Frank Vignola is one of the most extraordinary guitarists performing before the public today. His stunning virtuosity has made him the guitarist of choice for many of the world’s top musicians, including Ringo Starr, Madonna, Donald Fagen, Lionel Hampton, Tommy Emmanuel, John Lewis, the Boston Pops, the New York Pops, and guitar legend Les Paul, who named Vignola to his “Five Most Admired Guitarists List” for the Wall Street Journal. In 2020, Frank introduced the Big Jersey Guitar Club offering multiple formats for studying guitar with him online including 10-week Learning Clubs™, and Let’s Practice Sessions, plus Song Intensives and Methods.

Jimmy Bruno, born July 22, 1953 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a master jazz guitarist and jazz educator. Born into a musical family, Jimmy's father played guitar on the 1959 hit "Guitar Boogie Shuffle" with Frank Virtue. Jimmy's mom was a gifted singer.

Living in such a musical household, playing guitar eight to ten hours a day was normal for this south Philly kid. He studied jazz improvisation with local Philly bass legend Al Stauffer and to develop technique, taught himself to play the rigorous and exacting classical violin etudes of Wohlfahrt and Paganini. Although he briefly considered leveraging his perfect SAT scores into medical school, a summer guitar gig in Wildwood NJ changed the direction of Jimmy's life forever, putting him into the path of Buddy Rich.

After a whirlwind round-the-world tour as the youngest member of the Buddy Rich Orchestra, he went on to play guitar in orchestras for Frank Sinatra, Anthony Newley, Doc Severinsen, Lena Horne, and many more music icons. Additionally, he spent many years as an LA session musician working with Tommy Tedesco.

In 1992 he was discovered by Carl Jefferson, the founder of Concord Records and landed a multi-CD recording deal. Since then, Jimmy has recorded over 13 critically acclaimed CDs, including "Sleight of Hand," "Like That," and "Polarity" (with Joe Beck). His most recent CD "Maplewood Avenue" (Affiliated Artists Records) has been described as having "...a 'classic' feel to it... like a famous album we somehow hadn't discovered yet," and was honored by being selected as one of the top CDs of 2008 by Downbeat magazine.

In recognition of his prodigious talents, Jimmy has been invited to play at major music festivals around the world, including the JVC, Berks, Vail, and Concord Jazz Festivals, and a whirlwind stop at the Pescara Jazz Festival in Pescara, Italy. Over the years, he has shared the stage with a who's who of legendary and highly regarded musicians: Joe Beck, Bobby Watson, Jack Wilkins, Tal Farlow (at Farlow's 75th Birthday Concert), Howard Alden, Christian McBride, Kurt Elling and many more. When a tribute concert was planned for Barney Kessel, Jimmy was one of an invited group of 30 guitarists chosen to perform and was honored to open the tribute (with Howard Alden). He has also participated in tributes to jazz giants Kenny Burrell, Herb Ellis and Johnny Smith.

“Bruno... Maaaan! —George Benson

Bassist Gary Mazzaroppi is a veteran virtuoso who enjoyed a long-running association with the late great guitar innovator and raconteur Les Paul. Mazzaroppi has accompanied jazz giants from across the spectrum, ranging from vintage greats Lionel Hampton and Clark Terry, Marian McPartland, Red Norvo & Stan Getz, to fusionists Bela Fleck and Chuck Mangione, and, even Willie Nelson, in his songbook excursions. In addition to his busy playing career, Gary is also in the faculty of the Brookdale Community College School of Music, in Lincroft, NJ

Ken Smith was born in Florida, USA and grew up in New Jersey and Abu Dhabi. Ken’s musical education includes a B.M. in Performance from Arizona State University. While living in Arizona, Ken worked as a soloist and ensemble member, playing everything from solo classical guitar to theater productions. Ken also began teaching the guitar at this time, creating a unique approach to applying the language of jazz to the fretboard. Since moving to New York City in 1997, Ken has performed and toured in the US, Asia and Europe, as a side man and leader. Ken is a member of Frank Vignola’s Birdland Guitar Band. Ken is currently developing a suite of educational products that document his unique approach to teaching jazz guitar.