Jazz Articles about John Pizzarelli

John Pizzarelli: For Centennial Reasons: 100 Year Salute To Nat King Cole

by Dan Bilawsky
July 30, 2019

John Pizzarelli's fondness for the work of Nat King Cole isn't exactly a secret. He delivered two full-length tribute albums to that most-revered of figures during the '90s—Dear Mr. Cole (Novus, 1994) and P.S. Mr. Cole (RCA, 1999) —and he's continued to sing Cole's praises in the intervening years. Now, with the great pianist-vocalist's centennial upon us, Pizzarelli had good reason to produce this third salute, a pleasingly mature set honoring one of his prime influences and chief inspirations.

Savannah Music Festival 2019

by Martin Longley
May 12, 2019

Savannah Music Festival Savannah, GA March 28-April 2, 2019 The opening day of this 30th edition of the Savannah Music Festival featured a pronounced bombardment of diverse artists, tearing apart the motor controls of the driven sonic obsessive. If a pair of ears lends equal attention to Louisiana zydeco, Saharan desert trance and bluegrass acoustic harmonising, then this Thursday evening abundance was gonna cause serious clashing conflicts. Where to be, without missing much of ...

John Pizzarelli: Sinatra & Jobim @ 50

by C. Michael Bailey
August 30, 2017

The year 1967...the “Summer of Love," the Monterey Pop Festival, the release of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely-Hearts Club Band, Their Satanic Majesties Request, and Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits. At the other end of the popular music spectrum, the beautifully square end, was the release of Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim (Reprise), the recording that, with the Stan Getz/João Gilberto recordings of the period would justify and substantiate Bossa Nova in the American Musical Lexicon. Guitarist and singer John Pizzarelli ...

John Pizzarelli Celebrates Sinatra-Jobim

by Nick Catalano
July 21, 2017

A few readers may recall a triumphant 1967 recording with Frank Sinatra singing and performing alongside legendary composer Antonio Carlos Jobim. The album, with arrangements by master arranger Claus Ogerman globally transported Brazilian music into stratospheric heights where it remains to the present day. To celebrate the album's semicentennial anniversary world-renowned singer/ guitarist John Pizzarelli is set to release Sinatra & Jobim @ 50. Performing with Pizzarelli is Jobim's grandson Daniel Jobim. The two have previously worked together ...

John Pizzarelli Soars at Birdland

by Nick Catalano
September 16, 2016

Wowing a late night crowd of worshipful fans at a packed Birdland, John Pizzarelli showcased his guitar mastery, vocal excitement, and hilarious patter this past Saturday night. Accompanied by his Swing Seven band of jazz all-stars, the scion of the famed New Jersey Pizzarelli clan (guitarist father Bucky will celebrate his 90th birthday this week at the Jazz Gallery) continued his world-renown jazz parade with a set featuring the work of legendary composers. Pizzarelli has performed in ...

John Pizzarelli and Tessa Souter: Classical Mashups

by C. Michael Bailey
May 21, 2012

The improvisatory nature of jazz provides a myriad of ways to enhance and tweak both the arrangement and performance of the music's canon. One approach being tried is the interpolation of one harmonically or rhythmically related song into another. Guitarist/vocalist John Pizzarelli and vocalist Tessa Souter have produced just such projects in their recordingsDouble Exposure and Beyond the Blue. This is intelligent and compelling music making. John PizzarelliDouble ExposureTelarc Records2012

Pizzarelli / Ellington: Rockin' In Rhythm

by Nick Catalano
April 24, 2010

John Pizzarelli unveiled the contents of his new Telarc CD John Pizzarelli Rockin' In Rhythm: A Tribute to Duke Ellington at Birdland recently and the result was a musical explosion. It is easy to become bored with the plethora of “tribute" CDs issued almost every week these days, but this effort is truly something special.

From the moment Pizzarelli ascended the bandstand with his “Swing Seven" cohorts the room began rocking. Not only were patrons finger popping and foot stomping ...