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American jazz guitarist and vocalist From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John Paul Pizzarelli Jr. (born April 6, 1960) is an American 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; his father, jazz guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli; and his wife, singer Jessica Molaskey.[1][2]
John Pizzarelli | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | John Paul Pizzarelli Jr. |
| Born | April 6, 1960 Paterson, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, swing |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer, composer |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Labels | P-Vine, Chesky, Novus, RCA, Telarc, Arbors, Concord |
| Website | www |
The son of swing guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, John Pizzarelli was born in Paterson, New Jersey. He started on guitar when he was six and played trumpet through his college years.[3] He attended Don Bosco Preparatory High School, an all-boys Catholic school. In his teens, he performed with Benny Goodman, Les Paul, Zoot Sims, Slam Stewart, and Clark Terry.[4]
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.[3] 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.[5]
During the 1990s, Pizzarelli played in a trio with Ray Kennedy and Martin Pizzarelli, his younger brother. In the summer of 1993, Pizzarelli was the opening act for Frank Sinatra and four years later, Pizzarelli starred in Dream, a Broadway show devoted to the music of Johnny Mercer.[3][5] He has named Nat King Cole as the inspiration for his career[3] and honors that influence in the albums Dear Mr. Cole (BMG, 1994) and P.S. Mr. Cole (RCA, 1999). He has also recorded tribute albums to Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, Antônio Carlos Jobim, Richard Rodgers, and Paul McCartney.[5] 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.[6]
He has hosted a national radio show, Radio Deluxe with John Pizzarelli, with his wife, singer and actress Jessica Molaskey.[3] Other musicians he has worked with include George Shearing, Rosemary Clooney, Johnny Frigo, Buddy DeFranco, Jack Gibbons, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, the Boston Pops Orchestra, and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra.[7]
He sang the 1999 big-band jingle for Foxwoods Resort Casino, titled "The Wonder of It All."[8]
Pizzarelli was a co-producer of the James Taylor album American Standard, which was nominated and won the Grammy in the category of "Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album" on November 24, 2020.[9]
John Pizzarelli and his wife Jessica Molaskey own a vacation cabin overlooking Barrett Pond in Carmel, New York. They often co-host their syndicated radio show, Radio Deluxe with John Pizzarelli from the cabin and do much of their musical work there.[10]
Pizzarelli's father died on April 1, 2020, from complications to COVID-19.[11] Pizzarelli's mother died one week later on April 8, 2020.[12][13]
With Bucky Pizzarelli
With Jessica Molaskey
With James Taylor and Dave O'Donnell
With Monty Alexander
With Harry Allen
With Sam Arlen
With Debby Boone
With Cheryl Bentyne
With Ray Brown
With Rosemary Clooney
With Kristin Chenoweth
With Buddy DeFranco
With Karen Egert
With Johnny Frigo
With Natalie Cole
With Sara Gazarek
With Stephane Grappelli
With Skitch Henderson and Bucky Pizzarelli
With Hilary Kole
With Erich Kunzel
With Paul McCartney
With Jane Monheit
With Rickie Lee Jones
With Donnie O'Brien
With Curtis Stigers
With James Taylor
With Aaron Weinstein
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