The Boothbay region’s best guitar player joined up with two of the nation’s best for a sidewalk jam session July 19.

Paul Johnson, the proprietor of The Red Cup Coffeehouse sat down with jazz stars Frank Vignola and Vinny Raniolo, and helped them serenade the passersby. (It was an impromptu free show, kind of like the one violinist Joshua Bell did in Washington, D.C. years ago when he played his Stradivarius on a subway platform.)

Lots of people walked by and smiled, but no one recognized the trio.

Vignola and Raniolo dazzled a crowded Opera House Thursday night playing standards like “Stardust,” to a jazz version of a Felix Mendelssohn violin concerto. The duo proved you don’t have to play extra loud to show off your chops and your sweet tones.

The evening was topped off with Rimsky-Korsakov's “Flight of the Bumble Bee," a piece that allowed the pair to demonstrate their flawless technique and lightning-like virtuosity.

In between the serious stuff, they mixed in a bit of show business “business” with walking dance steps, a goofy ballet pantomime and a stable of corny jokes.

Although they are ranked among the nation’s top jazz guitarists, they are more than performers. They are showmen.

“There are a lot of great navel gazing guitar players," Johnson said. "These guys are entertainers. They put on a show."

Thursday evening’s Opera House crowd must  have agreed with Johnson as they all stood and cheered at the end of that performance.

As Friday’s late morning clouds shaded the street, a harbor breeze cooled the two jazz all stars as they sat in red metal chairs sipping coffee as they invited Johnson to “sit in.”

The impromptu trio ran through a short jazz standard set that began with “Sweet Georgia Brown.”

As Vignola and Raniolo traded the lead on the various tunes, Vignola whispered the unfamiliar chord changes to Johnson.

After about a half hour, Vignola and Raniolo wrapped up the sidewalk session with a turbo-charged version of “Tico Tico,” featuring a set of dazzling close harmony arpeggios that left Johnson in the dust.

“You guys are out of my league. You are just great,” Johnson said.

As Vignola and Raniolo packed up their gear, the showmen posed for pictures with some of the sidewalk show audience members.

Then they loaded up a gray minivan and headed to Massachusetts for another show.

After the gig, Vignola said it was time for a break, and a chance to take his kids to a baseball game.

“We will be home in Queens tonight. We play 150 or more shows a year. The road gets old,” Vignola said.