Frank Vignola Guitar Night!

ByRay Matuza October 8, 2019October 9, 2019

Frank Vignola Guitar Night – Thursday, September 26^th marked the inaugural evening of a jazz guitar fest with enough of a 6 (and 7 string) guitar menu to satisfy anyone’s appetite.

Frank Vignola Guitar Night By Ray Matuza

Billed as “Frank Vignola’s Guitar Night”, Birdland’s new once a month event featuring Frank at the helm with Gary Mazzaroppi on bass and Vince Cherico on drums joined by a plethora of featured resident players and guests. With guitarists extraordinaire Jimmy Bruno and Howard Alden, the guys opened up with a swinging rendition of the Sam Jones tune “Bittersweet” complete with harmonized melody and continued to blaze their way through a set including “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” and “All Blues”.

Frank Vignola Guitar Night - 2 — *Frank, Jimmy and Howard*

Fin born guitarist Olli Sokkeli joined in on “Seven Come Eleven” only to be followed on stage by Frank’s right-hand man Vinny Raniolo and Ken Smith on “Cheek to Cheek”, Strictly Confidential” and a host of others. That’s 37 guitar strings (Howard plays a 7 string) on stage at one time! The set ended with Charlie Parker’s “Segment”, again with harmonized melody and takin’ it to the rafters with solos and trading fours.

Frank Vignola Guitar Night - 3 — *Frank Vignola and friends.*

Visit online at frankvignola.com

View: The Amazing Career of Frank Vignola
JGT Lesson Series: Frank Vignola Chord Melody Arrangements

Ray Matuza

Ray Matuza has over 47 years’ experience as a performer, educator, and writer. A senior editor of the now-defunct Twentieth Century Guitar Magazine, Ray is well versed in all styles with his primary focus on jazz and fingerstyle jazz. He is also a seasoned session guitarist and as an excellent reader, has performed in many pit orchestras in New York City and the surrounding areas. Ray has also taught with YES guitarist Steve Howe at his “Cross Styles Guitar Camp” at Full Moon Resort in Big Indian, NY and at Five Towns College as well as privately. Ray’s fingerstyle repertoire crosses all musical genres, having what he calls a “big radio dial” in his head which determines what he will play at any given performance.