Frank Vignola’s Birdland Guitar Trio features guitarist Pasquale Grasso at the Kate on May 28th

The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, “the Kate”, welcomes Frank Vignola’s Birdland Guitar Trio with special guest Pasquale Grasso on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at 7:30 pm. The incredibly versatile guitarist Frank Vignola teams up with rising jazz guitar star Pasquale Grasso to create a unique and intimate musical experience unlike any other.

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, John Lewis, Tommy Emmanuel, Lionel Hampton, 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. Currently, Vignola holds residency every Wednesday night at the world-famous Birdland Jazz Club Theatre in New York City.

Vignola has recorded over thirty CDs as a leader and has been a guest on hundreds of recordings. Vignola has recorded the critically acclaimed “Vignola Plays Gershwin” CD, and recorded 2 DVDs for Mel Bay Publications. He has also produced forty-two full-length video teaching courses for TrueFire.com, for all levels. His online One on One private lessons and online Jazz Studio continue to thrive, having reached thousands of jazz guitar enthusiasts throughout the globe.

See the Message Center below for Connecticut’s top events in May – Celebrate Connecticut with our latest local merch, perfect for showing your state pride!

Pasquale Grasso received the kind of endorsement most rising guitarists can only dream of, and then some. In his interview for “Vintage Guitar” magazine’s February 2016 cover story, Pat Metheny was asked to name younger musicians who’d impressed him. “The best guitar player I’ve heard in maybe my entire life is floating around now, Pasquale Grasso,” said the jazz-guitar icon and NEA Jazz Master.

As he’s done with many rising jazz stars, Metheny later invited Grasso over to his New York pad to jam and share some wisdom. He’s since become a generous presence in Grasso’s life, and his assessment of Grasso’s playing is—no surprise—spot-on.

Born in Italy and now based in New York City, the 37-year- old guitarist has developed an astounding technique and concept informed not by jazz guitarists so much as by bebop pioneers like Powell, Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie and the classical-guitar tradition. His unique innovative style is hypnotizing to watch as his nimble fingers appear to change the 6 guitar strings into 88 piano keys.

When not performing solo or with his trio, Grasso has been a frequent collaborator with vocalist Samara Joy. He was a special guest on several songs on Joy’s two-time Grammy award winning album Linger Awhile. Grasso has also graced prestigious stages worldwide including Montreal Jazz Festival, Newport Jazz Festival, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Monterey Jazz Festival and has appeared live on NBC’s Today Show.

Event details

Frank Vignola’s Birdland Guitar Trio
Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center • 300 Main St, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
May 28, 2025
Click here to purchase tickets.

Don’t miss

• ‘Be Like Blippi Tour’ to stop at Foxwoods this December
• 1960s Wilton ranch features 2-acre wooded lot and well-preserved interior layout, asks 1.09 million
• Jenna Bush Hager to headline 2026 Travelers Championship Signature Women’s Day

••••••• Message center – Connecticut savings and messages from our sponsors •••••••

May events at Fairfield Theatre Company

5/21 – Arrival from Sweden
5/22 – Als Fest
5/22 – Drayton Farley
5/23 – Pangea Worldbeat
5/27 – Suzy Bugguss
5/28 – Steve Forbert
5/29 – Adrenalize: Def Leppard Tribute
5/30 – Goodnight Moonshine

Click here for more information & order tickets.

May events at PeoplesBank Arena

5/24 – Journey, click here to purchase tickets
5/29 -Don Toliver, click here to purchase tickets
5/30 – LA Sparks vs Connecticut Sun, click here to purchase tickets

Connecticut Merch

Finding Connecticut’s patriotic merch celebrates state pride and American spirit, just in time for the lead-up to America 250. Featuring classic red, white, and blue style, the collection is a nod to where we’ve been and where we’re headed. As the nation prepares to mark 250 years in 2026, these pieces are an easy way to show pride in both Connecticut and the broader American story—past, present, and future.

Click here to shop

Your ad here

The Message Center on Finding Connecticut appears on every post across the site, giving your message maximum exposure to a statewide audience. Whether you’re promoting an event, business, product, or service, your message will be seen by thousands of engaged readers exploring Connecticut content every day. Placement runs monthly, making it an ideal option for consistent visibility without the need for daily management. With prominent positioning and a streamlined setup process, the Message Center offers an affordable, effective way to get your message in front of locals—right where they’re already paying attention. Reserve your spot today to get noticed. Click here for more information on Message Center ads. Click here for more advertising opportunities.

Gourmet Cookies

Indulge in Keksi gourmet cookies, featuring classic flavors such as chocolate chip and snickerdoodle, as well as new monthly creations. Made with the highest quality ingredients, each bite is a delicious treat. Perfect for any cookie lover!

Save on CBD!

My name is Jillian, and I am the editor here at Finding Connecticut. When I came across New England Hemp Farm a few years ago, I had recently had my ankle fused. New England Hemp Farm’s Sports Relief Rub and 500 MG Full Spectrum CBD Oil have helped with everyday and weather pain.

Finding quality products that can improve your day-to-day life can be tough, but with New England Hemp Farm, getting a good night’s sleep or relieving your pain and anxiety has never been easier. Plus, using our code Findingconnecticut35, you’ll save 35% on your first purchase. And don’t forget, returning customers can use code Findingconnecticut20 to save 20% on orders. Let us help you find relief and savings with New England Hemp Farm.

Products we use here at Finding Connecticut include Sports Relief Rub • 500 MG Full Spectrum CBD Oil • Pet Drops • Pet Treats

Let’s create with Victory Designs

Need help with your creative needs? Our team has 20+ years of experience with Adobe, Shopify, and WordPress, and we offer affordable graphic design and web services. Let Victory Designs assist you with bringing your ideas to life.

Connecticut business owners:
Are you a local business owner in Connecticut looking to boost your visibility and reach more customers? Look no further! Our platform provides a unique opportunity to showcase your business to an engaged audience of people who love and live in Connecticut. By partnering with us, you can reach potential customers who are actively seeking things to do, places to dine, and local merchants and service providers to support. Don’t miss out on this chance to grow your business and connect with the local community!

Connecticut with us!

Stay informed with daily news directly in your inbox! Our service is completely free, and we guarantee your privacy – your email and information will never be shared, traded, or sold.

Stay connected with us on social media

Facebook • Instagram • Threads • Tiktok • X • Newsbreak • Bluesky
Join our Reddit community

Share your Connecticut experiences with us by using #findingconnecticut on Instagram

Click here to return to Finding Connecticut’s home page

Don’t miss our reviews

Concert reviews • Restaurant reviews • Family restaurant reviews

Looking for the latest news by region, topic, and events

Foxwoods announces May lineup featuring comedy, country, and live music acts

ICYMI: Our top 5 most visited articles of the week

Frank Vignola’s Birdland Guitar Trio features guitarist Pasquale Grasso at the Kate on May 28th