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UPDATE: The book is now available for this title!!!!!
TOMMY EMMANUEL & FRANK VIGNOLA
Just Between Frets: Groovemasters Vol. 11 is the latest in our series of magical guitar duos, featuring the wonder from down under and twice GRAMMY nominated Tommy Emmanuel cgp and America's own Jazz sensation Frank Vignola.
SONGS:
1) Tenderly
2) Clouds
3) How High The Moon
medley:
4 )I've Got A Crush on You
5) Young at Heart
6) Swing 39/Swing 42
7) Sweet Dreams
8) Paper Moon
9) Django's Castle
10)Swing 09
11)Nature Boy
12) Just Us 4 All
March/April, 2010 Minor 7th.com
Tommy Emmanuel & Frank Vignola,
"Just Between Frets," Solid Air Records, 2009
This latest addition to Solid Air’s Groovemasters series pairs two more
acoustic
masters for consistently listenable and even surprising results. Tommy
Emmanuel
is among the higher echelon of today’s fingerstyle players, if not
positioned
squarely atop the heap. Frank Vignola has been a top jazz and pop
session player
since the 1990, having performed or recorded with Les Paul, Ringo Starr,
Joey
DeFrancesco, David Grisman, Mark O'Connor, and many others. Emmanuel
mainly
performs solo, while Vignola almost always plays in groups (he’s
released one
solo guitar CD, the excellent "Blues for a Gypsy"). This CD places them
in a trio
context, rounded out by Gary Mazzaroppi, longtime bassist for pianist
Marian
McPartland and veteran of Vignola’s tenure with Les Paul. Most of the
selections
are swing-era standards, with a few more recent jazz and popular numbers
and two
originals thrown in. In a depature for him, Emmanuel employs a flatpick
to trade
rhythm and lead with Vignola, who is in familiar territory here.
Highlights
include "How High the Moon," "Swing 39/Swing 42," "Paper Moon," and the
country
standard, "Sweet Dreams." Each tune features extended solo spots for
Emmanuel
and Vignola, although the sparks really fly when they trade fours and
improvise
concurrently, as on "How High the Moon" and "Paper Moon." Though I’ve
heard
Mazzaroppi stretch out more when playing with Marian McPartland, he
takes two
hot bass solos during the proceedings and otherwise holds down the
bottom end
with his usual skill. Other favorites include "Django’s Castle" (which
Vignola
recorded as a solo on Blues for a Gypsy) and an understated "Nature
Boy."
Emmanuel and Vignola explore key changes and dynamic shifts on the
blues, "Just
us 4 All," which serves as an encore. Like all Groovemasters CDs, this
one is
fun and full of great music.
©
Patrick Ragains
Tommy Emmanuel and Frank Vignola, Groovemasters Vol. 11: Just Between Frets
By Doug Young ACOUSTIC GUITAR MAGAZINE july 2010 |
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The 11th in the Groovemasters series pairs
two world-class guitarists associated with different styles, fingerstyle
virtuoso Tommy Emmanuel and jazz monster Frank Vignola. Supported by
bassist Gary Mazzaroppi, the pair romps through 12 tunes, mostly
swing-style jazz. The album begins with one of Emmanuel’s trademark
harmonic flourishes before morphing into the ballad “Tenderly,” with
Emmanuel initially flatpicking the melody. Throughout the dozen songs,
the guitarists take turns accompanying each other, playing melodies,
soloing, and harmonizing. Each guitarist brings a distinctive voice to
the recording, yet they blend seamlessly, always tastefully
complementing each other. Emmanuel fans may be surprised to hear the
fingerstylist stretching out in jazz improvisations, trading blazing
licks with Vignola, and providing driving rhythm-guitar accompaniment,
but he sounds perfectly at home, and his virtuosity, energy, and sense
of humor and joy is immediately recognizable. Beautifully recorded, Just Between Frets also maintains a casual and spontaneous feel that includes the two
guitarists bantering back and forth as they play. The performances sound
effortless even during displays of amazingly virtuosity, with solos
that remain melodic even at breakneck speed. Just Between Frets provides guitarists with valuable lessons on playing together, as well
as a host of melodic, tastefully flashy licks to study. (Solid Air, SolidAirRecords.com) |
FINGERSTYLE GUITAR MAGAZINE...CDs
Tommy Emmanuel / Frank Vignola
Just Between Frets
Whoa! What a record! Just Between Frets has all the elements that great music should have – passion, dynamics, beautiful phrasing, tone, and sensitive accompaniment. It is simply one of the best records we have heard in some time. It is even more impressive because it was recorded in just two afternoon sessions and, as Tommy said, “…. no fix-ups, no tricks, just honest playing.”
Tommy and Frank have put together a collection of, mostly, standards: “Tenderly, “ How High The Moon,” “I’ve Got a Crush On You,” “Young At Heart,” “Paper Moon,” “Django’s Castle,” and six others which harkens back to the days of romance and swing. “Tenderly,” and “Nature Boy” are two standouts. They are played in perfect tempo and with great emotion.
Beautifully recorded and beautifully played, a true gem.
Tommy and Frank, you have done a very good thing. Thanks for the reminder of what music can be.
....Bill Piburn/ Fingerstyle Guitar Editor
| Artist: |
Tommy Emmanuel |
| Product Type: |
AMR CDs |
| Item #: |
SACD2090 |
| Price: |
$15.99 |
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