- By Bill Doyle
- Introduction by Tom Wheeler "This is the story of a rich life, of artfully rendered wood, of beautiful design, and of shared music. Here you will meet this engaging craftsman, along with his wife and partner Cindy. Youšll see instruments of stunning beauty, and hear performances by distinguished jazz artists who would play nothing less than a Benedetto guitar." (from the Introduction)
Robert Benedetto's story is a man surrounded by family and friends steeped in the traditions of his Italian-American heritage...You'll be introduced to Michael Benedetto (Uncle Mike to his family and friends) who shares stories of his own childhood and those of his nephew- one who, in the end, will make you realize that Bob's destiny was probably handcarved itself almost from the day he was born...His father, Sam, a professional cabinetmaker, instilled a respect and admiration for all things wood...In a time when books, courses, DVDs, the Internet and supplies are now everywhere, it is difficult to imagine that a pressure cooker, a home-made knife, a pair of boots, a kitchen table and a bed all played a role in the first Benedetto guitar. Early on, players of the caliber of Bucky Pizzarelli, Johnny Smith, Joe Diorio, Cal Collins, Ron Eschete and Chuck Wayne were joined by Howard Alden, Jimmy Bruno, Frank Vignola, Jack Wilkins, John Pizzarelli, Martin Taylor, Kenny Burrell and dozens of others to create a select group known as The Benedetto Players...You will hear from friends, historians, authors and players who will expound, and revel in, all things Benedetto.
The Making of Anima e Corpo and The Signatures of Anima e Corpo
Literally translated in Italian as "Body and Soul," Anima e Corpo began as a tribute to its inspiration, the 1995 recording of the Concord Jazz Guitar Collective, namely Howard Alden, Jimmy Bruno and Frank Vignola. I approached Bob about having these artists sign the inside of a guitar back before construction, and it became a six-year quest to obtain the signatures - the metaphoric souls - of the world's greatest jazz guitarists. When the counting stopped, there were eighty signatures, a lifetime of memories and the confirmation that Bob Benedetto was the only person that could have pulled off a project of this magnitude. As a special treat, Jimmy Bruno plays his rendition of Body and Soul at the end of this section (thank you, Jimmy).
Jam Sessions/Performances
Very often, new and returning customers would come to Bob and Cindy's house to talk, eat and, of course, play their new guitars. Thankfully, Cindy videotaped many of these in the early 90s and you can now witness well-known players with often their first Benedetto (and even one playing his first 7-string). You'll hear some mistakes and even a baby crying, but you'll be fascinated by the intimacy of the setting. In April of 2000, a Benedetto Players Concert was held on Long Island, New York. On stage that evening were Howard Alden, Jack Wilkins and Frank Vignola. Enjoy a front-row seat and the magic of their musical interplay during a nine-minute version of Straight, No Chaser. You'll also hear Frank Vignola in 2002 on his new Benedetto; he'll flawlessly play a beautiful selfpenned composition entitled Gypsy Dreams. Incredibly, it was recorded after an interview, in one take and with no warmup.
More Benedetto Players
A small photo gallery sampling of the hundreds who own a Benedetto.
Behind The Scenes
Just some of my observations on a side of Bob you don't always see, and what it means to become part of the Benedetto family.
PM Magazine
A national television program from 1980 featured the work of a young Florida-based luthier (can you guess who?). Don't miss the quick shot of a teenaged John Pizzarelli, and Bob attempting to hide his amusement when the producers wanted a shot of him tapping on a log of maple. As usual, Bucky's mastery of the guitar is evident.
Selected Stories
You'll learn about the origins of a few of Bob's guitars, including Jim Fisch's homage to the Gibson L-5, the detail of landscape architect Skot Koenig's instrument (Skot is responsible for the breathtaking accuracy of the Benedetto archtop blueprints), Bob's whimsical side in creating the Pizzar and an early 7-string guitar built for New York studio guitarist Bill Suyker.
Bloopers
What more can you say? You can imagine my surprise when I viewed some footage of guitar construction and was greeted by an elaborate production starring a "mini Bob" doll (aptly named Benny).
DVD-ROM
For those I can only affectionately refer to as "Benedetto geeks," this should satisfy your cravings. A 360° virtual reality tour of Bob's Pennsylvania workshop, price lists from 1975 (don't you wish you had placed an order?) and a copy of Bob's actual log book containing the serial numbers, names and construction details for all of Bob's archtops through 2003. Access to these files is only available through a personal computer containing the appropriate Internet browser software and QuickTime. (QuickTime is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.)
Testimonials
"What impressed me most was the sincere love and respect friends emitted. Kudos to all! The quality, both video and sound, editing and overall look is superb. Do I see an Oscar in the future with Bill's name on it?" Jim Fisch, Author of Epiphone: The House of Stathopoulo
"Dear Bill, I have to commend you...You truly managed to weave Bob's personal and professional sides into a show that flowed extremely well. You also had the ability to put those in front of the camera at ease to just open up and speak their hearts. Bob appeared as he really is...a gentle and kind human being. Also, I have to laugh, Bob's story about Kenny Burrell showed the funny side of Bob that comes out when you least expect it. Thank You!!!!! Sincerely, Bob Miles www.milesofmusic.tv
