Search - John Pizzarelli :: All of Me

Wow

Darcy Tucjker | London | 12/26/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Al I can say is "this is a really great Cd"
If you like good music, this is for you."

A Musical Tour De Force

Rebecca*rhapsodyinblue* | CA USA | 01/11/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

""It's been rumored that the American Popular song is making a comeback. As far as I'm concerned it never left. It's the music I grew up with that inspired me to become a musician. Making this album has given me the opportunity to fulfill many of my musical ambitions. I've been given the chance to perform the music I learned and loved as a child, with musicians I grew up with and respected, and to express myself not only as a singer and player, but also as a composer. It's now all "on the record." The Trio, The String Orchestra, The Swinging Big Band and . . . "All of Me." ~ John Pizzarelli ~ Liner Notes, January 1992



Long before the dramatic comeback of popular songs from the Great American Songbook and the influx of new singers interpreting this kind of songs, John Pizzarelli has been one of the pioneers among contemporary singers who truly showed their love and passion for this music genre. In his own inimitable and fascinating style, he has been singing popular songs by the Gershwin Brothers, Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer, Harry Warren, Hoagy Carmichael, Mack Gordon, Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne, among many other great songwriters and composers of all-time.



A beguiling "boy-next-door-type-of-voice," guitar virtuosity, composing and arranging skills combined with dedication and great love for beautiful music are the qualities Mr. Pizzarelli possesses that makes him a great musician.



This album, which he dedicated to his son John Paul Pizzarelli, is simply a testament of his musical versatility. Dick Lieb, who did an excellent job with the incredible Big Band arrangements, conducted the full orchestra.



I'm particularly fond of the Big Band arrangement by Dick Lieb on "All of Me," which features soloists Randy Sandke and Scott Robinson on trumpet and sax, respectively. While I love his take on my all-time favorite standard "The More I See You," where you could hear a charming trombone solo played by Jim Pugh, I'm also delighted with "If I Had You" and "'S Wonderful," done in a beautiful Bossa Nova arrangement that makes it so special. It's my topmost favorite from this collection. The beauty of one of his original compositions "The River Is Blue" will mesmerize your ears. It's a song about the loss of a loved one and it has the most enchanting Bossa Nova treatment and a dose of Jobim on it.



This is one of the best-ever albums from my collection.



A very enjoyable musical tour de force.

"