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John Pizzarelli Meets The Beatles
Beatles fans love to explain that one key to the successful partnership of John Lennon and Paul McCartney was their contrasting songwriting personalities: Lennon was the tongue-in-cheek, sardonic wit, McCartney, the earnest balladeer. On john pizzarelli's John Pizzarelli Meets the Beatles (RCA Victor), a well-conceived tribute that sets the duo's classics in jazz-trio and big-band arrangements, the singer/guitarist hits the mark most often when taking on McCartney's tunes. He approaches "Can't Buy Me Love," "When I'm 64," and "Get Back" with a playful wink, jumping off his speedy melody lines and the rising brass sections for extended improvisational tradeoffs with pianist Ray Kennedy. Pizzarelli adds colorful touches like scatting and even ad-libs his own lyrical verses based on the originals. Likewise, he treats an instrumental version of "Eleanor Rigby" with an aggressive sense of swing. And his intense vocal on a percussive "Oh, Darling" helps the tune rise above mere cover-band fare.
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."
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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'"
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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."
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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. "
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Song Titles
Can't Buy Me Love
I've Just Seen A Face
Here Come The Sun
Things We Said Today
You've Got To Hide Your Love Away
Eleanor Rigby
And I Love Her
When I'm 64
Oh Darling
Get Back
The Long & Winding Road
For No One
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...