John Pizzarelli&Jessica Molaskey@Catalina’s 07.25.07


So, what does a guy like John Pizzarelli do after putting out a tribute record by Frank Sinatra? Why, tour around with his wife, of course! While it may not have worked for Ol’ Blue Eyes, pairing up (we can’t say “hooking up” anymore, can we?) with Mrs. Pizzarelli, Jessica Molaskey, was a stroke of marital and musical genius. John P’s jazz sensibilities combined with Jessica M’s Broadway background with relay race precision, delivering an evening that not only strengthened the great American Songbook, but revised and rebound it.

As expected, John P. was able to take his band (brother Martin P/bass, Tony Tedesco /drums, and Larry Fuller/piano) and deliver his usual vocal and guitar virtuosity with style, humor and pizzaz. With a voice a pleasant mix between Dean Martin and Grover the Muppett, Pizzarelli can take a song like “Witchcraft” or “You’re Nobody Until Somebody Loves You” and make it feel like an evening at summer camp. The thrill of the evening was adding Ms. Molaskey into the equation. Her heart is with Broadway show tunes, and displayed these affectations on her sleeve with rich renditions of songs like “Honey You’re a Stranger” from Gypsy. Most in the audience would have been satisfied with simple readings of songs such as these. However, the husband and wife team upped the musical ante by juxtaposing songs that would seem incompatible, such as “The Circle Game” and “Waters of March” sung by husband and wife respectively, and at the exact same time, mixing rhythms, choruses and moods in an absolutely spellbinding way. They did this numerous times, as with John tearing through “Cloudburst” while Molaskey sauntered through Sondheim’s “Not Getting Married Today.” 42nd Street met 52nd street for the first time, and became best of friends. Closing with a rousing version of “Guys and Dolls,” John P and Jessica M demonstrated once and for all the importance of good communication. Talk about family values!


-George W. Harris