Home » Jazz Articles » New York Beat » John Pizzarelli Soars at Birdland

3

John Pizzarelli Soars at Birdland

By

Sign in to view read count
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 many formats throughout his career. Initially, he patterned his drummerless trio (featuring his bassist brother Martin) on the structure of Nat King Cole and his heavy swinging established a notable trademark. Presently, he also appears annually with wife/vocalist Jessica Molaskey at the Carlyle Hotel each fall unveiling new interpretations of the sophisticated cabaret opuses of yore. His solo CDs reveal yet another dimension of his wide-ranging talent (his Christmas CD featuring famed arrangers i.e. Don Sebesky is a must for holiday listeners).

On September 11 eve his most epical group the Swing Seven took center stage and uncorked its bevy of improvisational wizards. Weaving their way through more glowing Sebesky arrangements of Gershwin, Cahn & Van Husen, and Hamilton & Lewis compositions, the band complemented Pizzarelli's pyrotechnic scatting and hip phrasing with veteran aplomb.

Inspired soloing from saxophonists Andy Fusco and Kenny Berger, trombonist John Mosca, and pianist Konrad Paszkudzki led the cavalcade late into the night and had the audience screaming for more. Pizzarelli gratefully delivered.

Recent Pizzarelli CDs featuring tributes to legends as diverse as Johnny Mercer and The Beatles reflect the incalculable Pizzarelli repertoire. Fans who didn't catch the Birdland bash, will be amply assuaged listening to these offerings.

Comments

Tags

Concerts

Jun 27 Thu

For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.
View events near New York City
Jazz Near New York City
Events Guide | Venue Guide | Local Businesses | More...

More

Jazz article: Eric Reed Quartet at Smoke
Jazz article: Voices of Mississippi at Jazz at Lincoln Center
Jazz article: The Mingus Big Band at The Django

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.