The Frank Vignola Duo, the extraordinary guitarists Frank Vignola and Vinny Raniolo, return to The Mainstay in Rock Hall, Maryland on Sunday December 11 at 4:00 p.m. Admission is $20. Information and advance ticket sales are available at the Mainstay’s website https://www.mainstayrockhall.org and reservations can also be made by calling 410-639-9133.
In the six years they’ve been performing as a duo, acoustic guitarists Frank Vignola and Vinny Raniolo have become one of the most popular and sought after guitar duos on the international music scene with more than 1000 engagements to their credit.
With repertoire drawn from more than 300 years of music, they create unique, sometimes intense and often quite beautiful arrangements of familiar and beloved songs. Although both have been deeply influenced by many great jazz guitarists, they are not a jazz guitar duo. Though there is very little improvisation, the sense of spontaneity, imagination and virtuosity that are hallmarks of jazz are fully present in their performances along with a big sense of humor.
Their genre-spanning music has brought them to 15 countries on three continents performing in some of the world’s most notable venues, places like the Sydney Opera House in Australia, New York’s Lincoln Center and of course, they are favorites at The Mainstay in Rock Hall.
Often featured on National Public Radio, they have also become familiar figures on Public Television from the heavily programmed Tommy Emmanuel and Friends and their own PBS special, Four Generations of Guitars with guitarists Bucky Pizzarelli and Tommy Emmanuel along with violinist Joe Craven.
Vignola describes the essence of their music in straightforward terms: “There is nothing more satisfying to my ears than two guitars performing a beautiful song. As a duo we seek out beautiful songs and melodies spanning hundreds of years and try to create a uniquely fresh version.”
A typical performance will take an audience on a breathtaking whirlwind tour of musical history. Bach, Mozart and Beethoven will be freely mixed with Ellington and Waller, blended with Gershwin and Carmichael, peppered with Bob Marley, Sting and Lennon/McCartney, and spiced with Rodrigo and Lecuona. In keeping with the times, they also promise a couple of holiday tunes.
As brilliant as they are musically, they never allow their virtuosity to overshadow the goal of their music, which is to entertain. The element of humor is not gratuitous, but rather serves the purpose of a palette refresher during a fine meal. Although they laughingly describe themselves as “the Abbott and Costello of the guitar” they uphold a fine tradition of musical humor as offered by Victor Borge, Anna Russell, PDQ Bach and even the Marx Brothers – never losing sight of musicality even when generating a laugh.
Their interpretations never disrespect or parody the original music and after laughing and cheering, an audience is energized and ready for another foray into the rich guitar wizardry of the duo – Great American Songbook classics, infectious popular tunes, flamenco stylings, traditional Italian songs and a touch of jazz – all served up with inventiveness and plenty of surprises.
As Vignola says, “We like to have people leave our shows feeling better than when they arrived. Night after night, all over the world we see how happy people are after a show. This is very important to us. We love to entertain people. Obviously, we entertain with the music, but making people laugh a bit by swinging our guitars back and forth, doing a silly cheesy dance step or having a few comedy routines is very satisfying.”
The Mainstay (Home of Musical Magic) is the friendly informal storefront performing arts center on Rock Hall’s old time Main Street. It is a 501(c)(3), nonprofit dedicated to the arts, serving Rock Hall, MD and the surrounding region. It is committed to presenting local, regional and national level talent, at a reasonable price, in an almost perfect acoustic setting. Wine, beer, sodas and snacks are available at the bar.
The Mainstay is supported by ticket sales, fundraising including donations from friends and audience members and an operating grant from the Maryland State Arts Council.
For information and reservations call the Mainstay at 410-639-9133. More information is also available at the Mainstay’s website https://www.mainstayrockhall.org.
Upcoming Mainstay performances include:
Dec. 12 Mainstay Monday with Jason Long on piano
Dec. 18 Harp & Soul
Dec. 19 Mainstay Monday with Lester Barrett, vocals
Jan. 13 The John Jorgenson Quintet
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