Pizzarelli Makes the Classics Current

Chuck Obuchowski, Hartford Courant Originally published December 8, 2007

John Pizzarelli delivered compelling renditions of nearly 20 standard pop songs at the Garde Arts Center in New London Thursday. The jazz scene is currently flooded with vocalists who draw upon the Great American songbook for inspiration, but Pizzarelli is one of very few who consistently communicate the magic of these pieces to 21st century audiences.

As he demonstrated repeatedly at the Garde, Pizzarelli has mastered the art of inhabiting a song's lyrics. He made Nat "King" Cole's "I'm an Errand Boy for Rhythm" a robust personal proclamation. During "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning," he portrayed an abandoned lover with equal conviction.

Dec 08, 2007 4:13 PM - To read the full article, click here.

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