What's your music pleasure? UCCPA's got it

UNITY (Dec 9): Three diverse recording acts are slated to perform during December at the Unity College Centre for the Performing Arts.

Frank Vignola Quintet
Friday, Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m.

The Frank Vignola Quintet has shattered the barriers between popular music and traditional jazz to create an exciting new sound in acoustic string music. Mixing high-energy original material with new unique renditions of contemporary tunes by the likes of The Police, Frank Zappa, Black Sabbath and Slayer, the quintet also taps into the standard songbook, creating unique interpretations of classic jazz tunes.

Frank Vignola

Vignola and the band also tackle new arrangements of Bach and Mozart. It's a melding of contemporary gypsy jazz, bluegrass, toe-tapping swing, blues and acoustic rock, and great renditions of old standards. Vignola is one of the most accomplished, multi-dimensional players walking the planet. Monster player, composer and improviser, he plays proficiently in every genre, from jazz to bluegrass, and works with everyone and their brother. Other members of the quintet are Vinny Raniolo on guitar, violinist Aaron Weinstein, Pete Coco on bass, and percussionist Rich Zukor.

"How versatile is Frank Vignola? He's collaborated with Lionel Hampton and Madonna, covers Mozart and Black Sabbath on the same record, and is one of Les Paul's favorite guitarists."
— Joan Anderman, Boston Globe

Tickets are $15.

Roy Davis and the Dregs, plus Tree by Leaf
Saturday, Dec. 20, 7:30 p.m.

Roy Davis

The sound of Roy Davis and the Dregs is Americana Pop-Rock at its best, shifting easily from country shuffles to heartbreaking ballads to two-step sing-a-longs. Think Bruce Springsteen's flair for simple poetry meets Neil Young & Crazy Horse after three beers. Add the modern touch of the Jayhawks' vocal harmonies, subtract any lyrics about churning butter or shotgun weddings and you get the picture.

Tree by Leaf

Tree by Leaf is the unique synergy and musicianship of Garrett Soucy, whose songwriting taps at the pulse of the soul of human experience, but never dips into journal-entry pathos, Cliff Young, whose keyboards slide from roaring command to a mere hum of electricity, and Siiri Soucy, whose voice could draw a heart right out of its body. Eric Sanders adds the primal rhythm to the new TBL sound.

Influences as divergent as a childhood steeped in church music, hip hop, rap, and the classical education that Cliff Young and Siiri Soucy brought to the band, turned Garrett's ear for melody and undeniable writing talent into something extraordinary.

Tickets are $7.

The Unity College Centre for the Performing Arts is at 42 Depot St. Tickets are available online at unitymaine.org/theater/; at Music Gallery, Waterville; Crosstrax Restaurant, Unity; Cobbossee Coffee, Hallowell; Java Joe’s, Augusta; Old Mill Pub, Skowhegan; 948-SHOW: or unitymaine.org.

For more information, contact John Sullivan, at (207) 948-SHOW or jsullivan@unity.edu.