The Frank & Joe Show
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The Frank & Joe Show

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Band Jazz Rock

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The best kept secret in music

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Discography

33 1/3- Hyena Records
66 2/3- Hyena Records
Submarine Bus- Venture Music Inc.

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Bio

Imagine if you will The Frank & Joe Show, an irresistible melting pot of musical dialects so seamlessly integrated as to create its own language. There’s gypsy swing crossed with breezy island grooves; the American high lonesome sound infused with modern jazz; classic pop standards filtered through acoustic roots improvisational the while propelled by delectable rhythms that would bring pause to 1970sÕ Latin rock bands like Santana and War. The songbook stretches from Cole Porter to a comic book hero’s theme song, The Doobie Brothers to Hoagy Carmichael, Gilbert O’Sullivan to Mozart. The sound has been coalescing every Sunday night at the New York City nightclub, Sweet Rhythm, and was captured in the studio by legendary record producer, Joel Dorn, for what will be the group’s debut album, 33 1/3.

The Frank & Joe Show is comprised of virtuoso guitarist Frank Vignola, master percussionist Joe Ascione, and their merry band of New York City music makers. They’ve been steadily building a devout fan base in the city with admirers hanging on Vignola’s every turn of phrase and Ascione’s continually morphing rhythmic nuances. They bring audiences to their feet with infectious rhythms like that of their signature songs, Mozart Jam and Tico, Tico. They put romance in the air with gorgeous renditions of standards including Stardust and Besame Mucho. They lead spontaneous sing-a-longs on classic pop fare such as Don’t Fence Me In.

On a recent Winter night at Sweet Rhythm, a packed house cared little about the sub zero temperatures outside because inside The Frank & Joe Show were warming their souls with a combination of song, humor, melody and musical virtuosity that is far too rare these days. The resounding musical energy generated by Frank & Joe is contagious, leaving no doubt as to why they’re considered one of the most exciting acoustic groups in all of music today.

What we’re doing is not a static process, it evolves with each performance. Frank and I have this real symbiosis from having played together for so long. To me it’s the definition of art because we’re constantly creating in the moment, explains Ascione. The vibe is joyous and uplifting. The music’s got to be a culmination of a great melody combined with a rhythmic openness that can be explored time and again.

it’s a cross between getting the best and most honest music out of Joe and myself. We feed off each other. Even though IÕm the lead voice on guitar, more often then not I consider myself the accompanist to the rhythm section. I don’t know anybody else who plays percussion the way Joe does, continues Vignola. For me personally, this is the first time I’ve been able to do what I do best. In addition to making virtuosic music, the other side of being a musician is to be truly entertaining no matter who's sitting in the audience. WeÕve got listeners from eighteen to eighty-eight. And it works because what is more honest then a couple
of guitars and couple of djembe drums?

A world class guitar player, Frank Vignola was born and raised in Long Island, New York. Inspired by family, many of whom were musicians, he was playing guitar by the age of six. Working professionally by 12, he
began doubling on the banjo, for which he was crowned the Grand National Banjo Champion of Canada at 13 years old. From early on his influences were diverse, ranging from Django Reinhardt, Joe Pass and Les Paul to Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen and Bach, all sources from which he still draws to this day. Over a 20-year career, he's recorded as a leader for a variety of labels including Concord, Nagel-Heyer and David Grisman's Acoustic Disc, while enjoying steady work as a sideman with the likes of Les Paul, Hank Jones and Mark O'Connor.

A dazzling polyrhythmic percussionist, Joe Ascione was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. Also the product of a musical family, it was clear that the drums were in his future when he was keeping time on his motherÕs
pots and pans by the age of four. Counting Gene Krupa, Jo Jones and Buddy Rich among his greatest influences (having served as a roadie for the latter in his teenage years), Ascione has toured the world and
appeared on over 60 albums as a sideman, in the process becoming one of the most in-demand drummers in the business. As a leader, he's recorded two critically acclaimed albums, Post No Bills and My Buddy (A Tribute To Buddy Rich).

Frank and Joe first met at a gig circa 1989 in Long Island. They immediately struck a friendship and it was only a matter of weeks before Vignola invited Ascione to fill in for his regular drummer on an upcoming
gig. Awed by Ascione's rhythmic prowess, it was only a few more weeks before Vignola dismissed his full time drummer and added Joe to the fold permanently. The two have been working and touring together ever since.