John Pizzarelli – Stage & Screen (Palmetto Records, 2023)
John Pizzarelli, the renowned jazz guitarist and vocalist, released his new album, Stage & Screen, on April 21, 2023, via Palmetto Records. The album is a collection of classic songs from Broadway and Hollywood that spans almost a century and is performed by Pizzarelli, bassist Mike Karn, and pianist Isaiah J. Thompson. The album is a tribute to some of the most iconic songwriters and performers who have helped to establish the Great American Songbook and pop music canon. Stage & Screen, which also marks the 40th anniversary of Pizzarelli’s 1983 debut recording, I’m Hip, explores other sources for the most immortal American songs of the past century.
The album includes beautiful and stylish versions of classic songs from musicals such as No, No, Nanette and Honeymoon in Vegas, as well as Hollywood films like Casablanca. Pizzarelli’s new trio featuring bassist Mike Karn and pianist Isaiah J. Thompson accompanies him on the album. Despite a two-year disruption to their touring schedule, the band recorded Stage & Screen, sounding like it’s logged years on the road.
“The idea of taking these songs out of the context of their shows or movies was interesting to me,” Pizzarelli says. “With a new arrangement, you can change the meaning of a song. That’s what we’ve been doing all of our lives as jazz musicians – trying to figure out how to make these classic songs different, whether it’s a Songbook standard or a Beatles hit. It’s always a lot of fun.”
About John Pizzarelli
John Pizzarelli has revitalized the Great American Songbook and reintroduces jazz to the mainstream audience. As one of the foremost contemporary interpreters of the Great American Songbook, Pizzarelli has expanded his musical repertoire by incorporating the works of renowned pop, rock, and world music artists such as Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Tom Waits, Antônio Carlos Jobim, and the Beatles.
Apart from being a highly acclaimed bandleader and solo performer, Pizzarelli has also graced the recordings of several major pop icons, including Natalie Cole, Kristin Chenoweth, Tom Wopat, Rickie Lee Jones, and Dave Van Ronk. Additionally, he has collaborated with leading jazz musicians such as Rosemary Clooney, Ruby Braff, Johnny Frigo, Buddy DeFranco, Harry Allen, and his father, the legendary Bucky Pizzarelli. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the music industry, he was awarded a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album as co-producer of James Taylor’s American Standard in 2021.
With an illustrious career spanning over three decades, Pizzarelli has also established himself as a prominent radio personality. He made his foray into the medium in 1984 and currently co-hosts the highly popular Radio Deluxe with John Pizzarelli alongside his wife, Jessica Molaskey. In addition to his radio work, he has also been featured on several of the United States’ most widely watched television shows, including The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Conan, and Great Performances, as well as talk shows hosted by Jay Leno, David Letterman, Regis Philbin, and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Buy Stage & Screen.