John Pizzarelli | Classic Guitar® journal Guitar Contact
The John Pizzarelli Trio is again on the highway supporting its newest album, Stage and Display screen. Joined by Isaiah J. Thompson on piano and Michael Karn on double bass, Pizzarelli is flying via tunes largely related to Broadway and the films. We had the prospect to dig in a bit with the jazz grasp.
What had been you hoping to attain with this assortment of songs?
We had simply come out of a Nat Cole document, so we tried to select a few tunes that had been outdoors of what we’d been doing – simply type of blow on some tunes. We began to play “Tea For Two” as a ballad as a result of I’d heard it on “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” throughout the pandemic, the place Blossom Dearie sang it over one of many scenes. I believed, “I’ve bought to strive that!”
For my Thursday evening exhibits on Fb, I used to be doing “I Love Betsy” and “Time After Time,” and as I used to be heading into the studio I remembered that I’d all the time wished to place collectively a collection of Oklahoma! songs. So, I wrote that down and stated, “Hey guys, we’re doing a collection.”(laughs) Once I checked out how I’d put a pleasant bow round it, I noticed they had been all fashionable Broadway songs or fashionable film songs. I rounded it out with just a few different issues I hadn’t recorded, and I knew it might be a pleasant theme out on the highway.
I used to be actually happy that the three of us made a document that represents what we do on the highway, and we bought it captured so early in our sport collectively.
It’s a pleasant mixture of well-known songs and a few which are lesser-known, however the preparations all sound contemporary, even on the older songs.
It’s good to have issues folks aren’t aware of they usually had been all additionally in our wheelhouse, so all of it works out properly. I in all probability might’ve discovered just a few extra lesser-known songs, however that’s the place I used to be on the time.
Are you doing extra soloing on this document?
Sure, and I believe it’s as a result of it’s the primary non-Nat King Cole form of document shortly and it was good to play tunes I hadn’t performed earlier than. It’s form of simply due to the way in which it fell into my lap. I’m glad individuals are noticing that. It was recorded properly and I had an opportunity to play somewhat extra.
Though you and your dad, Bucky, are each nice rhythm gamers, you’re additionally killer soloists.
Effectively, my single-note enjoying is a piece in progress. It’s taken 40 years to get so far, so it’s good to be acknowledged for that (laughs). I’m pleased with the way in which it got here out on this document. Typically it really works.
What was your major guitar on the document?
I used the Moll I’ve had for about 15 years, with a Florentine cutaway and floating Kent Armstrong pickup. It’s a beautiful little field. It’s been via the mill however it data so properly, particularly for rhythm enjoying.
Which amp did you utilize?
I recorded via a ZT Membership. It’s bought a 12″ speaker and it’s such an excellent little amplifier. Not too many highs and never too many lows. It’s actually good within the studio. [Engineer] Invoice Moss has this microphone that he can put proper in the midst of the place my guitar is so he can choose up the acoustic half and blend acoustic rhythm somewhat extra to provide extra of an electrical sound for soloing. I used to be significantly happy with the rhythm sound on this – somewhat extra acoustic, which was good.
It additionally sounds nice on the chord solos you performed.
Thanks! I’m actually happy with that!
On one other topic, throughout the pandemic you probably did a solo document of Pat Metheny songs. Any plans to do extra like that?
That is the primary time I’m saying it out loud, however I am enthusiastic about going right into a studio with a listing of instrumentals. However the onerous factor is Bucky recorded most of them, so I’ve bought to take heed to his model and assume I’m going to play one thing higher. So, it’s about looking for the songs.
You already know the Joe Move story the place he was enjoying – I believe it was earlier than an Oscar Peterson present – and stated to himself, “How onerous can or not it’s to play a half hour of tunes? I performed two songs and it was 5 after.” Effectively, with a guitar album, if I might get to 40 minutes, that may be superb.
So I have thought of it. It’s only a matter of stepping into the studio and making it occur.
This text initially appeared in VG’s September 2023 challenge. All copyrights are by the writer and Classic Guitar journal. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.