Frank Vignola

Last updated
Frank Vignola
Frank Vignola.jpg
Vignola in 2014
Background information
Born (1965-12-30) December 30, 1965 (age 58)
West Islip, New York, U.S.
Genres Jazz, jazz fusion, gypsy jazz, swing, pop, classical
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, arranger, producer, author
Instrument(s)Guitar, banjo
Years active1979–present
Labels Concord Jazz, Acoustic Disc, Jazzology, Mel Bay, Azica
Website FrankVignola.com

Frank Vignola (born December 30, 1965) is an American jazz guitarist. He has played in the genres of swing, fusion, gypsy jazz, classical, and pop.

Contents

Career

Vignola grew up on Long Island, New York. His father played accordion and banjo and his brother plays trumpet. When he was five, he picked up the guitar, learning from his father and from records by Django Reinhardt, Bucky Pizzarelli, Joe Pass, and Johnny Smith. [1] At 12 he started on the banjo, and two years later he won a national championship in Canada. [2]

On Long Island, he studied guitar at the Cultural Arts Center. [3] Early in his career, he went to used record stores to buy albums by musicians whose work he didn't know, so that he could study their music. [4]

In 1987, when he was 23, he formed the Hot Club Quintet, named after the Quintette du Hot Club de France. In the early 1990s, he was in New York City, playing in groups with Max Morath, Andy Stein, Herman Foster, Joe Ascione, and tuba player Sam Pilafian. He formed the Concord Jazz Collective with veteran guitarists Howard Alden and Jimmy Bruno. [2] The roster of musicians he has worked with includes Leon Redbone, Ken Peplowski, Susannah McCorkle, Charlie Byrd, Joey DeFrancesco, Gene Bertoncini, Johnny Frigo, Bucky Pizzarelli, Wynton Marsalis, David Grisman, Jane Monheit, Mark O'Connor, and Donald Fagen.

He has written over fifteen instructional books for Mel Bay, produced several instructional DVDs, and teaches courses on the internet. [4] He appeared on the PBS television programs Tommy Emmanuel and Friends and Four Generations of Guitar. [5]

In May 2017, Frank Vignola was in a serious ATV accident when he was thrown into a tree and sustained many injuries. In November 2017, friend and fellow guitarist Tommy Emmanuel posted an update on Vignola's status, stating that he would be unable to play the guitar and may only recover after many surgeries and a long period of physical therapy. However, as of May 2018 he had recovered and was again performing. [6]

Discography

As leader

As sideman

With Leon Redbone

With others

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References

  1. ↑ "Acoustic Disc Online". www.acousticdisc.com. Archived from the original on 30 July 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  2. 1 2 Rye, Howard (2002). Kernfeld, Barry (ed.). The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz. Vol. 3 (2nd ed.). New York: Grove's Dictionaries Inc. p. 172. ISBN   1-56159-284-6.
  3. ↑ Henderson, Alex. "Frank Vignola | Biography & History | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  4. 1 2 Richter, Alison (8 March 2013). "Interview: Jazz Guitarist Frank Vignola Discusses the Importance of Practicing". Guitar World. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  5. ↑ "Biography – Frank Vignola". Frank Vignola. Archived from the original on 11 March 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  6. ↑ "Frank Vignola: Given the Gift of Life". Jazz Times. May 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
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