John Pizzarelli Trio: John Pizzarelli (vocals, guitar); Ray Kennedy (piano); Martin Pizzarelli (bass).
Additional personnel: Grover Kemble (vocals).
Producers: Robert Friedrich, The John Pizzarelli Trio.
Recorded live at Birdland, New York, New York. Includes liner notes by John Pizzarelli.
This is a hybrid Super Audio CD playable on both regular and Super Audio CD players.
John Pizzarelli Trio: John Pizzarelli (vocals, guitar); Ray Kennedy (piano); Martin Pizzarelli (bass).
Additional personnel: Grover Kemble (vocals).
Producers: Robert Friedrich, The John Pizzarelli Trio.
Recorded live at Birdland, New York, New York. Includes liner notes by John Pizzarelli.
Jazz Times (6/03, p.131-2) - "...The first gentleman of contemporary jazz - spend five minutes with Pizzarelli and you'll fully appreciate his inimitable warmth, humor and munificence of spirit..."
This is a wonderful, warm-hearted, and effortlessly virtuosic live recording by one of the finest living exponents of pre-bop small-ensemble jazz. With pianist Ray Kennedy and bassist Martin Pizzarelli (and on two songs joined by vocalist Grover Kemble), singer and guitarist John Pizzarelli runs through a generally lightweight but thoroughly charming set of standards, homages, funny stories, and the occasional original tune; the fast tunes are light and frothy, the ballads smooth and gentle, and even the moments that are less than utterly inspired work together with the album's highlights to create a very satisfying whole. John Pizzarelli has a suit sponsor, which tells you something about what to expect of him as a singer: his voice is smooth and warm, offering a nice combination of Chet Baker's timbre and Dean Martin's fullness; as a guitarist you need to know that he favors seven-string guitars and flat-wound strings, leading him naturally to a swinging Django Reinhardt-meets-Freddie Green kind of sound. As for the trio's instrumentation, it's true that when you can comp with this kind of authority you don't technically need a drummer. But on a few tracks a drummer would have filled out the band's sound nicely. Highlights include the group's fun, slightly greasy take on "Frim Fram Sauce" and a great ode to Art Tatum called "Tea for Tatum," as well as a fine original blues composition titled "Headed Out to Vera's." Pizzarelli's own "Oh, How My Heart Beats for You" and "Day I Found You" are also wonderful. But the album's standout track is a limpidly gorgeous rendition of another original, "Better Run Before It's Spring." Pizzarelli is obviously having a blast in the intimate setting of the legendary Birdland club, and so will any jazz lover who takes the time to listen. Very highly recommended. ~ Rick Anderson
Professional Reviews
JazzTimes (6/03, pp.131-2) - "...The first gentleman of contemporary jazz - spend five minutes with Pizzarelli and you'll fully appreciate his inimitable warmth, humor and munificence of spirit..."
This title is unavailable for purchase as none of our regular suppliers have stock available. If you are the publisher, author or distributor for this item, please visit
this link.
