Search - John Pizzarelli :: Ps Mr Cole

Keeping It Simple

09/30/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In again turning to songs made popular by Nat Cole for album material, this crooner/guitarist is smart enough to take more than just song titles. The hallmark of the Cole trio was always the superb musicianship that enhanced and never competed with either the lyric or Mr. Cole's reading of the song. Pizzarelli takes a similar approach on this CD, giving us straight-ahead readings of old chestnuts such as "Smile," "Candy," and "Tenderly," while also introducing us to the lesser-known "Meet Me at No Special Place" and "Welcome to the Club."When Pizzarelli gets the right material, it seems to fit him like the proverbial old pair of shoes. Unlike his more publicized contemporaries Harry Connick and Diana Krall, in whose music one can almost sense the marketing department in the studio booth, Pizzarelli's music is long on rhythms short on affectations. Tenor sax guy Harry Allen jumps in for a couple of tracks and, as when Harry Edison would sneak onto Nat Cole's small group albums, we are grateful for the visit. Ray Kennedy and Martin Pizzarelli, on piano and bass respectively, provide the low-key foundation that allows this album to fly high. In the spirit of the Nat Cole Trio, Pizzarelli's group is all about retraint here, and this is not a complaint by any means. The only "non-Nat" song is #18, a live version of "I Like Jersey Best." Like many people, I had only heard about this peon to the Garden State. The live version allows Pizzarelli to imitate both Lou Rawls and Lou Reed (but not New Jerseyan Lou Costello)in the same verse, and his Billie Holiday is not to be missed."

PIZZARELLI & HIS WONDERFUL TRIO

MOVIE MAVEN | New York, NY USA | 01/18/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD was a Christmas gift and I truly could not be happier with it. I unwrapped it, read the liner notes and, literally, played it three times without stopping. This is absolutely wonderful jazz playing: rocking and wild one minute & smooth and subtle the next. Pizzarelli's guitar playing is top notch and his voice has the charm and character of Fred Astaire: light, sophisticated, sweet and real easy on the ear. The album is a tribute to Nat King Cole and every song is a winner. My favorites are "Walking My Baby Back Home," "Tenderly," "Embraceable You," and "Candy" which comes complete with a short, clever homage to Cole's hit "Mona Lisa." The final number is taken from a live performance....what a funny song "I Like Jersey Best" is and it is given an even funnier performance by Pizzarelli and his wonderful trio. Highly Recommended."

Brilliant

G. Sawaged | Canada | 11/16/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is one album that would be impossible to give less than 5 stars. It is chock full of great songs, from great up-tempo, foot-stomping, swingers, to beautiful ballads,..this album has it all. Previously only available in Japan, this album was finally made available elsewhere, due to rave reviews and public demand. Also, as an added bonus, we are treated to a wonderful live recording of "I Like Jersey Best", in which we hear John's wonderful sense of humour as well as his clever impersonations. So if you would like to hear John sing as Bob Dylan, Billie Holiday, Lou Rawls, Mel Torme, Paul Simon, The Beach Boys, and Lou Reed, then you just have to purchase this album. The price is worth it for that song alone, although the whole album is fantastic. Highly recommended."