Jazz guitarist to perform at ECC

Submitted by ECC

Frank Vignola will grace the stage of Elgin Community College Arts Center with his jazz guitar on Friday, March 15, and Saturday, March 16. He will be joined for this performance by fellow guitarist Vinny Raniolo. Both performances will begin at 8 p.m. at the SecondSpace Theater in Building H, the ECC Arts Center, on the Spartan Drive Campus, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin.

Vignola’s virtuosity at the guitar has made him an in-demand performer for many of the world’s top musicians, including Tommy Emmanuel, Madonna, Donald Fagen, Wynton Marsalis, the Boston Pops, the New York Pops, and guitar legend Les Paul. He picked up the guitar at age 6 and by age 27, he had signed with Concord Jazz and recorded his first Concord session as a leader, Appel Direct.

In addition to his work with Concord, Vignola also recorded three releases for the Telarc label as co-leader of the group Travelin’ Light. The early 2000s found him recording a solo guitar CD for Acoustic Disc as well as performing regularly with Les Paul, who named Vignola one of his five most admired guitarists.

Vignola is also a teacher of the guitar, having written 18 instruction books and recorded six educational DVDs. He has performed hundreds of clinics and master classes at major universities and colleges throughout the world including Julliard and Boston University.

Tickets for the performance are $22 for March 15 and $25 for March 16.

Tickets are available online at tickets.elgin.edu or at the ECC box office located in the Arts Center. Box office hours are noon to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and noon to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.