A Lively Evening on the Green!

The Branford Green was moving and shaking Thursday night during the fifth jazz concert of the summer, featuring renowned guitarists Vinny Raniola and Frank Vignola before another large crowd estimated at approximately1,000 people. 

“We wondered how just two performers would go over, but I think it’s safe to say it was very well received,” said Charlotte Mattei, an organizer and committee member said after the show. ​“The audience loved them.”

That was apparent during the evening by the crowd’s applause and the standing ovation the performers received after their last rendition and their encore.

The duo kept the audience tapping their feet throughout the night with such popular old tunes as ​“Cheek to Cheek,” ​“Tico Tico,” and ​“The Flight of the Bumble Bee.” They even did a ​“pumped up” version of ​“Beethoven’s 5th,” which the audience (and the kids) loved.

“It was fabulous,” said former Branford resident Donna Minotti, who was at the concert with her husband Eric and her parents. They were visiting from their home in Florida. ​“What a great night, perfect weather, seeing some old friends and great music. It’s nice to be back in Branford,” she said.

Also attending the concert were friends of Branfordites Alex and Jay Palluzzi, who were visiting from San Paulo, Brazil. They were pleased to hear the guitarists play the popular song ​“Malaguena.”

Both Raniola and Vignola were happy to see such a large turnout, both young and old, and thanked both the sponsors and committee several times.

A special treat midway through the concert took place when Frank brought up four guest guitarists to join him and Vinny as a sextet.

According to Charlotte Mattei, ​“One of the guys learned that Frank (who is a world-renowned jazz guitarist) was coming to our jazz series to perform and reached out to hire him to give them a master class. Frank is not only a fabulous performer, but also offers masters classes and is a sought-after instructor. Frank gave them the class prior to our concert on Friday afternoon, and then invited them to play with them on our stage.”

Other well-known songs played by the duo and enjoyed by all included, ​“Eye of the Tiger,” ​“Carolina in the Morning,” and ​“Killing Me Softly.”

The duo has played over 1,000 guitar concerts all over the world and added the Branford Jazz Series to that list on Thursday to the delight of many in attendance. Here they pose after the concert with jazz committee member Dr. Joe Cardinale, a fine amateur guitarist himself.

This Thursday evening, the jazz series will feature another guitarist, Mark Marshak, who will welcome the audience to ​“the Smooth Jazz Ride.”

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