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Jazz Articles about Frank Vignola

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Album Review

Frank Vignola & Vinny Raniolo: Swing Zing!

Read "Swing Zing!" reviewed by Jack Bowers


When a press release accompanying a new album conveys more information than is found on the album itself, the supposition must be that it was recorded hurriedly with an eye toward a similarly expeditious release. Swing Zing! pairs the estimable guitarists Frank Vignola and Vinny Raniolo, who've been working together for more than five years, with half a dozen guests who are identified on the album (and in the press release) by name but not by instrument. Three of them--Bucky ...

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Shrinktunes

Playing it Forward: The Boys at the Blue Note

Read "Playing it Forward: The Boys at the Blue Note" reviewed by Dr. Judith Schlesinger


It seemed to happen overnight. One minute it was all video games, with the boys totally immersed in furious thumbwork. They'd sit together for hours on end, staring at a busy screen, manipulating cartoon adversaries to kill each other in great bursts of color and noise. There was considerable musical talent among them, and assorted lessons here and there, but no burning interest that any adult could detect. Then suddenly the group shifted, like a flock of birds ...

3
Live Review

Mariachi Flor de Toloache at Celebrate Brooklyn

Read "Mariachi Flor de Toloache at Celebrate Brooklyn" reviewed by Ernest Barteldes


Mariachi Flor de Toloache, Mexican Institute of SoundLatin Alternative Music Conference at Celebrate BrooklynJuly 12, 2013 Brooklyn, NYThough a constant, heavy rain dampened the spirits of many music fans who skipped Latin Alternative Music Conference's showcase at Celebrate Brooklyn, those who were present at the half-filled venue witnessed quite a varied evening which began with a presentation of the New York-based, all-female Mariachi Flor de Toloache.The nine-piece ensemble began by following tradition, playing down-tempo ...

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Album Review

Frank Vignola: 100 Years Of Django

Read "100 Years Of Django" reviewed by Martin Longley


In this centenary year of Django Reinhardt's birth, it's inevitable that homages will be uppermost in the minds of the guitarist's disciples. Frank Vignola has no desire to resist this temptation, given that so much of his very fiber is directly descended from the Reinhardt legacy. But aside from the unavoidable “Nuages," Vignola sidesteps down a less over-trodden path. A core trio of Vignola, rhythm guitarist Vinny Raniolo and bassman Gary Mazzaroppi, is augmented by guest accordionist ...

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Album Review

Frank Vignola: 100 Years of Django

Read "100 Years of Django" reviewed by J Hunter


Of all the things guitarist Django Reinhardt accomplished in his 43 years on earth, two stand out: He proved you don't have to have a big band in order to swing, and you don't have to play soft and slow in order to be intimate. Reinhardt's Le Hot Club Quintet of France (formed with violinist Stéphane Grappelli, who David Grisman has called “the master of String Swing") embodied those two proofs, fueled by Reinhardt's evocative playing and prolific writing. 2010 ...

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Album Review

Frank Vignola: Vignola Plays Gershwin

Read "Vignola Plays Gershwin" reviewed by Andrew Velez


With the Brothers Gershwin we're talking about the very summit of the Great American Songbook, words and music that have for the most part passed into the language. They are true evergreens that retain their capacity to swing, and provide fertile opportunities for a musician as varied in range as guitarist Frank Vignola. The only surprising thing about this album may be why Vignola didn't make it sooner. With a versatility on his part that ranges from swing to bop ...

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Album Review

Frank Vignola: Vignola Plays Gershwin

Read "Vignola Plays Gershwin" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


"I like a Gershwin tune," Frank Sinatra sings on the Burton Reed/Ralph Freed classic, “How About You." Guitarist Frank Vignola apparently loves a Gershwin tune, passionately.Vignola--with twelve CDs as a leader under his belt--is a versatile musician who sites an array of influences: Django Reinhardt, Joe Pass, Frank Zappa, Jimi Hendrix, Charlie Christian. On Vignola Plays Gershwin he leans in a swinging gypsy direction, bringing a Django vibe to fourteen George Gershwin melodies.The guitarist's quartet includes ...


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