John Paul Pizzarelli Jr. (born April 6, 1960, in

Paterson, New Jersey Paterson ( ) is the largest City (New Jersey), city in and the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, Passaic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.jazz guitarist and vocalist. He has recorded over twenty solo albums and has appeared on more than forty albums by other recording artists, including Paul McCartney, James Taylor,

Rosemary Clooney Rosemary Clooney (May 23, 1928 – June 29, 2002) was an American singer and actress. She came to prominence in the early 1950s with the song "Come On-a My House", which was followed by other pop numbers such as " Botch-a-Me", " Mambo Italiano", ...

; his father, jazz guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli; and his wife, singer

Jessica Molaskey Jessica Molaskey (born January 9, 1962) is an American professional actor and singer of torch songs and show tunes. She has appeared in a dozen Broadway shows, including '' Sunday in the Park with George'', ''Tommy'', '' Crazy for You'', ''Chess' ...

Early life

The son of swing guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, John Pizzarelli was born in

Paterson Paterson may refer to: People * Paterson (surname) * Paterson (given name) Places Australia *Paterson, New South Wales *Paterson River, New South Wales * Division of Paterson, an electoral district in New South Wales *Paterson, Queensland, a lo ...

, New Jersey. He started on guitar when he was six and played trumpet through his college years. He attended Don Bosco Preparatory High School, an all-boys Catholic school. In his teens, he performed with

Benny Goodman Benjamin David Goodman (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American clarinetist and bandleader known as the "King of Swing". From 1936 until the mid-1940s, Goodman led one of the most popular swing big bands in the United States. His co ...

Les Paul Lester William Polsfuss (June 9, 1915 – August 12, 2009), known as Les Paul, was an American jazz, country, and blues guitarist, songwriter, luthier, and inventor. He was one of the pioneers of the solid-body electric guitar, and his prototype ...

, Zoot Sims, Slam Stewart, and

Clark Terry Clark Virgil Terry Jr. (December 14, 1920 – February 21, 2015) was an American swing and bebop trumpeter, a pioneer of the flugelhorn in jazz, and a composer and educator. He played with Charlie Barnet (1947), Count Basie (1948–51), Duke ...

. Pizzarelli attended the University of Tampa and William Paterson University, though he has said that his most important teacher was his father from 1980 to 1990. During the 1980s, he established himself as a jazz guitarist and a vocalist. He released his debut solo album, '' I'm Hip (Please Don't Tell My Father)'', in 1983.

Career

During the 1990s, Pizzarelli played in a trio with Ray Kennedy and

Martin Pizzarelli Martin Pizzarelli (born November 1, 1963) is an American jazz double-bassist known for his work with his brother John Pizzarelli, appearing on many of his albums in a swing trio that includes pianists Ray Kennedy and Larry Fuller. He has reco ...

, his younger brother. In 1993, the trio was the opening act for

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Chairman of the Board" and later called "Ol' Blue Eyes", Sinatra was one of the most popular ...

, in Las Vegas, when his manager Ken Greengrass made the introduction. Pizzarelli fired Greengrass shortly thereafter. Four years later, Pizzarelli starred in ''Dream'', a Broadway show devoted to the music of

Johnny Mercer John Herndon Mercer (November 18, 1909 – June 25, 1976) was an American lyricist, songwriter, and singer, as well as a record label executive who co-founded Capitol Records with music industry businessmen Buddy DeSylva and Glenn E. Wallich ...

. He has named Nat King Cole as the inspiration for his career and honors that influence in the albums '' Dear Mr. Cole'' (BMG, 1994) and ''

P.S. Mr. Cole ''P.S. Mr. Cole'' is a tribute album by jazz guitarist and vocalist John Pizzarelli, along with his trio of brother Martin Pizzarelli on double-bass and Ray Kennedy on piano. The album contains covers of Nat King Cole songs as well as an or ...

'' (RCA, 1999). He has also recorded tribute albums to Frank Sinatra,

Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was based ...

, Antônio Carlos Jobim,

Richard Rodgers Richard Charles Rodgers (June 28, 1902 – December 30, 1979) was an American Musical composition, composer who worked primarily in musical theater. With 43 Broadway musicals and over 900 songs to his credit, Rodgers was one of the most ...

