Customer Reviews

Blues for a Gypsy

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This is a delightful recording for anyone who likes traditional jazz and solo guitar, and will be especially appreciated by jazz guitarists. Although the influence of Django Reinhardt and the gypsy paradigm is evident, this is not an attempt to clone Django--Vignola has a voice of his own. And I would guess that Vignola would list Joe Pass among his influences; there are a couple of moments on this solo recording that remind me of Pass's Virtuoso album. In fact, the two recordings share two of the same selections.

Vignola's playing is fresh and expressive, never cloying or trite. The CD starts with a gorgeous version of Donna Lee, starting with a rubato head then moving to a rhythmic improvisation. His arrangement is rich, full of lovely voice leading. He is otherwise a master of the solo guitar, never taking us along on a single-note line too long without returning to remind us of the underlying rhythm and chord structure. He also displays impressive technique, hard to imagine how he does it, but it's not ostentatious. However, although I enjoy Misty on this CD, this version does not really bring anything new to the table.

By The Fire is an odd 23-second piece with frantic full-chord strumming. Train Ride, another shorty at 48 seconds, has a pedal tone played as machine-gun 16th notes with strums punched in intermittently without missing a stroke. This is akin to juggling an egg and a bowling ball.

Another oddity--maybe a practical joke to see who's paying attention, I don't know--the final selection, Manoir de Mes Reves, is listed as 4:01, but the selection actually lasts 6:43. At 4:01, there is a pause of 51 seconds before the music resumes, this time a different song.

Wonder what Django Reinhardt would be playing if he was still around these days? You don't need a Gypsy fortune teller... Just check out Frank Vignola's latest, and greatest, "Blues For A Gypsy." The style and sound is very, very Reinhardt, right down to his vintage Selmer-Maccaferri Gypsy guitar, and flamboyant Gypsy styling he employs with such incredible feeling and touch on every song. Fell in love with Vignola when we saw him live with Mark O'Connor and have been waiting over a year for this CD to be released. The wait was well worth it. If you are a fan of the jazz and blues style of Django, interpreted by Frank Vignola... arguably today's number one Gypsy guitar master... this is it! It's "DJANGO 2001!"

Frank Vignola shows no mercy to his instrument and plays like hell. He is no doubt the best swing-guitarist around at this time. Look at his collaboration with Mark O'Connor to see him at work with Tiko-Tiko.

Frank proves that he is one of the more versatile guitarists on the scene today. Great solo stuff. Check him out live...a great act.