Vignola and Raniolo are a jazz-based guitar team that are steeped in the classics but know no bounds when it comes to mixing and matching genres. As an arranger Vignola is brilliant in his unique takes on everything from “Beethoven’s Fifth” to Rimsky Korsakov’s “Scheherazade.” But their versions of indelible pop material like “Dust in the Wind” and “Eye of the Tiger” are also amazing and unexpected. As a lead acoustic guitarist Vignola embodies the soul of Django Reinhart as filtered through Les Paul or Wes Montgomery. Raniolo accompanies with tasty chord substitutions and spry rhythms. The result is an album liberally invested with charm, hairpin turns and highbrow musicianship that is delightful and entertaining. – Eric A. Harabadian