, and Paul McCartney. He and his father accompanied Annie Ross on her album ''To Lady with Love'' (Red Anchor, 2014), a tribute to Billie Holiday that Ross recorded when she was eighty-four. He has hosted a national radio show, ''Radio Deluxe with John Pizzarelli'', with his wife, singer and actress

. Other musicians he has worked with include George Shearing,

, Johnny Frigo, Buddy DeFranco, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, the Boston Pops Orchestra, and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. He sang the 1999 big-band jingle for Foxwoods Resort Casino, titled "The Wonder of It All." Pizzarelli was a co-producer of the James Taylor album American Standard (James Taylor album), American Standard, which was nominated for a Grammy in the category of "Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album" on November 24, 2020.

Personal life

Pizzarelli's Bucky Pizzarelli, father died on April 1, 2020, from complications to COVID-19. Pizzarelli's mother died one week later on April 8, 2020.

Discography

As leader/co-leader

* '' I'm Hip (Please Don't Tell My Father)'' (Stash, 1983) * ''Hit That Jive, Jack!'' (Stash, 1985) * ''Sing! Sing! Sing!'' (Stash, 1987) * ''My Blue Heaven (Pizzarelli), My Blue Heaven'' (Chesky, 1990) * ''All of Me (John Pizzarelli album), All of Me'' (Novus, 1992) * ''Naturally (John Pizzarelli album), Naturally'' (Novus, 1993) * ''New Standards (John Pizzarelli album), New Standards'' (Novus, 1994) * '' Dear Mr. Cole'' (Novus, 1994) * ''After Hours (John Pizzarelli album), After Hours'' (RCA, 1996) * ''Let's Share Christmas'' (RCA, 1996) * ''Our Love Is Here to Stay (album), Our Love Is Here to Stay'' (RCA, 1997) * ''Meets the Beatles'' (RCA, 1998) * ''

'' (RCA, 1999) * ''Kisses in the Rain'' (Telarc, 2000) * ''Let There Be Love (John Pizzarelli album), Let There Be Love'' (Telarc, 2000) * ''The Rare Delight of You'' (Telarc, 2002) * ''Live at Birdland (John Pizzarelli album), Live at Birdland'' (Telarc, 2003) * ''Bossa Nova (John Pizzarelli album), Bossa Nova'' (Telarc, 2004) * ''Knowing You'' (Telarc, 2005) * ''Just Friends (Rick Haydon and John Pizzarelli album), Just Friends'' (Mel Bay, 2006) with Rick Haydon – recorded in 2005 * ''Dear Mr. Sinatra'' (Telarc, 2006) – recorded in 2005 * ''With a Song in My Heart (John Pizzarelli album), With a Song in My Heart'' (Telarc, 2008) * ''Rockin' in Rhythm: A Tribute to Duke Ellington'' (Telarc, 2010) * ''Double Exposure (John Pizzarelli album), Double Exposure'' (Telarc, 2012) with Tessa Souter – recorded live at Birdland (New York jazz club), Birdland in 2011 * ''John Pizzarelli Salutes Johnny Mercer: Live at Birdland'' (Vector, 2015) – recorded in 2014 * ''Midnight McCartney'' (Concord, 2015) * ''Sinatra & Jobim @ 50'' (Concord, 2017) * ''For Centennial Reasons: 100 Year Salute to Nat King Cole'' (Ghostlight, 2019) * ''Better Days Ahead: Solo Guitar Takes on Pat Metheny'' (Ghostlight, 2021) With Bucky Pizzarelli * ''Nirvana (Bucky Pizzarelli album), Nirvana'', Bucky Pizzarelli (Delta, 1995) * ''Contrasts (Bucky Pizzarelli & John Pizzarelli album), Contrasts'' (Arbors, 1999) * ''Twogether (Bucky Pizzarelli and John Pizzarelli album), Twogether'' (Victrola, 2001) * ''Around the World in 80 Years'', Bucky Pizzarelli (Victoria, 2006) * ''Generations (Bucky and John Pizzarelli album), Generations'' (Arbors, 2007) * ''Sunday at Pete's,'' The Pizzarelli Boys (Challenge, 2007) * ''Pizzarelli Party'', Arbors All Stars (Arbors, 2009) * ''Diggin' Up Bones'', Bucky Pizzarelli (Arbors, 2009) * ''Desert Island Dreamers'', The Pizzarelli Boys (Arbors, 2010) * ''Back in the Saddle Again'', Bucky Pizarelli (Arbors, 2010) * ''Passionate Guitars'' (2010) * ''Family Fugue'' (Arbors, 2011) With

