Biography
Frank Vignola (born December 30, 1965) is an American jazz guitarist celebrated for his dazzling technique and stylistic versatility across swing, gypsy jazz, fusion, classical, and pop settings.[1][7] He grew up on Long Island, New York, in a musical family; his father played accordion and banjo and taught him guitar from age five, while records by Django Reinhardt, Bucky Pizzarelli, Joe Pass, and Johnny Smith shaped his early ear.[1][7] At twelve he took up the banjo and, only two years later, won a national banjo championship in Canada, signaling the speed and facility that would later define his guitar work.[1] In his early twenties he formed the Hot Club Quintet (1987), modeled on the Quintette du Hot Club de France, and soon became a fixture on the New York scene, working with stride pianist Max Morath, violinist Andy Stein, pianist Herman Foster, drummer Joe Ascione, and tuba player Sam Pilafian.[1]
Through the 1990s and 2000s Vignola built a wide‑ranging career as both leader and sideman, recording for labels such as Concord Jazz and Telarc and co‑founding the Concord Jazz Guitar Collective with Howard Alden and Jimmy Bruno.[1] His résumé spans work with Leon Redbone, Mark O’Connor, the Boston Pops, the New York Pops, Wynton Marsalis, Bucky Pizzarelli, Gene Bertoncini, Joey DeFrancesco, Jane Monheit, Donald Fagen, Madonna, Ringo Starr, and Tommy Emmanuel, among many others, leading the New York Times to describe him as “one of the brightest stars of the guitar.”[1][5][7][8] A longtime collaborator and friend of Les Paul, Vignola played regularly at New York’s Iridium Jazz Club, where Les Paul held his legendary Monday‑night residency, and Paul later named Vignola among his five most admired guitarists in the Wall Street Journal.[3][5] After a life‑threatening ATV accident in May 2017 that left him with multiple fractures and collapsed lungs, Vignola endured several surgeries and intensive rehabilitation before returning to the stage in 2018, channeling his recovery time into new three‑guitar arrangements and expanding his extensive body of educational books, videos, and online courses.[1][3] Today he is regarded not only as a virtuoso performer but also as a key modern ambassador of swing and gypsy‑influenced jazz guitar, with an enduring legacy built on concert work, recordings, and pedagogy.[3][5][7][8]
Fun Facts
- Before becoming known as a jazz guitar virtuoso, Frank Vignola won a national banjo championship in Canada at just fourteen years old.[1]
- He formed his first notable group, the Hot Club Quintet, at age 23 in 1987, explicitly modeled on Django Reinhardt’s Quintette du Hot Club de France.[1]
- Les Paul was such an admirer of Vignola’s playing that he listed Frank among his five most admired guitarists in a Wall Street Journal feature.[5]
- After a 2017 ATV accident that broke his right shoulder and arm, four ribs, and collapsed both lungs, Vignola was initially told he might never play again, but he returned to the stage within about a year and used his recovery time to write roughly 25 new three‑guitar arrangements.[1][3]
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Frank Vignola’s father (name not widely published) - First teacher; taught him guitar and banjo in childhood and exposed him to swing-era repertoire at home on Long Island. (Early informal lessons that led to his banjo championship and later Hot Club Quintet work.) [circa early 1970s–early 1980s]
- Django Reinhardt - Primary stylistic influence; Vignola learned from Django’s recordings and later built a career steeped in gypsy jazz and Hot Club–style swing. (Influence reflected in Vignola’s Hot Club Quintet and albums such as “Appel Direct.”) [Studied recordings from childhood onward[1]]
- Bucky Pizzarelli - Recorded influence and later collaborator; Vignola studied his records early on, then worked alongside him on various projects, integrating Pizzarelli’s chordal swing style. (Multiple concert and club appearances; influence audible throughout Vignola’s swing-oriented recordings.[1][3]) [Influence from 1970s via records; collaborations mainly 1990s–2000s]
