Jazz guitarist/vocalist
John Pizzarelli is a technically proficient fretman with a soft voice, charming stage presence, and knack for uptempo
swing. Most often performing in a trio setting sans drums,
Pizzarelli has found his niche covering
jazz standards and American Popular Song in his own urbane style. The son of journeyman
swing guitarist
Bucky Pizzarelli,
John began performing with his father at age 20 and made his recorded debut with his 1983 release, I'm Hip -- Please Don't Tell My Father. Growing up,
John was exposed to the music of such
jazz luminaries as
Les Paul and
Django Reinhardt, and he has justifiably drawn comparisons to both of these legendary guitarists.
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Jazz guitarist/vocalist
John Pizzarelli is a technically proficient fretman with a soft voice, charming stage presence, and knack for uptempo
swing. Most often performing in a trio setting sans drums,
Pizzarelli has found his niche covering
jazz standards and American Popular Song in his own urbane style. The son of journeyman
swing guitarist
Bucky Pizzarelli,
John began performing with his father at age 20 and made his recorded debut with his 1983 release, I'm Hip -- Please Don't Tell My Father.
Growing up,
John was exposed to the music of such
jazz luminaries as
Les Paul and
Django Reinhardt, and he has justifiably drawn comparisons to both of these legendary guitarists.
Pizzarelli's updated old-school sound caught the ear of many
jazz purists early on; notably, in 1993 the John Pizzarelli Trio opened various dates on
Frank Sinatra's tour, eventually participating in the legendary vocalist's 80th birthday celebration at Carnegie Hall. Interestingly,
Pizzarelli's growing popularity garnered him a lead spot in the 1997 Broadway production of Dream, a tribute to composer
Johnny Mercer. His 1998 RCA release,
Meets the Beatles, found him reinterpreting classic songs by the iconic Liverpool quartet, while the following year he paid tribute to one of his biggest influences, pianist/vocalist
Nat King Cole, on P.S. Mr. Cole.
Pizzarelli then signed with the Telarc label in 1999 and released two
standards-based albums, Kisses in the Rain and Let There Be Love, in 2000.
Since then, he has recorded an album with pianist
George Shearing and celebrated ten years of performing with his trio by releasing the concert album
Live at Birdland in 2003. Taking a break from
swing,
Pizzarelli released
Bossa Nova in 2004. Largely featuring the works of Brazilian composer
Antonio Carlos Jobim, the album showcased the Pizzarelli Trio on such classics of the genre as "The Girl from Ipanema" and "Aguas de Marco (Waters of March)." In 2005
Pizzarelli returned to his usual fare of American
standards with
Knowing You (though he penned the title track), and backed by the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, paid his tribute to the legend himself with 2006's Dear Mr. Sinatra.
With a Song in My Heart featuring the songs of composer Richard Rodgers followed in 2008. ~ Matt Collar, All Music Guide
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