The Pittsfield CityJazz Festival is pleased to help spread the word about the John Pizzarelli Quartet, who are coming to play in Pittsfield, on Thursday, June 5, at 8pm at The Colonial Theatre. The concert is a benefit for The Berkshire Music School, which also is a co-sponsor of the Festival.
A $75 VIP ticket includes a backstage “Meet the Artist” and a $35 donation to the School. Reserved tickets are $40 and $25, with student admission at $10. For information, call the Colonial Theatre box office: 413-997-4444, or order online at the Colonial Theatre website.
John Pizzarelli has had a multi-faceted career as a jazz guitarist, vocalist and bandleader. Internationally known for classic standards, late-night ballads, and the cool jazz flavor he brings to his performances and recordings, he has recently established himself as the consummate entertainer and radio program host with the launch of “Radio Deluxe with John Pizzarelli” a nationally syndicated radio program co-hosted with his wife, Broadway star Jessica Molaskey.
Born on April 6, 1960, in Paterson, New Jersey, Pizzarelli has been playing guitar since age six, following in the tradition of his father, guitar legend Bucky Pizzarelli. Hanging out with his father, John was exposed to all the great jazz music of the era, from Erroll Garner and Les Paul to Django Reinhardt. He began playing with his father at age 20, before going out on his own.
Using greats like Nat “King” Cole and Frank Sinatra and the songs of writers like Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen as touchstones, Pizzarelli is among the prime contemporary interpreters of the great American songbook, bringing to the work his signature style and brilliant guitar playing. John Pizzarelli and his band have earned rave reviews, often, in fact, comparing them to jazz icons such as Nat “King” Cole: For Pizzarelli, the comparison to the Nat “King” Cole Trio is the highest of compliments. “I’ve always said in my concerts that Nat ‘King’ Cole is why I do what I do.”
With Telarc’s recent release of Dear Mr. Sinatra, an homage to ‘Ol’ Blue Eyes,’ Pizzarelli’s album count now stands at 21, an odyssey that began with My Blue Heaven in 1990. Some of his most recent CDs include, Knowing You (Telarc 2005), Bossa Nova (Telarc 2004), and Live at Birdland (Telarc 2003).
Enjoy!
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