John Pizzarelli - Live At Birdland Disc 1 And Disc 2

Styles: Vocal And Guitar Jazz
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:52 (Disc 1)
Size: 153,8 MB (Disc 1)
Time: 65:21 (Disc 2)
Size: 150,2 MB (Disc 2)
Art: Front + Back

Disc 1

(0:06)  1. Introduction
(4:41)  2. Just You, Just Me
(5:31)  3. The Frim Fram Sauce
(6:16)  4. The Song Is You
(4:14)  5. Isn't It A Pity?
(1:04)  6. Rhode Island Intro
(3:45)  7. Rhode Island
(4:13)  8. Ray Kennedy: Library Of Congress Story
(5:22)  9. Gospel Truth
(3:14) 10. Ray Kennedy: Dizzy Gillespie Story
(5:05) 11. Tea For Tatum
(0:11) 12. James Taylor Intro
(3:14) 13. Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
(1:02) 14. James Taylor Intro 2
(3:50) 15. Mean Old Man
(4:12) 16. Manhattan
(2:31) 17. Rosemary Clooney Story
(3:18) 18. Moonlight Becomes You
(0:30) 19. Final Intro
(4:24) 20. Will You Still Be Mine?

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Disc 2

(0:20)  1. Introduction
(4:30)  2. Three Little Words
(6:04)  3. They Can't Take That Away From Me
(4:27)  4. Oh, How My Heart Beats for You
(3:09)  5. The Day I Found You
(1:44)  6. Polliwog Story
(7:42)  7. It's Only a Paper Moon
(4:44)  8. Stompin' at The Savoy
(3:40)  9. Better Run Before It's Spring
(2:56) 10. Grover Kemble Story
(3:55) 11. Headed Out to Vera's
(5:29) 12. Medley: Gee Baby / Ain't I Good To You
(0:57) 13. I Like Jersey Best Intro
(8:28) 14. I Like Jersey Best
(3:55) 15. My Castle's Rockin'
(3:14) 16. Baby Just Come Home to Me

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  

http://www.allmusic.com/album/live-at-birdland-mw0000592767

John Pizzarelli Trio: John Pizzarelli (vocals, guitar); Ray Kennedy (piano); Martin Pizzarelli (bass); Grover Kemble (vocals)

Live At Birdland Disc 1, Disc 2

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