John Pizzarelli


John Paul Pizzarelli Jr. 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.

Early life

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. 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.
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 , in 1983.

Career

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. He has named Nat King Cole as the inspiration for his career and honors that influence in the albums Dear Mr. Cole and P.S. Mr. Cole. He has also recorded tribute albums to Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, Antônio Carlos Jobim, Richard Rodgers, and Paul McCartney. He and his father accompanied Annie Ross on her album To Lady with Love, 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 Jessica Molaskey. 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.
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, which was nominated and won the Grammy in the category of "Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album" on November 24, 2020. During Covid, he recorded the album, Better Days Ahead.

Personal life

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.
Pizzarelli's 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
  • Hit That Jive, Jack!
  • Sing! Sing! Sing!
  • My Blue Heaven
  • All of Me
  • Naturally
  • New Standards
  • Dear Mr. Cole
  • After Hours
  • Let's Share Christmas
  • Our Love Is Here to Stay
  • Meets the Beatles
  • P.S. Mr. Cole
  • Kisses in the Rain
  • Let There Be Love
  • Live At Foxwoods Resort Casino
  • The Rare Delight of You with George Shearing
  • Live at Birdland
  • Bossa Nova
  • Knowing You
  • Just Friends with Rick Haydon
  • Dear Mr. Sinatra with Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra
  • With a Song in My Heart
  • Rockin' in Rhythm: A Tribute to Duke Ellington
  • Double Exposure with Tessa Souter
  • John Pizzarelli Salutes Johnny Mercer: Live at Birdland
  • Midnight McCartney
  • Sinatra & Jobim @ 50
  • For Centennial Reasons: 100 Year Salute to Nat King Cole
  • Better Days Ahead: Solo Guitar Takes on Pat Metheny
  • Stage & Screen
With Bucky Pizzarelli
  • Nirvana, Bucky Pizzarelli
  • Contrasts
  • Passion Guitars
  • Twogether
  • Around the World in 80 Years, Bucky Pizzarelli
  • Generations
  • Sunday at Pete's, The Pizzarelli Boys
  • Pizzarelli Party, Arbors All Stars
  • Diggin' Up Bones, Bucky Pizzarelli
  • Desert Island Dreamers, The Pizzarelli Boys
  • Back in the Saddle Again, Bucky Pizarelli
  • Family Fugue
With Jessica Molaskey
  • Pentimento
  • A Good Day
  • Make Believe
  • Sitting in Limbo
  • ''A Kiss to Build a Dream On''

    As producer or co-producer

With James Taylor and Dave O'Donnell
  • ''American Standards''

    As sideman or guest

With Monty Alexander
  • My America
With Harry Allen
  • Are You Having Any Fun?
  • Harry Allen Meets John Pizzarelli Trio
  • Tenors Anyone?
With Sam Arlen
  • Arlen Plays Arlen: The Timeless Tribute to Harold Arlen
With Debby Boone
  • Reflections of Rosemary
With Cheryl Bentyne
With Ray Brown
With Rosemary Clooney
  • Do You Miss New York?
  • Brazil
With Kristin Chenoweth
  • A Lovely Way to Spend Christmas
With Buddy DeFranco
  • Cookin' the Books
With Karen Egert
With Johnny Frigo
With Natalie Cole
  • Stardust
With Sara Gazarek
  • Blossom & Bee
With Stephane Grappelli
  • Live at the Blue Note
With Skitch Henderson and Bucky Pizzarelli
  • Legends
With Hilary Kole
  • Haunted Heart
With Erich Kunzel
  • Got Swing!
  • Christmastime Is Here
With The Manhattan Transfer
  • Vibrate
With Paul McCartney
  • Kisses on the Bottom
With Jane Monheit
  • Home
With Rickie Lee Jones
  • It's Like This
With Donnie O'Brien
  • Meets Manhattan Swing in a Basie Mood
With Curtis Stigers
  • Real Emotional
With James Taylor
  • October Road
  • A Christmas Album
  • James Taylor at Christmas
  • American Standards
With Aaron Weinstein