John Pizzarelli Explained

John Pizzarelli
Birth Name:John Paul Pizzarelli Jr.
Birth Date:6 April 1960
Birth Place:Paterson, New Jersey, U.S.
Genre:Jazz, swing
Occupation:Musician, singer, composer
Instrument:Guitar, vocals
Years Active:1980–present
Label:P-Vine, Chesky, Novus, RCA, Telarc, Arbors, Concord
Associated Acts:Bucky Pizzarelli, Martin Pizzarelli, Jessica Molaskey, Ray Kennedy

John Paul Pizzarelli Jr. (born April 6, 1960) is an American jazz guitarist and vocalist. He has recorded over twenty solo albums and has appeared on more than forty albums by other recording artists, including Paul McCartney, James Taylor, Rosemary Clooney; his father, jazz guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli; and his wife, singer Jessica Molaskey.

Early life

The son of swing guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, John Pizzarelli was born in Paterson, New Jersey. He started on guitar when he was six and played trumpet through his college years.[1] He attended Don Bosco Preparatory High School, an all-boys Catholic school. In his teens, he performed with Benny Goodman, Les Paul, Zoot Sims, Slam Stewart, and Clark Terry.[2]

Pizzarelli attended the University of Tampa and William Paterson University, though he has said that his most important teacher was his father from 1980 to 1990. During the 1980s, he established himself as a jazz guitarist and a vocalist. He released his debut solo album, I'm Hip (Please Don't Tell My Father), in 1983.[3]

Career

During the 1990s, Pizzarelli played in a trio with Ray Kennedy and Martin Pizzarelli, his younger brother. In the summer of 1993, Pizzarelli was the opening act for Frank Sinatra and four years later, Pizzarelli starred in Dream, a Broadway show devoted to the music of Johnny Mercer. He has named Nat King Cole as the inspiration for his career and honors that influence in the albums Dear Mr. Cole (BMG, 1994) and P.S. Mr. Cole (RCA, 1999). He has also recorded tribute albums to Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, Antônio Carlos Jobim, Richard Rodgers, and Paul McCartney. He and his father accompanied Annie Ross on her album To Lady with Love (Red Anchor, 2014), a tribute to Billie Holiday that Ross recorded when she was eighty-four.[4]

He has hosted a national radio show, Radio Deluxe with John Pizzarelli, with his wife, singer and actress Jessica Molaskey. Other musicians he has worked with include George Shearing, Rosemary Clooney, Johnny Frigo, Buddy DeFranco, Jack Gibbons, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, the Boston Pops Orchestra, and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra.[5]

He sang the 1999 big-band jingle for Foxwoods Resort Casino, titled "The Wonder of It All."[6]

Pizzarelli was a co-producer of the James Taylor album American Standard, which was nominated and won the Grammy in the category of "Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album" on November 24, 2020.[7]

Personal life

John Pizzarelli and his wife Jessica Molaskey own a vacation cabin overlooking Barrett Pond in Carmel, New York. They often co-host their syndicated radio show, Radio Deluxe with John Pizzarelli from the cabin and do much of their musical work there.[8]

Pizzarelli's father died on April 1, 2020, from complications to COVID-19.[9] Pizzarelli's mother died one week later on April 8, 2020.[10] [11]

Discography

As leader/co-leader

With Bucky Pizzarelli

With Jessica Molaskey

As producer or co-producer

With James Taylor and Dave O'Donnell

As sideman or guest

With Monty Alexander

With Harry Allen

With Sam Arlen

With Debby Boone

With Cheryl Bentyne

With Ray Brown

With Rosemary Clooney

With Kristin Chenoweth

With Buddy DeFranco

With Karen Egert

With Johnny Frigo

With Natalie Cole

With Sara Gazarek

With Stephane Grappelli

With Skitch Henderson and Bucky Pizzarelli

With Hilary Kole

With Erich Kunzel

With The Manhattan Transfer

With Paul McCartney

With Jane Monheit

With Rickie Lee Jones

With Donnie O'Brien

With Curtis Stigers

With James Taylor

With Aaron Weinstein

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Yanow . Scott . The Great Jazz Guitarists. 2013. Backbeat. San Francisco . 978-1-61713-023-6 . 153.
  2. Web site: Lamb. Buzz. John Pizzarelli. Jazz and Blues Florida. 7 June 2017. January 2016.
  3. Web site: Collar. Matt. John Pizzarelli. AllMusic. 15 May 2017.
  4. Web site: Loudon. Christopher. Annie Ross: To Lady with Love. JazzTimes. 15 May 2017. 11 January 2015.
  5. http://albumcredits.com/Profile/114787 John Pizzarelli's Complete Discography
  6. Web site: Meet Me At Foxwoods (FULL) (1:01) . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/8PHxnuoEpIo . 2021-12-13 . live. . 2019-03-18 . 2020-04-23.
  7. Web site: 2021 GRAMMYs: Complete Nominees List'. November 24, 2020. November 27, 2020.
  8. News: All Quiet Except for the Singing. Nancy. Keates. Wall Street Journal. September 21, 2012. January 11, 2024. May 21, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160521060732/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10000872396390443816804578004542783933104. bot: unknown.
  9. News: Jazz-guitar great Bucky Pizzarelli dies at 94 after testing positive for coronavirus. William. Westhoven. USA Today. McLean, Virginia. April 2, 2020. April 4, 2020.
  10. Web site: Loved and Lost: Musician Bucky Pizzarelli and his wife Ruth complemented each other for 66 years.
  11. Web site: Ruth Elizabeth Pizzarelli Obituary (1930 - 2020) the Record/Herald News. Legacy.com.
  12. Web site: James Taylor Official Site'. February 28, 2020. November 27, 2020.

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