The Watchung Arts Center Welcomes the Ed Laub, Frank Vignola and Martin Pizzarelli Trio

Guitarist Ed Laub, who appeared at the Watchung Arts Center in 2014 and 2015 with jazz guitar legend, Bucky Pizzarelli, will perform with internationally renowned guitarist, Frank Vignola, along with Bucky’s son, bassist Martin Pizzarelli. This outstanding concert on May 7 will begin at 8 PM and will be followed by a dessert reception and an opportunity to meet the performers.

Ed Laub is a locally acclaimed guitarist and vocalist whose style has been compared to a blend of Kenny Rankin, Chet Baker and James Taylor and a guitar style similar to his mentor Bucky Pizzarelli. Ed says, “That’s not bad company to be associated with. They were among the artists to whom I listened to and was most influenced by. I guess I would say I am honored with that comparison”

Because of Ed’s talent as an accompanist and the fact that he is one of the more accomplished 7‑string guitarists, he is sought after by many of the top guitarists in the NYC metropolitan area to back them up and adds a pianistic style that makes a duo sound more like a trio. Focusing mostly on the American Songbook genre Ed also loves to perform the great Brazilian classics using a nylon 7‑string guitar.

Born in northern Bergen County, New Jersey in 1952, Ed grew up in a family of musicians; his uncle was an accomplished organist/arranger who spent many years with Mitch Miller and the Fred Waring.

In 1966 Ed had the good fortune of studying with a marvelous guitarist and banjoist, Bobby Domenic (uncle to Bucky Pizzarelli) and, a few years later in 1969, studying the 7‑string guitar with Bucky. Ed graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a degree in music and business and maintained a dual career in both his family business and as a musician in a variety of bands.

Ed has performed as part of a duo with Bucky Pizzarelli for over 14 years and has played with the likes of Gene Bertoncini, Howard Alden, Paul Meyers, Jack Wilkins, Russell Malone and pianist Russ Kassoff, in addition to previous concerts with both Frank Vignola and Martin Pizzarelli. Ed also had the privilege of several guest appearances with his idol, the late Kenny Rankin.

Frank Vignola, born December 30th, 1965, is one of the most extraordinary guitarists performing before the public today. His stunning virtuosity has made him the guitarist of choice for many of the world’s top musicians, including Ringo Starr, Madonna, Donald Fagen, Wynton Marsalis, Tommy Emmanuel, the Boston Pops, the New York Pops, and guitar legend Les Paul, who named Vignola to his “Five Most Admired Guitarists List” for the Wall Street Journal. Vignola’s jaw-dropping technique explains why the New York Times deemed him “one of the brightest stars of the guitar”.

With over 1000 engagements in the last five years alone, Frank Vignola has become one of the most popular and sought after guitarists on the international music scene. His dynamic genre-spanning music has brought him to 14 countries on three continents, performing in some of the world’s most illustrious venues, including the Sydney Opera House in Australia, Carnegie Hall, The Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, New York’s Lincoln Center and the world’s oldest indoor concert hall, Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza, Italy.

Often featured on National Public Radio, Frank Vignola has also become a familiar figure on Public Television, featured previously on three popular shows, including the heavily programmed Tommy Emmanuel and Friends. His PBS special with Vinnie Raniola, “Four Generations of Guitar” produced by Peter Berkow, premiered in the 2015 season as part of a 13‑episode series “Music Gone Public”, where they were joined by special guests, Bucky Pizzarelli, Joe Craven and Tommy Emmanuel.

Vignola has written over 18 music books for Mel Bay Publications. He has also produced 8 full length video teaching courses for Truefire.com. His on-line lesson and workshop courses have had over 137 enrolled students in the last 2 years. He continues to conduct clinics, master classes and workshops at Music Universities all over the world including Julliard and Boston University.

Martin Pizzarelli is a renowned double bassist known for his work with his father, Bucky Pizzarelli, and brother, guitarist and singer John Pizzarelli. He grew up in Saddle River, NJ, where at a young age he became accustomed to weekly visits from Benny Goodman, Teddy Wilson, Zoot Sims, Clark Terry, Sonny Stitt and Ray Brown. Martin, along with his brother and pianist Ray Kennedy, famously opened for Frank Sinatra’s world tour in 1993. Since then he has maintained a remarkable tour schedule of roughly 200 dates per year throughout all corners of the globe. His appearances include television shows hosted by Jay Leno, David Letterman and Conan O’Brien, venues ranging from Carnegie Hall to the Blue Note Jazz Club, and work with the Boston Pops, New York Pops, San Diego Symphony, Dallas Symphony and New Jersey Symphony orchestras. Martin has also worked often with jazz pianist Monty Alexander and Daniel Jobim, the grandson of Antonio Carlos Jobim. In 2004, he released and recorded his own trio CD with Bucky Pizzarelli and Ray Kennedy, and has appeared as a sideman on over 30 albums.

All tickets for this performance are $25. It is highly recommended that tickets be purchased in advance at watchungartscenter.eventbrite.com. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Watchung Arts Center, or by mail (include an email address or phone number with mailed purchases).

The Watchung Arts Center, located at 18 Stirling Road in Watchung on the Watchung Circle, is a multi-disciplinary arts facility serving Watchung, the surrounding communities and the Tri-State Area. To obtain more information about upcoming performances, classes and workshops, and monthly art exhibitions, please visit WatchungArts.org or call 908-753-0190.

Photo captions: (1) Ed Laub, (2) Frank Vignola, (3) Martin Pizzarelli