John Pizzarelli

derubens · #1 10-21-2010, 09:56 AM

Any fans of John Pizzarelli there? I admire his playing, his singing, his scatting and his combining everything, though I'm not so fond of what he did with songs of the Beatles....
derubens

GodinFan · #2 10-21-2010, 11:18 AM

Really? I love the Beatles album he did. Don Sebesky's charts are excellent!

derubens · #3 10-21-2010, 11:42 AM

Well, then he made a good choice. But speaking for myself, I find it a bit rough and not so, well, sophisticated as his handling of the old standards. But good that you too like Pizzarelli.

Solo Flight · #4 10-21-2010, 01:53 PM

I heard somewhere that he's one of, if not the most popular American singers -- in Japan. He's a heck of a player - and just as warm and gracious as his dad.

Dookychase · #5 10-21-2010, 01:54 PM

I like him too. I really enjoyed his dvd of Exploring Jazz Guitar. He seems to be a really nice guy.

derek · #6 10-21-2010, 02:13 PM

The guy is the best showman out there right now, is an excellent singer and player. His wife is a wonderful jazz singer also.

patskywriter · #7 10-21-2010, 05:07 PM

after reading about what a nice guy john pizzarelli is i really wanted to like him—but i really couldn't take his singing. i'm very disappointed.

rabbit · #8 10-22-2010, 12:12 AM

Just in case anyone has missed this:

Radio Deluxe with John Pizzarelli

Sammo · #9 10-22-2010, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rabbit

Just in case anyone has missed this:

Radio Deluxe with John Pizzarelli

Thanks !!

derubens · #10 10-22-2010, 08:11 AM

well Patsky, you can't please them all, can you? It seems there are even people who don't like Billy Holiday, or Diana Krall, or, imagine, Louis Armstrong. Just a lucky thing there are different tastes.

derubens · #11 10-22-2010, 08:16 AM

Derek, I agree, his wife is a very good jazz singer. And the members of his combo, including his unassuming brother on the bass, are all excellent jazzmen.

derek · #12 10-22-2010, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by derubens

Derek, I agree, his wife is a very good jazz singer. And the members of his combo, including his unassuming brother on the bass, are all excellent jazzmen.

Yes. I really like his piano player, Ray Kennedy. If John wasn't a player/singer, he would make a good stand up comic. He is a funny guy.

I haven't gotten his instructional dvd, anyone know if it is any good?

Dookychase · #13 10-22-2010, 02:25 PM

Derek, I have his Exploring Jazz Guitar dvd. I really enjoyed it. He shows you what he does on his 7 string and also how it would apply to 6 string.

Like you said before, he would make a good comic.
I bought the dvd off of ebay. I got it a little cheaper than with Mel Bay.

paynow · #14 10-23-2010, 07:07 AM

YouTube - John Pizzarelli - I Got Rhythm

If that isn't good, I don't what is. Sorry it's not embedded; it didn't work for this vid for some reason.

John is an outstanding player and entertainer. There used to be a great jazz club in Yonkers, NY, called DeFemio's (of course it's now been replaced with something asinine and useless, either a pool hall or some video game place). Back in the early 80s John would play there with Bucky and brother Martin on bass; we'd always go see them. It was up close and personal and some great music combined with great Italian food.

I've never heard his Beatles stuff; I'm a huge Beatles fan and generally don't like the covers people do of Beatles music because I'm so into the originals.

Here's a two part vid of some cat teaching the solo:

YouTube Video

YouTube Video

derubens · #15 10-23-2010, 07:58 AM

Paynow, yes that's good. And I prefer his rendering of: I wanna be around, to that of Tony Bennett, though that is quite good as well in its own way.
As to the Beatles, there are very respectful covers in jazz, that keep the poetry, and that's probably the main point.....
Can you play "I got rhythm now"? I still can't. Not that way....

paynow · #16 10-23-2010, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by derubens

Paynow, yes that's good. And I prefer his rendering of: I wanna be around, to that of Tony Bennett, though that is quite good as well in its own way.
As to the Beatles, there are very respectful covers in jazz, that keep the poetry, and that's probably the main point.....
Can you play "I got rhythm now"? I still can't. Not that way....

I can play many tunes based on RC but I haven't tried to tackle John's version. I plan to though. Easier said than done. I think John's is a 7 string though this guy teaching is doing it on a six, so that works for me.

It's so great because you can tell he's thinking melody, singing that melody and playing it, as opposed to "what scale should I play". At least that's my perception; maybe I'm wrong though I doubt it.

There is a group called Beatle Jazz who I really like:

http://www.brianmelvin.com/beatlejazz.htm

I'll have to find some more Beatle covers to like. What I should have said is I enjoy good instrumental versions of their tunes but as far as people singing them, I always like their versions best.