Frank Vignola - Blues for a Gypsy

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Free Music Notes for Blues for a Gypsy

Free Music Review: Brilliant example of solo guitar
Hit: 5 Stars

Vignola's playing is fresh and expressive, never cloying or trite. The CD starts with a gorgeous version of Donna Lee, starting with a rubato head then moving to a rhythmic improvisation. His arrangement is rich, full of lovely voice leading. He is otherwise a master of the solo guitar, never taking us along on a single-note line too long without returning to remind us of the underlying rhythm and chord structure. He also displays impressive technique, hard to imagine how he does it, but it's not ostentatious. However, although I enjoy Misty on this CD, this version does not really bring anything new to the table.

By The Fire is an odd 23-second piece with frantic full-chord strumming. Train Ride, another shorty at 48 seconds, has a pedal tone played as machine-gun 16th notes with strums punched in intermittently without missing a stroke. This is akin to juggling an egg and a bowling ball.

Another oddity--maybe a practical joke to see who's paying attention, I don't know--the final selection, Manoir de Mes Reves, is listed as 4:01, but the selection actually lasts 6:43. At 4:01, there is a pause of 51 seconds before the music resumes, this time a different song.

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