Hey all. If you have read my review of the Frank Vignola Trio at the 2009 Montreal International Jazz Festival, you know that it was one of the best shows I have ever seen.Which is why I am very excited to announce that Frank Vignola will be returning to Montreal this Wednesday, the 24th of February as part of the 100 Years Of Django celebrations. Vignola also has a recent CD titled 100 Years Of Django as well, which I hope to hear in the near future.

According to information on Vignola’s website, the Wednesday show will also feature “monster bassist, Gary Mazzaroppi and young guitarist extraordinaire, Vinny Raniolo”. If you have not seen these three perform together then do yourself a favor and make time to check out the show. It could well be the show of the year!

Below is the press release by Fingerstyle.ca, who deserve wild applause for bringing Vignola back to Montreal.

If you do make it out to the show, let us know by dropping a comment and if you see me in the audience, drop by and say “hello”…:) Take care everyone.

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100 YEARS OF DJANGO

fingerstyleguitar.ca will celebrate the 100th anniversary of legendary Gypsy Jazz Guitarist Django Reinhardt with a concert featuring the world’s preeminent Gypsy Jazz / Django stylist, Frank Vignola, at La Sala Rosa - 4848 St. Laurent, Montreal on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at 8:30 p.m.

Django was first invited to tour North America by Duke Ellington in the early 1940’s and actually performed his second date on this tour in Canada - at the Mutual Street Arena in Toronto.

There simply is not a better choice for this celebration than Frank Vignola.  Vignola’s Hot Club of France Tribute, among the first tributes of its kind, was named by the New York Times as one of the top ten acts of 1988.

What is also exciting about Vignola is that he is much more than “just” a Django stylist.  He is also a renowned American Jazz player and has been one of thee most sought after sidemen since he was a teenager.

Indeed, Les Paul – Vignola was part of Les’ band for several years - named Frank Vignola to his ‘Five Most Admired Guitarists’ list for The Wall Street Journal saying, “It’s not jazz as we know jazz here in America”.

A few highlights from Vignola’s long and impressive career as a touring and recording sideman are: Madonna, Leon Redbone, Ringo Starr, Donald Fagen, Queen Latifah, Mark O Connor and Wynton Marsalis.

Vignola is also a dedicated educator, having written many educational texts and DVDs – including collaborations with Jimmy Rosenberg and Bucky Pizzarelli – and conducting 100’s of clinics at Universities throughout the United States, including Julliard and Boston University.

In the end, it is Frank Vignola’s fearless virtuosity as both a player and an entertainer that makes this extremely rare Montreal appearance a not to missed event.

Tickets available at through fingerstyleguitar.ca at (416) 722-6524 or from La Sala Rosa at (514) 284-0122.
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