Photo Coverage: John Pizzarelli with Daniel Jobim Play Cafe Carlyle

You've probably heard a variation of this joke at a cabaret performance. The performer will say something like "if you know the words, please don't sing along." Ann Hampton Callaway teasingly cajoles her audience to join in while she's singing a musically complex scat arrangement during her act. When John Pizzarelli asked the The Carlyle audience to sing along as he and Daniel Jobim sang the nights closing number (Antonio Carlos Jobim's Aqua De beber), it wasn't funny. The many Brazilians filling the seats in the Cafe expertly chanted in Portuguese. Sometimes I find it difficult to handle the syncopated rhythms which accent the second beat of a measure in Bossa Nova, but this crowd didn't.

During great American Songbook type swinging performances at the Carlyle I usually find my foot beating time. For Bossa Nova you find yourself swaying, and the whole evening seemed to put you on a beach in Rio de Janeiro. John Pizzarelli was probably inspired a bit by radio personality Jonathan Schwartz who was present for this performance. John used a very Brazilian low, soothing voice for most of the songs, and he and Antonio's grandson Daniel Jobim blended perfectly. John Pizzarelli always takes you to a great place with his awesome musical skills and he took us to Brazil last night. The tab was much less than if we traveled to Rio, but I wonder how far those Brazilians travelled to hear the great music.

Traveling from Brazil to join were pianist Helio Alves and drummer Duduka Da Fonseca. From New Jersey it was Martin Pizzarelli on bass. This discount musical vacation to Brazil is available until May 2 at Cafe Carlyle

Photo Credit: Stephen Sorokoff

Daniel Jobim & John Pizzarelli

Daniel Jobim & John Pizzarelli

Martin Pizzarelli, Duduka Da Fonseca, Helio Alves

Jonathan Schwartz & John Pizzarelli

Daniel Jobim & John Pizzarelli

Daniel Jobim

John Pizzarelli

Daniel Jobim & John Pizzarelli

Daniel Jobim & John Pizzarelli

John Pizzarelli

Daniel Jobim & John Pizzarelli

Daniel Jobim & John Pizzarelli

Cafe Carlyle

Daniel Jobim & John Pizzarelli

Martin Pizzarelli & Daniel Jobim

John Pizzarelli, Daniel Jobim, EDa Sorokoff

The Carlyle