Mark O’Connor & Frank Vignola Play For Wynton Marsalis

Here’s Mark O’Connor and Frank Vignola in what I call one of the strangest moments on stage that I’ve seen in quite some time.

If you haven’t heard Mark O’Connor, well, you are in for a treat.

Frank Vignola is one of the finest Gypsy Jazz guitarists who has played a lot of shows with Mark and has done a lot to promote the Gypsy style of music in the USA.

So, there they go, Mark and Frank, playing Sweet Georgia Brown while famed jazz great Wynton Marsalis and band look on (notice some of Wynton’s facial expressions… priceless).

Mark and Frank go at it for quite some time…..  I just kept thinking… I know Wynton and his band can play this easy song- why are they just watching?

After a few rounds of the acoustic dudes, Wynton and company hit the top of it while Mark and Frank now become the stage spectators. The most obvious sound difference being the lumbering drums…..I guess it becomes quite apparent why they don’t allow that sort of instrument in gypsy jazz…

So after they are done you would think that it’s gonna be everyone together right?

WRONG… it’s back to Mark and Frank.. like a cold glass of ice water in your face.

You got to wonder who’s idea that was or… did Wynton Marsalis refuse to play with Mark and Frank? I know Mark… I don’t think he would do such a thing..

FYI: Have you ever heard fiddle & trumpet together? It’s not such a good combination, due to intonation issues.