Strings

If you don’t know who John Pizzarelli is, then you’ve never heard the full potential of a seven-string guitar. His father Bucky was, if not the first, certainly one of the pioneering seven-string players as well as one of the foremost players in the jazz comping style. There’s a reason why I had John sign my Starcaster… it just plays faster with his name on it!

This 2-CD set ranges from Nat King Cole and Harold Arlen standards to bluesy tunes like “If You’re Headed Out To Vera’s” and off the wall fun tunes like “I Like Jersey Best.” Another great thing about this CD is John’s storytelling. I especially love the Ray Kennedy - Dizzy Gilespie story… “I was just gettin’ dizzy!” Classic!

For a second I’ll talk about the other guys. John’s brother Martin Pizzarelli is on the upright bass and does a great job… no Ray Brown… but then again, who is? Then there’s Ray Kennedy on piano… OH… MY… GOD! This guy’s amazing, by far the best pianist I’ve ever witnessed… heck, the best pianist I’ve ever heard! He’s still fairly young too… can’t wait to see what this guy’s still got up his sleeve for us in the future! He really shines on his song “the Gospel Truth” and “This Song is You”

What really amazes me about John’s playing is that he’s got all that speed and technique, but still has oodles of emotion and great senses of taste and humor. He also seems never to run out of ideas. It flows out of him like breath. I’ve even seen him have new songs thrown at him by other performers and he still pulls it off with debonair and tongue in cheek! Just about every song on the album has a solo that just drops my jaw and his chordwork behind everything is just as astounding.

Overall this is a classic live album that everyone should have to demonstrate tasteful stage presence and showmanship not to mention some of the most phenomenal guitar and piano work this world’s ever seen.

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If you play more than two chords, you're showing off.

Woody Guthrie