Jazz guitarist and vocalist John Pizzarelli continues to captivate audiences with his wonderful live performances. His career boasts over twenty solo albums in addition to appearances on well over forty albums by other recording artists. The son of legendary swing guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, John started playing the guitar at the age of six. His latest album, Stage & Screen (2023), is an exceptional addition to his already impressive discography.
Fans of the Great American Songbook are sure to delight in Stage & Screen. The album’s twelve tracks include several beloved hits, including the likes of “Too Close for Comfort,” “Where or When,” “Time After Time,” and more. Clearly a tribute to stage musicals as well as musical films from the Golden Age of Hollywood, Pizzarelli brings his unique performative style to each of these songs–from mellow gems to spirited show tunes.
As far as screen favorites, fans of film musicals will no doubt recognize “You’re All the World to Me”–the song that Fred Astaire performs in Royal Wedding (1951) in a dance that takes him to the ceiling–and “As Time Goes By,” a memorable standard from Casablanca (1943). One medley in particular stands out in terms of its novel rendition: the “Oklahoma Suite,” in which Pizzarelli, pianist Isaiah J. Thompson, and double bassist Michael Karn offer an enthusiastic and original iteration of many hit numbers from Oklahoma!
I had the great fortune of seeing Pizzarelli, Thompson, and Karn perform on several occasions, including the songs featured on Stage & Screen–most recently at Evanston SPACE in Evanston, Illinois. I highly recommend attending Pizzarelli’s live performances when possible. Information on his upcoming events is available here.
Hometowns to Hollywood 