John Pizzarelli Meets The Beatles [Import]

John Pizzarelli | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 9, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B00000HZOU
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #149,164 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

From Jazziz

Beatles fans love to explain that one key to the successful partnership of John Lennon and Paul McCartney was their contrasting songwriting personalities: Lennon was the tongue-in-cheek, sardonic wit, McCartney, the earnest balladeer. On john pizzarelli's John Pizzarelli Meets the Beatles (RCA Victor), a well-conceived tribute that sets the duo's classics in jazz-trio and big-band arrangements, the singer/guitarist hits the mark most often when taking on McCartney's tunes. He approaches "Can't Buy Me Love," "When I'm 64," and "Get Back" with a playful wink, jumping off his speedy melody lines and the rising brass sections for extended improvisational tradeoffs with pianist Ray Kennedy. Pizzarelli adds colorful touches like scatting and even ad-libs his own lyrical verses based on the originals. Likewise, he treats an instrumental version of "Eleanor Rigby" with an aggressive sense of swing. And his intense vocal on a percussive "Oh, Darling" helps the tune rise above mere cover-band fare. However, when Pizzarelli presents ballads like "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" and "Long and Winding Road" with maudlin arrangements, he pretty well grinds the party to a halt.

--- JAZZIZ Magazine Copyright © 2000, Milor Entertainment, Inc.

Product Description

CD > POPULAR MUSIC > JAZZ

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A new way to hear the Beatles' songs, August 24, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: John Pizzarelli Meets The Beatles (Audio CD)

I've been a fan of John Pizzarelli for some time now. As a guitarist and interpreter of jazz standards he has no equal. His interpretations of some of these songs by The Beatles helps shed new light on these classic songs. While a few of the ballads tend to drag a bit, the arrangements are wonderful. The best moments are the swing arrangements done in the style of the big bands. The band sounds great! The best song on the CD though, in my opinion, is "For No One"...Not one of McCartney's better known songs, it nonetheless represents some of his finest lyric writing. hearing John give it a new and more sensitive reading brought tears to my eyes.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A magnificent swinging surprise, January 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: John Pizzarelli Meets The Beatles (Audio CD)

What a pleasure and a surprise that someone is willing to give Lennon and McCartney the same treatment accorded Harold Arlen or Gershwin: to use their songs as a template for great performances in different styles, regardless of the original context. And what a natural John Pizzarelli turns out to be for the assignment: as one of the few crooners to actually come of age during the Beatles' era, he treats these songs with reverence and understanding, while still finding a glorious swing beat to underscore them. He is aided and abetted not only by one of the strongest rhythm sections on record (his pianist, Ray Kennedy, is a phenomenon, and the interplay between the two of them and bassist Martin Pizzarelli is virtually supernatural), but by the always imaginative and extraordinary arrangements of Don Sebesky, who gives life and support to many of the tunes here. All that imagination and creativity sometimes gets out of hand (a rap section in "Get Back"?), but who can quibble with all the joy and swing to be found on this lovely and unexpected record.

And while we're on the subject, Pizzarelli's "Love Is Here to Stay" is also highly recommended - an absolute classic of the genre!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pizzarelli - Just Plain Brilliant, May 9, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: John Pizzarelli Meets The Beatles (Audio CD)

Wow! This was the first time I'd ever heard John Pizzarelli, and what a great introduction to his talent. John is obviously a fantastic guitarist, but the chord changes and style flip-flops he introduces in these Beetle hits are brilliant. The big band sounds as good as the Audubon Jazz Explosion Big Band, and the soloists, especially the clarinetist are tops. Don't miss this CD, it will make your heart race.