Hear two world-renowned jazz guitar aces strum up excellence on the Judson’s Live stage. Versatile guitarist Frank Vignola and rising jazz guitar star Pasquale Grasso team up for an evening of straight-ahead jazz in our intimate music lounge.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Frank Vignola is one of the most popular and sought-after guitarists on the international music scene. His stunning virtuosity has made him the guitarist of choice for many of the world’s top musicians, including Ringo Starr, Madonna, Donald Fagen, John Lewis, Tommy Emmanuel, Lionel Hampton, the Boston Pops, the New York Pops and guitar legend Les Paul, who named Frank in his “Five Most Admired Guitarists List” for the Wall Street Journal. His dynamic genre-spanning music has brought him to 21 countries on three continents—and still growing—performing in some of the world’s most illustrious venues, including the Sydney Opera House, Carnegie Hall, The Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, New York’s Lincoln Center, The Blue Note and the world’s oldest indoor concert hall, Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza, Italy. Frank has recorded over 30 albums as a leader and has been a guest on hundreds of recordings. Currently, Frank holds residency every Wednesday night at the world-famous Birdland Jazz Club Theatre in New York City. “Frank Vignola’s Guitar Night” has featured some of the finest talent on the planet including Mike Stern, Pasquale Grasso, Peter Bernstein, Houston Person and more.

Born in Italy and now based in New York City, Pasquale Grasso has developed an astounding technique and concept informed not by jazz guitarists so much as by bebop pioneers like Powell, Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie and the classical-guitar tradition. His new digital-only EP series, available beginning in June from Sony Masterworks, showcases Pasquale in the solo-guitar format, where his intensive studies of both midcentury jazz and classical meld into a signature mastery that is, remarkably, at once unprecedented and evocative. In a 2016 interview for Vintage Guitar magazine, guitar legend Pat Metheny said of Pasquale Grasso: “The best guitar player I’ve heard in maybe my entire life is floating around now, Pasquale Grasso…He has somehow captured the essence of that language from piano onto guitar in a way that almost nobody has ever addressed. He’s the most significant new guy I’ve heard in many, many years.” When not performing solo or with his trio, Pasquale has been a frequent collaborator with vocalist Samara Joy. He was a special guest on several songs on Samara’s two-time Grammy award winning album Linger Awhile. Pasquale has also graced prestigious stages worldwide including Montreal Jazz Festival, Newport Jazz Festival, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Monterey Jazz Festival and has appeared live on NBC’s Today Show.

ABOUT JUDSON'S LIVE

Dr. Phillips Center’s intimate Judson’s Live offers legendary acoustics, unique atmosphere, and culinary excellence. Enjoy unmatched listening experiences with creative cocktails and shareable plates.

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Prices, shows, artists, dates and times are subject to change at any time without notice. The views and opinions expressed within this experience are those of the artist(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Dr. Phillips Center.