WAMC Performing Arts Studio
News and Reviews
| PIZZARELLI'S BOSSA BEAT DAZZLES By David Malachowski, Special to the Times Union (First published in the Times Union of Albany, NY: Wednesday, May 5, 2004) Vocalist and guitar wizard John Pizzarelli brought not only his trio, but also a handful of famed bossa nova musicians to the Linda Norris Auditorium Tuesday for a dazzling celebration of Latin culture. While Pizzarelli is a fine guitarist -- as is his father, journeyman swing guitarist "Bucky" Pizzarelli -- John also is a vocalist, and his newest CD is titled "Bossa Nova," which is what Tuesday's show was all about. The WAMC Studio was jam-packed as Pizzarelli took the stage -- in his trademark snappy suit -- with Cesar Camargo Mariano (piano) and Romero LuBambo (guitar) for "What's Up," its bright melody countered by octaves on guitar and Pizzarelli's stellar chord comping. He dove headfirst into a brilliantly fluid solo and was followed by LuBambo's equally expressive but more mellow nylon-string tones. Then something you don't see every day happened. For the second and third song, Pizzarelli just sat and watched as LuBambo and Mariano played two duets, an unusual and generous way to expose his accompanst's music to a new audience. It was certainly worthy of this attention. LuBambo's nylon-string guitar volleyed between sensitive and explosive, while Mariano's piano was percussive and rhythmic as it both supported and delivered the melody. With "Photographia," Pizzarelli rejoined them, showing his speed-demon side, while with Clifford Brown's "Joy Of Spring" he was a bit more restrained at first, then let loose with a barrage of notes before bringing it down to a whisper. Pizzarelli finally sang in Portuguese in "So Danco Samba" to close the first set. The second set included his usual band mates Ray Kennedy (piano) and Martin Pizzarelli (bass), along with guests Paulinho Braga (drums) and Daniel Jobim (vocals). Pizzarelli was in the mood to sing. The soothing "Fasinatin' Rhythm" fell into the obligatory reading of "The Girl From Ipanema," but its simmering sultry groove was far from cliche, with Pizzarelli trading verses with Jobim. Pizzarelli had comfortable rapport with the audience. Troubled with a new guitar that resisted staying in tune, he quipped, "The guitar is on its second night out. It still thinks it's a tree." James Taylor's "Your Smiling Face" was given the bossa treatment to great success, as was the dreamy "Estate." The hopeful "Aguas de Marco" (Waters of March) was sung in English. The clever "One Note Samba" did use almost all the notes, and Mariano and LuBambo returned for the finale. Pizzarelli's modern take on old-school playing had respect for both. Besides lots of upbeats, the music was sunny and optimistic and his love of the music infectious. Or as he put it "What's not to love about this music?" Back to News and Reviews |
| Used with permission of the Times Union of Albany, NY. Re-use rights may not be assigned to a third party without prior written permission from the Times Union. |