John Pizzarelli Trio - Live at Birdland (2003)

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. - by Rick Anderson, AMG

Tracks:
CD1 [1:06:42]
1. Introduction 0:06
2. Just You, Just Me (Jesse Greer/Raymond Klages) 4:41
3. The Frim Fram Sauce (Redd Evans/Joe Ricardel/Joe Richards) 5:31
4. This Song Is You (Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein) 6:16
5. Is'n It a Pity? (George Gershwin/Ira Gershwin) 4:14
6. Rhode Island Intro 1:04
7. Rhode Island (Howard Dietz/Henderson/DeSylva Brown/Arthur Schwartz) 3:45
8. Library of Congress Story (Ray Kennedy) 4:13
9. Gospel Truth (Ray Kennedy) 5:22
10. Dizzy Gillespie Story (Ray Kennedy) 3:14
11. Tea for Tatum (Ray Kennedy/John Pizzarelli) 5:05
12. James Taylor Intro 1 0:11
13. Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight (James Taylor) 3:14
14. James Taylor Intro 2 1:02
15. Mean Old Man (James Taylor) 3:50
16. Manhattan (Lorenz Hart/Richard Rodgers) 4:12
17. Rosemary Clooney Story (Ray Kennedy) 2:31
18. Moonlight Becomes You (Johnny Burke/Jimmy Van Heusen) 3:18
19. Final Intro 0:29
20. Will You Still Be Mine? (Tom Adair/Matt Dennis) 4:24

CD2 [1:05:13]
1. Introduction 0:20
2. Three Little Words (Bert Kalmar/Harry Ruby) 4:30
3. The Can't Take That Away from Me (George Gershwin/Ira Gershwin) 6:04
4. Oh, How My Heart Beats for You (John Pizzarelli) 4:27
5. The Day I Found You (John Pizzarelli) 3:09
6. Pollywog Story (John Pizzarelli) 1:44
7. It's Only a Paper Moon (Harold Arlen/E.Y. "Yip" Harburg/Billy Rose) 7:42
8. Stompin' at the Savoy (Benny Goodman/Andy Razaf/Edgar Sampson/Chick Webb) 4:44
9. Better Run Before It's Spring (John Pizzarelli/Linda Rose) 3:40
10. Grover Kemble Story (Ray Kennedy/John Pizzarelli) 2:55
11. Headed Out to Vera's (Grover Kemble/John Pizzarelli) 3:55
12. Medle: Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You Baby, Baby All the Time/Midnight Blue (Michael H. Goldsen/Neal Hefti/Andy Razaf/Don Redman/Bobby Troup) 5:29
13. I Like Jersey Best Intro 0:57
14. I Like Jersey Best (Joseph Cosgriff) 8:28
15. My Castle's Rockin (Alberta Hunter) 3:55
16. Baby Just Come Home to Me (John Pizzarelli) 3:14

Personnel:
John Pizzarelli (Guitar, Vocals)
Ray Kennedy (Piano)
Martin Pizzarelli (Double Bass)