John Pizzarelli
Bossa Nova
Telarc Records
Bud Shank
brought it to the US. Charlie Byrd popularized it. So did Vince Guaraldi.
Getz exploded it. Cannonball bopped it. Ella swung it. Ike Quebec bluesed
it. Joao Gilberto whispered it. Frank purred it. Hawk mastered it. Joe
Henderson did a tribute to it. Luciana Souza is reviving it. And of course,
Jobim created it.
You gotta love John Pizzarelli for his creativity. He’s done recordings
devoted to the Beatles, Love Songs, Big Bands, and George Shearing. Some
have been hits, and some have been misses, but you can’t blame the
New Jersey boy for trying. The choice of a bossa nova cd is a perfect
fit for Mr. P; he’s got the perfect nasal voice to carry the understated
style of Brazilian singing. His working trio is perfectly at home with
the loping hypnotic rhythms, and the choice of bringing Don Sebesky to
supply background strings (along with a dynamite flute quartet) was pure
genius.
Pizzarelli plays some expected standards, with Daniel Jobim sitting in
to contribute Portuguese vocals on his grandfather’s "Ipanema".
Pizzarelli sings in English as he cruises through "One Note Samba"
and the classic "Aquas de Marco". The pleasant surprise is when
he pulls off bringing the bossa feel to songs like Gershwin’s "Fascinating
Rhythm" and James Taylor’s "Your Smiling Face." Any
unsuspecting listener would swear these were songs written by the likes
of Gilberto or Lins. The real honey of this disc, however, is Bruno Martino’s
"Estate" sung in Italian by Mr. P; he sounds completely at ease
and seductive in this gentle piece. The entire session has the feel of
Jobim’s "The Composer Plays", which is what you will want
to do repeatedly once getting this joyful gem. Tony Bennett once stated,
"I never went for a hit record; I always wanted a hit catalog."
That is what John P and company is achieving with this cd being a pleasant
addition.
- George W. Harris
Personnel: John Pizzarelli - guitar and vocals; Ray Kennedy -- piano;
Martin Pizzarelli -- bass; Paulinho Braga -- drums; Jim Saporito -- percussion;
Cesar Camargo Mariano -- piano (tracks 7 and 11); Harry Allen -- tenor
saxophone; Daniel Jobim -- background vocals and Portuguese vocal (track
3); Chiara Civello -- background vocals and "Italian Coach"
Track Listing: 1. One Note Samba 2. Fascinatin' Rhythm 3. The Girl from Ipanema 4. Your Smiling Face 5. Estate 6. Desafinado (Off Key) 7. Aquelas Coisas Todas (All Those Things) 8. I Remember 9. Francesca 10. Love Dance 11. So Danco Samba 12. Aguas De Marco (Waters of March) 13. Soares Samba