- Joe Pass - Major recorded influence whose virtuosic single‑note lines and chord‑melody vocabulary shaped Vignola’s jazz language. (Influence heard in Vignola’s solo guitar features and complex bebop lines.[1]) [Studied recordings from youth onward]
- Johnny Smith - Recorded influence; Vignola has cited learning from Smith’s records in his formative years, particularly for tone and harmonic sophistication. (Influence reflected in Vignola’s clean tone and chord voicings.[1]) [Studied recordings from youth onward]
- Les Paul - Mentor, close friend, and bandleader; Vignola played with him at the Iridium, absorbing his showmanship, technical innovation, and approach to arranging. (Regular appearances at Les Paul’s Iridium residency; various live collaborations through the 2000s.[3][5]) [Approximately 2000–2009 at Iridium and related projects[3]]
Key Collaborators
- Howard Alden - Co‑leader and fellow guitarist in a multi‑guitar setting, blending virtuosic swing and mainstream jazz styles. (Co‑founded and recorded with the Concord Jazz Guitar Collective.[1]) [Mid‑1990s onward (notably around 1995)[1]
- Jimmy Bruno - Co‑leader and guitarist partner in the Concord Jazz Guitar Collective, exploring intricate guitar ensemble arrangements. (“Concord Jazz Guitar Collective” (Concord Jazz, 1995).[1]) [Mid‑1990s[1]]
- Sam Pilafian - Tuba player and early New York collaborator; Vignola worked with him both live and in the studio, highlighting unusual guitar–tuba textures. (Album “Makin’ Whoopee” (Telarc, 1993) and other ensemble work.[1]) [Early 1990s[1]]
- Leon Redbone - Frequent employer and collaborator; Vignola served as guitarist on several Redbone albums blending early jazz, blues, and popular song. (“Sugar” (1990), “Up a Lazy River” (1992), “Whistling in the Wind” (1994), “Any Time” (2001), and a 1992 Paris live album.[1]) [1990–2005[1]]
- David Grisman - Collaborator in acoustic string settings, drawing on swing and “Dawg” music traditions. (Recordings and performances documented by Acoustic Disc and related Grisman projects.[7]) [2000s (exact years vary by project)[7]]
- Tommy Emmanuel - High‑profile guitar partner; has appeared with Vignola in concert and publicly supported him during his post‑accident recovery. (Joint performances and features, including tributes and videos; Emmanuel shared status updates on Vignola after the 2017 accident.[1][3]) [2000s–2010s[3]]
- Wynton Marsalis - Collaborated in jazz and swing contexts, underscoring Vignola’s acceptance within the mainstream jazz establishment. (Performances and projects noted in profiles and artist bios.[5][7][8]) [2000s (various events)[5]]
- Donald Fagen - Worked together on projects that drew on classic American songbook and jazz‑inflected pop, showcasing Vignola’s stylistic flexibility. (Live and studio collaborations referenced in artist bios.[5][7][8]) [2000s (various projects)[5]]
- Ringo Starr - High‑profile collaboration demonstrating crossover appeal beyond the jazz world. (Appearances and projects cited in profiles such as Riff Journal and Acoustic Disc.[5][7]) [2000s (specific dates not always disclosed)[5]]
- Frank Vignola Trio / Hot Jazz Guitar Trio (with Vinny Raniolo and Gary Mazzaroppi) - Long‑running primary touring group; the trio (and later duo with Raniolo) toured internationally, recorded, and appeared on PBS specials. (Frank Vignola Trio tours, two PBS specials, later re‑formed as the Hot Jazz Guitar Trio after Vignola’s accident.[2]) [Trio formed 2007; duo tours roughly 2010–2015; Hot Jazz Guitar Trio re‑formed 2018 onward.[2]]
Artists Influenced
- Contemporary swing and gypsy‑jazz guitar students worldwide (via his online jazz studio) - Vignola’s extensive educational work—books, videos, and a large online jazz guitar studio—has shaped the playing of countless guitarists who study his approach to rhythm, improvisation, and arranging. (Online jazz studio with hundreds of lessons; numerous instructional books and DVDs referenced in JazzTimes and Jazz Guitar Today features.[2][3]) [Primarily 2000s–present, with major expansion after 2017 accident.[2][3]]
Connection Network
External Links
References
Heard on WWOZ
Frank Vignola has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 7, 2026 | 06:27 | Blues for a Gypsyfrom Blues for a Gypsy | The Morning Setw/ Breaux Bridges |