Jersey Guitar Mafia Alert!

Here's a chance for those living in the New York metropolitan area to see a live performance by four guitar greats playing their musical heritage at a New Jersey Italian restaurant. Too bad James Gandolfini passed away because I bet he'd be there.

The only born, lived and died in New Jersey veteran guitar great missing here is the late Tony Mottola, whose Command label guitar records will be familiar to older audio geeks. He passed away in 2004.

But look who is here: starting with the great Bucky Pizzarelli, native of Paterson, NJ and now 87 and still regularly gigging. Also, Les Paul's friend and trio member Lou Pallo, Frank Vignola, who is both too young for this and actually lives in New York State, but he is Italian, and Al Caiola who will be 93 a few days after the gig. Gary M. will not be there.

Yes they will be playing an evening of Italian favorites, not jazz, but the venue is an Italian restaurant owned by the bread making Calandra family, so it's Italian music played by Italians in a Joisey Italian restaurant. So it could turn into a sing along and it's unclear which will be more entertaining: the stage act or the audience!

The date is Thursday, Sept. 5th. The time is 7;30-9:15PM. The cost is $20 per person for the entertainment plus whatever you want to eat. For reservations and info call (973) 575-6500.

Am I going? Fugetaboutit! Of course! And I'm not even Italian (but I secretly always wanted to be). So maybe I'll see you there.

COMMENTS
Paul Boudreau's picture

I saw Joe Venuti & Bucky Pizzarelli at Caffe Lena's in Saratoga Springs, NY, in 1975 or thereabouts.  It was so cool!  It's great to see that Bucky is still playing out, sometimes with his kid.

Paul Boudreau's picture

where exactly is this?  NYC?  Also as far as I know, those guys aren't Italian but American.  There's a difference.

Michael Fremer's picture

It's an Italian rest...I mean an Italian-American restaurant in Fairfield, NJ. Yes, of course they are Italian-Americans but keeping in the kitschy spirit of the event (they are also most certainly not Mafioso!) I called them just plain Italianos.

Superfuzz's picture

Al Caiola put out some nice solo records too... a popular studio player, probably on a thousand records. For a nice record with Caiola and Tony Mattola, check out "Open Fire, Two Guitars" by Johnny Mathis. Original 6-eye stereo, preferably.  Audiophilia, and awesome vocal performance.

Michael Fremer's picture

Yes, that is the sole Mathis LP in my collection. Your "review" is "spot-on"!

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