Morristown Jazz Festival Trio To Honor Late Guitarist

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Frank Vignola compares returning to the Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival to coming home to family. But Saturday's festival will have some missing faces.

This year's event will honor Linda Smith and Michael Fabrizio — two figures instrumental in putting together past jazz festivals. And then there's Bucky Pizzarelli, a jazz guitarist and festival favorite who died in April 2020 from COVID-19 at age 94.

Pizzarelli wasn't just a friend to Vignola but a fellow performer. The two played clubs and concert halls throughout the United States and Europe. So when The Frank Vignola Trio takes the stage in the 2-4 p.m. slot at the Morristown Jazz Festival, they may get the entire Morristown Green thinking about Bucky.

"He was always a professional, right on time, always looked great, always a smile on his face, always positive backstage," Vignola told Patch. "He was always kind of around — not in your face but always present."

Learn more about the Morristown Blues & Jazz Festival musicians, and enter for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate for the Morristown Partnership: Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival: The Insider's Guide

Vignola first heard Pizzarelli when he was a child, on a 1975 record called "Nightwings" that featured violinist Joe Venuti. He felt blown away, having never heard Pizzarelli's style of chordal guitar playing before.

Pizzarelli and Vignola met when the latter was about 19 years old. He saw Pizzarelli and his bass player, who he says must have been about 85. Without hesitation, Pizzarelli ran over to the bassist's car and carried his amp onto the stage.

"I realized this guy is not only an iconic guitar player but an amazing human being," Vignola said.

Vignola started Arizona State University's jazz guitar department in the mid-1990s. Pizzarelli came out there to perform, and Vignola went to see him.

"Get your guitar," Pizzarelli told Vignola. "Play with me." And so they did.

A few months later, Vignola moved back to New York. Not long after, Pizzarelli called Vignola and asked him to perform a gig with him. From there, they shared some iconic performances, including Carnegie Hall with The New York Pops.

The Frank Vignola Trio — which features fellow guitarist Vinny Raniolo and Bucky's son, bassist Martin Pizzarelli — will start off with some tunes to honor the late musician. Then throughout the set, they'll play with several of Bucky's friends and fellow performers — violinist Aaron Weinstein and guitarists Gene Bertoncini and Ed Laub.

Although there will be missing faces, Vignola can't wait to perform.

"I consider it like a celebration," Vignola said. "We’ve done a few shows in the pandemic, and every one of them has felt like a celebratory situation."

Watch The Frank Vignola Trio perform below:

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