacy (Tues) Vince Giordano and His Nighthawks (Wed) Chuck Mangione (Thu-Sun) at the Iridium Jazz Club

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

IRIDIUM JAZZ CLUB 1650 BROADWAY (Corner of 51st) NEW YORK, NY 10023 RESERVATIONS: 212-582-2121 Sets At 8:30 & 10:30PM Les Paul Sets Remain at 8:00 & 10:00PM Effective immediately, minimums are $10/person/set for all shows except Les Paul - $15 mins. EVERY TUESDAY MINGUS LEGACY Sets at 8:30 & 10:30PM This Tuesday, December 25th This Week At Iridium Dec. 26 VINCE GIORDANO AND HIS ...

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Performance / Tour

Les Paul (Mon) Mingus Big Band (Tues) Vince Giordano (Wed) Trio 3 (Thu-Fri) Mode for Joe (Sat-Sun) at the Iridium Jazz Club

Les Paul (Mon) Mingus Big Band (Tues) Vince Giordano (Wed) Trio 3 (Thu-Fri) Mode for Joe (Sat-Sun) at the Iridium Jazz Club

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

IRIDIUM JAZZ CLUB 1650 BROADWAY (Corner of 51st) NEW YORK, NY 10023 RESERVATIONS: 212-582-2121 Sets At 8:00 & 10:00PM Effective immediately, minimums are $10/person/set for all show except Les Paul - $15 mins. EVERY MONDAY LES PAUL AND HIS TRIO JOHN COLIANNI - PIANO - LOU PALLO - GUITAR, NICKI PARROTT - BASS EVERY TUESDAY MINGUS LEGACY Sets at 8:00 & 10:00PM Wed., August ...

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Performance / Tour

Les Paul (Mon) Mingus Legacy (Tues) Vince Giordano (Wed) Stanley Jordan Trio Aug 2-5 at the Iridium Jazz Club

Les Paul (Mon) Mingus Legacy (Tues) Vince Giordano (Wed) Stanley Jordan Trio Aug 2-5 at the Iridium Jazz Club

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

IRIDIUM JAZZ CLUB 1650 BROADWAY (Corner of 51st) NEW YORK, NY 10023 RESERVATIONS: 212-582-2121 Sets At 8:00 & 10:00PM Effective immediately, minimums are $10/person/set for all show except Les Paul - $15 mins. EVERY MONDAY LES PAUL AND HIS TRIO JOHN COLIANNI - PIANO - LOU PALLO - GUITAR, NICKI PARROTT - BASS EVERY TUESDAY MINGUS LEGACY Sets at 8:00 & 10:00PM This Tuesday, July 31, ...

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Performance / Tour

Les Paul (Mon) Mingus Big Band (Tues) Vince Giordano (Wed) the Brubeck Bros. w/Taylor Eigsti Mar. 8-11 (Late Nite Fri) Bill McHenry (Late Nite Sat) Leron Thomas' Other Music at the Iridium Jazz Club

Les Paul (Mon) Mingus Big Band (Tues) Vince Giordano (Wed) the Brubeck Bros. w/Taylor Eigsti Mar. 8-11 (Late Nite Fri) Bill McHenry (Late Nite Sat) Leron Thomas' Other Music at the Iridium Jazz Club

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

IRIDIUM JAZZ CLUB 1650 BROADWAY (Corner of 51st) NEW YORK, NY 10023 RESERVATIONS: 212-582-2121 8:30 & 10:30PM, Fri. & Sat. 3rd Sets AT MIDNIGHT Note: Set Times for Les Paul Remain at 8 & 10PM EVERY MONDAY LES PAUL AND HIS TRIO JOHN COLIANNI - PIANO - LOU PALLO - GUITAR, NICKI PARROTT - BASS Note: Set Times for Les Paul Remain at 8 & 10PM Every Tuesday ...

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Performance / Tour

Vince Giordano & His Nighthawks Orchestra Appearing at the Iridium Jazz Club Wednesday's Feb. 21, March 7th, March 14th

Vince Giordano & His Nighthawks Orchestra Appearing at the Iridium Jazz Club Wednesday's Feb. 21, March 7th, March 14th

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

Vince Giordano & His Nighthawks Orchestra SPECIAL SHOWTIMES-7:30PM & 9:30PM Wednesday's Feb. 21, March 7th, March 14th Appearing At IRIDIUM JAZZ CLUB 1650 BROADWAY (Corner of 51st) NEW YORK, NY 10023 RESERVATIONS: 212-582-2121 As a fledging musician, Vince got a lesson from Pablo Casals. “I was watching one of his Master Classes on the television. They were old kinescopes, poorly filmed and very echoey. One session, a young ...

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Celebrating Bix!

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2023

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