FRANK VIGNOLA & VINNY RANIOLO | LIVE REVIEW
Sunflower & I, Cardiff Bay, Sun 13 Nov
Rock’n’roll certainly has its share of guitar giants but so does jazz. Cardiff recently hosted Tony Hicks of The Hollies from the first category and now Frank Vignola and Vinny Raniolo from the latter. Like those other proud Italian-American paisans Pat Martino and Al Di Meola, these guys are jazz maestros. Heck, these New Yorkers are great in everything and cross all genres – gypsy jazz, swing, country, rock and pop. They can do it all.
Patrons of the enchanting Sunflower & I café were entertained with an evening of virtuosity which ranged from soothing to edge-of-your-seat riffs. Because I’m not a guitarist, I can’t get into the nitty-gritty of technique and chord progression, scales, frets, pickups etc, but these two self-confessed guitar geeks were a revelation and meant business. And although I’m not a fan of rock tribute bands and singers, I do enjoy seeing musicians covering jazz and other styles. Vignola and Raniolo injected each song with their own special sound and put their individual stamp on everything they touched. Some of their interpretations were better than the originals.
We were treated to American standards (I’m Getting Sentimental Over You, Begin The Beguine), a medley dedicated to Bucky Pizzarelli (another jazz great) and the legendary Les Paul that included Misty and How High The Moon, 60s hits (Apache, Walk, Don’t Run) and two Lennon/McCartney-credited compositions – If I Fell and Here, There And Everywhere. They even tackled Walking On The Moon by the Police, while managing the Shadows’ famous walk nimbly.
We were taken to Latin landscapes with the sombre but captivating Concerto De Aranguez, dramatic Malagueña and three breathtakingly gorgeous songs by bossa nova king Antonio Carlos Jobim – Girl From Ipanema, Wave, and Corcovado (Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars). Also dexterously performed was a classical selection that featured Turkish March by Mozart, Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto In E Minor, a heavenly Scheherazade and a whizzing Flight Of The Bumblebee, both by Rimsky-Korsakov. Just splendid! There were over two dozen songs done in all, but these were my favourites.
Sunflower & I is in a larger building now in Mount Stuart Square but is still an intimate setting to hear live music. Owners Lukasz and Sebastian (and staff) were their usual gracious selves, welcoming and warm. What they’re offering in the city is unique and should be encouraged.
Vignola has worked with everyone from Lionel Hampton to the late Leon Redbone to the Boston Pops and was an incredible pro – so fast and skilful, it felt like his guitar was going to spontaneously combust at times. He also regaled us with the story of his meeting Les Paul when he was 19 and then getting a job as his guitarist many years later and also told of Paul’s friendship with another legend, Django Reinhardt.
Raniolo, on rhythm guitar, was no slouch, either. He did have some wonderful, standout solos on September Song and These Foolish Things (Remind Me Of You), among others. They should be back here around the same time next year, so don’t miss them. This duo are marvellous! And they didn’t make me an offer I couldn’t refuse to say that…
words RHONDA LEE REALI