Review: John Pizzarelli at the JVC Jazz Festival - Newport

Is John Pizzarelli "Jazz"?, "Swing"?, "Big Band?"  The lines have become blurred and I am not sure that it is important.

On Friday evening, John Pizzarelli and his Big Band performed a tribute to Frank Sinatra.  The occasion was a celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the release of the 1956 film "High Society".  The film, which starred Sinatra, Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby and Celeste Holm included a soundtrack, by Cole Porter, that history recognizes as one of his best ever.

There is a story about Frank Sinatra visiting Princess Grace in Monaco.  There was a Gold Record on her wall.  Sinatra asked "Whose Gold Record is that?"  Princess Grace replied, "It's mine.  I got it for "True Love" with Bing Crosby".  Frank reportedly said,  "I worked in the music business for years before I got a Gold Record.  You hum a few bars with Bing Crosby and you got one?"

"High Society"was made on a shortened schedule to accomodate Grace Kelly's marriage to Prince Rainer of Monoco. On Friday evening His Serene Highness Prince Albert II, who is Princess Grace's son was in the audience, as was Celeste Holm.

It was an evening of mostly Sinatra, mostly what is referred to as the "Great American Songbook".  With WGBH's Ron Della Chiesa in attendance it made me wistful for the days when he used to host "Music America" before WGBH cancelled the show in the mid 1990s.

Mr. Pizzarelli and his band started strong with "The Way You Look Tonight".  His band swung right into "They Can't Take That Away From Me".

John's father, the legendary rhythm guitarist, Bucky Pizzarelli, was backing him for the evening and was given what was to be a solo, though it turned out to be a father and son duet.  At 80, the elder Pizzarelli has kept his rhythm intact and his playing tight.  The duet, with its mutual admiration, was one of the highlights of the show.

Pizzarelli and his band then took on "Nice and Easy" and "Wee Small Hours of the Morning".  

I hope I always get chills when I hear something as beautiful as the playing of the horn section during "Witchcraft".  The intro was played with such restraint, such longing to be free, it was awe-inspiring.  No disrespect to Mr. Pizzarelli, but his singing was incidental to his band's playing on this number.

"Rhode Island is Famous for You" was an obvious crowd favorite.  It is so playful and full of clever word play.

The set closed with "One for My Baby (and one More for the Road)", Sinatra's signature song, penned by Arlen and Mercer.  With a now, prerequisite, admonition that it is no longer the 1950s and people should not drink and drive, Pizzarelli launch into the set up of the song, as explained by Mr. Sinatra.

It was true to the original,  I think it was the same arrangement, the same chords, the same piano, originally played by Bill Miller.  It is hard to approach something as a carbon-copy and get away with it, but they did.

"Yes Sir, that's my Baby" was a hastily (I think) arranged encore.  No Matter.  It was, as was every other piece they played, tops.

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