John Pizzarelli Trio - John Pizzarelli Live at Birdland (2002/2003) [SACD]

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.
SA-CD Net Reviews:
By bmoura:
John Pizzarelli fans and Meitner DAC6 owners will want to check out Telarc’s new “John Pizzarelli Trio: Live at Birdland” Multichannel SACD.
It’s a Live DSD recording that uses no console. Just straight to the Meitner DSD converters and then to the Sony Sonoma DSD Workstation.
In Surround playback, the album features Pizzarelli’s vocals in the Center front speaker with the trio in the front channels and the audience in the surround channels. Very vivid and convincing sonics on this one.
As a humorous bonus, the SACD also includes Pizzarelli imitating a host of singers including Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, The Eagles, The Beach Boys, Lou Reed, Sting, Michael McDonald, James Taylor and Lou Rawls on the track “I Like Jersey Best”.
By audiofreak:
Club atmosphere and nice playing. Compared to other releases on Telarc this one sounds extremely natural and fast and creates a true virtual reality. It feels like being transported into the scenery. One of the very best I have heard so far on SACD. And the humor demonstrated by Mr. Pizzarelli is worth listening to more that once.