* ''Pentimento (album), Pentimento'' (Image, 2002) * ''A Good Day (Jessica Molaskey album), A Good Day'' (PS Classics, 2003) * ''Make Believe (Jessica Molaskey album), Make Believe'' (PS Classics, 2004) * ''Sitting in Limbo (album), Sitting in Limbo'' (PS Classics, 2007) * ''A Kiss to Build a Dream On (album), A Kiss to Build a Dream On'' (Arbors, 2008)

As Record Producer or co-producer

With James Taylor and Dave O'Donnell * ''American Standard (James Taylor album), American Standards'' (Fantasy Records, 2020)

As sideman or guest

With Monty Alexander * ''My America'' (Telarc, 2002) With Harry Allen (musician), Harry Allen * ''Are You Having Any Fun?'' (Audiophile Records, 1994) * ''Harry Allen Meets John Pizzarelli Trio'' (BMG, 1996) * ''Tenors Anyone?'' (Slider, 2004) With Sam Arlen * ''Arlen Plays Arlen: The Timeless Tribute to Harold Arlen'' (Arbors, 2005) With Debby Boone * ''Reflections of Rosemary'' (Concord Records, 2005) With Cheryl Bentyne * ''The Book of Love'' (Telarc, 2006) With Ray Brown (musician), Ray Brown * ''Some of My Best Friends Are...Guitarists'' (Telarc, 2002) With

* ''Do You Miss New York?'' (Concord Records, 1993) * ''Brazil (Rosemary Clooney album), Brazil'' (Concord Records, 2000) With Kristin Chenoweth * ''A Lovely Way to Spend Christmas'' (Sony Music, Sony, 2008) With Buddy DeFranco * ''Cookin' the Books'' (Arbors, 2004) With Karen Egert * ''That Thing Called Love'' (2007) With Johnny Frigo * ''Live from Studio A in New York City'' (Chesky Records, 1989) With Natalie Cole * ''Stardust (Natalie Cole album), Stardust'' (Elektra Records, 1996) With Sara Gazarek * ''Blossom & Bee'' (Palmetto Records, 2012) With Stephane Grappelli * ''Live at the Blue Note'' (Telarc, 1995) With Skitch Henderson and Bucky Pizzarelli * ''Legends'' (Arbors, 2003) With Hilary Kole * ''Haunted Heart'' With Erich Kunzel * ''Got Swing!'' (Telarc, 2002) * ''Christmastime Is Here'' (Telarc, 2006) With The Manhattan Transfer * ''Vibrate (The Manhattan Transfer album), Vibrate'' (Telarc, 2004) With Paul McCartney * ''Kisses on the Bottom'' (Hear Music, 2012) With Jane Monheit * ''Home'' (2010) With Rickie Lee Jones * ''It's Like This'' (Artemis Records, 2000) With Donnie O'Brien * ''Meets Manhattan Swing in a Basie Mood'' (Arbors, 2003) With Curtis Stigers * ''Real Emotional'' (Concord, 2007) With James Taylor * ''October Road (album), October Road'' (Sony, 2002) * ''A Christmas Album (James Taylor album), A Christmas Album'' (Hallmark Cards, 2004) * ''James Taylor at Christmas'' (Columbia Records, 2006) * ''American Standard (James Taylor album), American Standards'' (Fantasy Records, 2020) With Aaron Weinstein * ''A Handful of Stars'' (Arbors, 2005)

References

External links

Official website

Radio Deluxe with John Pizzarelli

May 15, 2006, Jazz Alley, Seattle {{DEFAULTSORT:Pizzarelli, John 1960 births Living people American jazz guitarists American jazz singers American jazz songwriters American people of Italian descent Chesky Records artists Novus Records artists RCA Records artists Telarc Records artists Concord Records artists Don Bosco Preparatory High School alumni Musicians from Paterson, New Jersey Guitarists from New Jersey Singers from New Jersey Swing guitarists Swing singers Seven-string guitarists 20th-century American guitarists 21st-century American guitarists 20th-century American male musicians 21st-century American male musicians