VOA标准英语2010年-Guitar Virtuoso Frank Vignola Pays Tri

Doug Levine | Washington 29 March 2010

January 23 marked the 100th birthday of the influential¹ jazz guitarist and composer Django Reinhardt.  Today, more than 50 years after his death, musicians are still paying tribute to the man who elevated the guitar to a solo instrument.  The latest tribute is by guitar virtuoso² Frank Vignola. 

Belgian-born gypsy Django Reinhardt is best-known as the co-founder of the world-famous Quintet of the Hot Club of France in the 1930s.  It's been described as "one of the most original bands in the history of recorded jazz."  Reinhardt's unique guitar playing certainly made a lasting³ impression on his many followers⁴, including some of the top guitarists from rock, blues⁵ and jazz. 

Frank Vignola, 44, began playing Reinhardt's music soon after learning to play guitar in his native Long, Island, New York.  His first tribute to the Hot Club Of France in 1988 prompted the New York Times to call him one of the Top 10 acts of the year, and inspired others to record albums dedicated⁶ to the music of Reinhardt's all-string quintet.

While the title of Vignola's new album "100 Years Of Django" refers to Django Reinhardt's birth centennial, it also represents the nearly 100 songs written by the guitarist during his 20 years of recording⁷.  Among them, is "Swing 49."   

Frank Vignola and his Hot Club band take their Django Reinhardt celebration on the road this month, with tribute concerts at the Berks Jazz Festival in Pennsylvania and The Blue Note nightclub in New York City.  Later this year, Frank will appear at jazz festivals from Vermont to California, as well as concerts in Singapore and Europe.

 

1 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

2 virtuoso   

n.精于某种艺术或乐器的专家，行家里手

参考例句：

• He was gaining a reputation as a remarkable virtuoso.作为一位技艺非凡的大师，他声誉日隆。
• His father was a virtuoso horn player who belonged to the court orchestra.他的父亲是宫廷乐队中一个技巧精湛的圆号演奏家。

3 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

4 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

5 blues   

n.抑郁，沮丧；布鲁斯音乐

参考例句：

• She was in the back of a smoky bar singing the blues.她在烟雾弥漫的酒吧深处唱着布鲁斯歌曲。
• He was in the blues on account of his failure in business.他因事业失败而意志消沉。

6 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

7 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。