John Pizzarelli - John Pizzarelli Trio: Live At Birdland (2002) [DSD64]

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.

Tracks:

Disc 1 #01. Introduction
Disc 1 #02. Just You, Just Me
Disc 1 #03. The Frim Fram Sauce
Disc 1 #04. This Song Is You
Disc 1 #05. Isn't It A Pity
Disc 1 #06. Rhode Island Intro
Disc 1 #07. Rhode Island
Disc 1 #08. Ray Kennedy - Library of Congress Story
Disc 1 #09. Gospel Truth
Disc 1 #10. Ray Kennedy - Dizzy Gillespie Story
Disc 1 #11. Tea For Tatum
Disc 1 #12. James Taylor Intro 1
Disc 1 #13. Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
Disc 1 #14. James Taylor Intro 2
Disc 1 #15. Mean Old Man
Disc 1 #16. Manhattan
Disc 1 #17. Rosemary Clooney Story
Disc 1 #18. Moonlight Becomes You
Disc 1 #19. Final Intro
Disc 1 #20. Will You Still Be Mine?

Disc 2 #01. Introduction
Disc 2 #02. Three Little Words
Disc 2 #03. They Can't That Away From Me
Disc 2 #04. Oh How My Heart Beats For You
Disc 2 #05. The Day I Found You
Disc 2 #06. Polliwog Story
Disc 2 #07. It's Only A Paper Moon
Disc 2 #08. Stompin At The Savoy
Disc 2 #09. Better Run Before It's Spring
Disc 2 #10. Grover Kemble Story
Disc 2 #11. Headed Out To Vera's
Disc 2 #12. Baby Medley
Disc 2 #13. I Like Jersey Best Intro
Disc 2 #14. I Like Jersey Best
Disc 2 #15. My Castle's Rockin'
Disc 2 #16. Baby Just Come Home To Me

Personnel:

John Pizzarelli - guitar and vocals
Ray Kennedy - piano
Martin Pizzarelli - bass
Grover Kemble - vocals on "2-11 & 2-15"

Recorded live on on September 25-28, 2002 at Birdland, New York.