Frank Vignola

The Performance

The moment you think you have this artist pegged, he’s gone to the other side of the moon and your ears are having the time of their life. Frank Vignola is one of the most extraordinary guitarists performing today and his stunning virtuosity has made him the guitarist of choice for many of the world’s top performers. Vignola has worked with Ringo Starr, Madonna, Donald Fagen, Wynton Marsalis, Tommy Emmanuel, Mark O’Connor, the Boston Pops, the New York Pops, and guitar legend Les Paul who named Frank to his “five most admired guitarists” list for the Wall Street Journal. Playing and composing in almost every genre, Vignola has proven himself indisputably one-of-a-kind.

A single performance (solo, duo or trio) careens across the musical spectrum from jazz standards to opera, classic rock to contemporary pop, Latin to R&B, classical to swing, with even a smidgen of boy band choreography tossed in for a good chuckle. Playing guitar from the age of five and growing up admiring a variety of guitarists from Django Reinhardt to Frank Zappa, Vignola never listened to jazz exclusively but was also a major fan of rock, R&B, and pop. In his professional career, he moved from sideman to leader in 1988 with his famed Hot Club of France tribute, hailed in the New York Times as one of the Top Ten Acts of the Year and forging the way for the many Django Hot Club groups that followed. In 1993 at the age of 27, Vignola signed with Concord Jazz and recorded his first Concord session as a leader. More Concord releases followed in the 90s as well as three releases for the Telarc label as co-leader of the group Travelin' Light. 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 master classes at major universities and colleges throughout the country, including Julliard and Boston University.

Frank Vignola is a presenter’s dream. His engaging presence and virtuoso performance immerses the audience in joy. For the presenter – well, his rider calls for no monitors, one emcee mic, three cables, some water, a few almonds and organic veggies “if it’s not too much trouble.” Suffice it to say you’re in for a really, really good time – from both sides of the footlights (footlights which are not required, of course.)

In a Word…

"One of these days PBS should do a Nature special about guitarist Frank Vignola. How many extra fingers is he hiding –and why do they make hummingbird wings seem tortoise-like by comparison?" - MorristownGreen.com

“How versatile is Frank Vignola? He's collaborated with Lionel Hampton and Madonna, covers Mozart and McCartney on the same record, and is one of Les Paul's favorite guitarists." - Boston Globe

"Vignola, who possesses jaw-dropping technique, wears his influences on the tip of his pick." - Mike Joyce, The Washington Post

"Listeners including myself were hooting and hollering in reaction to the Vignola group's burning set." - Melissa Merli, News Gazette, Krannert Center Guitar Festival

"The standout musician was guitarist Frank Vignola, who can play more musically at ridiculous tempos than just about anyone I've heard. Vignola had the crowd in the palm of his hand for every solo." - Jason Crane, Tanglewood Jazz Festival

"Frank Vignola has too much fun onstage to be as serious about his music as he obviously is." - Louisville Music News

"Vignola stunned." - - Downbeat

A Presenter's Point of View

“Frank Vignola always delivers an energetic and musically solid performance that is exciting to watch, even if you've seen him many times before. No wonder there are few empty seats for his appearances. Vinny Raniolo is the perfect foil for his humorous bits. But make no mistake about it -- he is a formidable guitarist on his own and one of the few playing today who can keep pace with the Vignola juggernaut without looking foolish in the process. I run about three dozen jazz concerts each year. My wife, not being a jazz fan, attends very few of them, but she never misses an evening when Frank Vignola is on my stage. His appeal goes well beyond the bounds of jazz.” - Bruce M. Gast, Bickford Theatre, Morristown, NJ

“In 1999, I had the distinct honor of presenting Frank Vignola as part of the first public performance of Mark O’Connor’s “Hot Swing” Trio. Since that first experience, Frank’s virtuosity as a jazz guitarist and rapport with the audience has led to many more concerts in a wide variety of formats - from opening shows for David Grisman and Dan Hicks, to headlining with The Frank & Joe Show and Frank Vignola Quintet to developing an all-Gershwin program with the singer Jane Monheit. In all situations Frank has been an active and interested partner in marketing the shows, making sure that the concerts were considered a success from both the artist’s and presenter’s points of view. Whether playing for audiences of 80 or 800, Frank always delivers 100%, with a show that combines extraordinary musicianship, varied repertoire, and a sense of humor that has kept us inviting him back year after year.” - Peter Lesser, The Egg, Albany, NY

Live Performance Preview