Download Flash Player Here »
Dear Mr. Sinatra
With his eternally boyish tenor and cheery romantic outlook, John Pizzarelli is a stylistic world apart from Frank Sinatra, he of the manly baritone and dark sensual undercurrents. But like his Italian-American forebear, he's a consummate swinger, and he knows how to make a lyric his own. Comprised mostly of tunes written for the Chairman, Dear Mr. Sinatra is a musical fan letter without the usual schmaltz or reverence. An actively intelligent singer and guitarist, Pizzarelli reshapes the material to fit his personality, whether quietly enunciating "You Make Me Feel So Young," scatting over a brief guitar solo on "How About You?," or making the emotions sneak up on you on a medley of "I See Your Face Before Me" and "In the Wee Small Hours (of the Morning)." He's equally at home with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra as he is with his working combo, largely because in John Clayton, he has a skilled arranger who is equally open to recasting the songs--dig the jagged rhythms, hesitation effects, and burnished tones on "I've Got You Under My Skin." Even as he asserts his own style, Pizzarelli subtly conveys his affection for Sinatra in his phrasing.
--Lloyd Sachs
Reviews and Quotes
February 28, 2007 : Seattle Times - Looking for Jazz?
"John Pizzarelli wants you to listen to Frank Sinatra. And Cole Porter. And Nat King Cole. You'll be doing that by listening to him perform this week."
Read More
February 23, 2007 : Chicago Sun-Times - Speaking with John Pizzarelli
"If you're going to pay tribute to one of the greats of the music business, you might as well start with the top of the heap. That's just what jazz guitarist-singer John Pizzarelli did with his latest release, 'Dear Mr. Sinatra'"
Read More
February 12, 2007 : Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Singer Tells Tales from Songbook
"In its history, the Hal Leonard Jazz Series at the Pabst has never presented a more crowd-pleasing performer than John Pizzarelli. Or one who worked harder - while looking cooler - than the guitarist-singer did Saturday night, stuffing 850 customers into his hip pocket."
Read More
February 5, 2007 : New York Times Review - Wrestling With Sinatra, but It's a Very Friendly Fight
"Sooner or later, every man who sings standards has to wrestle with the ghost of Frank Sinatra. And on Saturday evening at the Allen Room as part of Lincoln Center's American Songbook series, it was John Pizzarelli's turn. "
Read More
Song Titles
Ring-A-Ding Ding
Related Artists
John Pizzarelli
John Pizzarelli has had a multi-faceted career as a jazz guitarist, vocalist and bandleader. Internationally known for classic standards, late-night b...