John Pizzarelli Captures The Legacy Of Nat King Cole ìLive At Birdlandî

2-SACD set celebrates the 10th anniversary of Pizzarelliís Trio

9-May-03

Jazz vocalist and guitarist John Pizzarelliís cool and classy live performances have earned him an army of fans who canít get enough of his hip, intelligent style. This specially priced 2-CD set, Live at Birdland, celebrates the 10th anniversary of the John Pizzarelli Trio (with brother Martin Pizzarelli on bass and Ray Kennedy on piano), one of the tightest ensembles around. Live at Birdland, recorded September 2002 at the famed New York jazz club, features two James Taylor tracks (ìMean Old Manî from October Road and ìDonít Let Me Be Lonely Tonightî). George and Ira Gershwinís ìThey Canít Take That Away From Meî and ìIsnít It a Pity,î Rodgers and Hartís ìManhattan,î a pair of Rosemary Clooney staples (ìMoonlight Becomes Youî and ìWill You Still Be Mineî), three older originals (ìOh, How My Heart Beats for You,î ìBetter Run Before Itís Springî and ìThe Day I Found Youî) and a classic rendition of Joseph Cosgriffís ìI Like Jersey Best.î Pianist Kennedy contributes two instrumentals (ìGospel Truthî and ìTea for Tatumî), while guest Grover Kemble sings on Alberta Hunterís ìMy Castleís Rockiníî and another original, ìHeaded Out to Veraís.î The son of the legendary guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, John Pizzarelli was born in 1960 in Paterson, New Jersey. Taught by his father, John sat in with Bucky and Zoot Sims at a 1980 concert and has played duets with the older Pizzarelli on an occasional basis ever since. He started working in Tony Monteís trio in 1986, and went solo four years later. Since then, heís built a solid career as a singer, guitarist and interpreter of the great American songbook. He has recorded as a leader for Stash, Chesky, Novus and RCA, and in 1997 appeared in a Broadway production of Johnny Mercer songs called Dream. Pizzarelli signed with Telarc in 2000 and released Kisses in the Rain. Later that year came Let There Be Love, and in 2002 he collaborated with pianist George Shearing on The Rare Delight of You. Pizzarelliís broad-based appeal has recently earned him a great deal of exposure, including appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Night with Conan OíBrien. As a high-profile jazz artist, Pizzarelli believes that itís his responsibility to educate as well as entertain, and on Live at Birdland he demonstrates just how well he can work a crowd. ìPeople shouldnít be afraid of jazz,î Pizzarelli says. ìThey pay a lot of money to come and hear you play. You canít just sit there and go, ëYou will listen to this, and you will like it.í You owe them an entertaining experience, tooóyou should talk to them and tell them about the songs youíre doing.î Jazz standards, sentimental ballads, bouyant popóLive at Birdland has it all. On this unique 2-disc set, John Pizzarelliís gifts as a musician, entertainer and disciple of Nat King Cole are a match for any of todayís jazz-pop musicians.

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