Customer Reviews

Knowing You

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you've never heard John Pizzarelli's music, it's the ultimate mix of incredible musicianship performed in a way that sounds so easy, so stress-free, so happy. "Knowing You", as in other albums, has original tunes which reveal depth of feeling disguised in swing, scat, clever vocal duets ("Quality Time").
"God Only Knows" - done as a solo - does what is almost impossible: a song of absolute love and open need becomes even more intense than the original. The title song, an original, is clever, technically easier than the rest of the tracks, but oh such a pleasure to listen to! So easy on the ears, so warm for the heart. For the best kick, "Coffee, Black" is a roller coaster. As always, the instrumentals are absolute top notch, especially Ray Kennedy's fabulous piano.

For all you naysayers and skeptics john Pizzarelli and his band (Martin Pizzarellli, Ray Kennedy) are the real deal. This isn't watered down vocal jazz that tries to pass itself off as something its not. Every one takes great (all be it short....) solos. Big thumbs up for Ray Kennedy here (piano). I usually prefer the more upbeat tunes and the swingers... "Knowing you" has far more of those then on John's previous disks. This disk also sounds much cleaner then other telarc recordings ( good production value )... Throw in a bunch of great guests like the virtuoso and terribly underrated clarinetist Ken Peplowski and Larry Goldings (organ) and you have a disk that's worth the cash done in a style that is all too scarce in this day and age of jazz that tends to over intellectualize.

From his very first release on vinyl (I'm Hip) to this exciting new CD, Pizzarelli is a master at what he does. "Coffee, Black" is a brilliant discovery, perfectly suited to his off-the-cuff delivery of the trickiest lyrics. Even his own compositions are maturing; on this album, "The First Hint of Autumn" evokes the arrangements of jazz great, Pat Methaney. For those who say his voice is light, I say phooey! He picks repertoire that showcases his large range and masterful command of words; these days we forget that ennunciation is an important skill for a singer! His guest artists perfectly compliment Pizzarelli's own style; particuularly the tenor sax and the vocal interplays with his wife, Jessica. All around, a gorgeous collection.

I recently purchased this album from John Pizzarelli. I found it through some radio promotion and the nudging of some friends, and let me tell you I was pleasantly surprised. I know what I like, and this album has it all! Great guitar, vocals, rhythms, everything...purely great music!!! I truly enjoy this album every time I put it on, and have a hard time even taking it out of my CD player. I would recommend to anybody who enjoys great music!

Here's a most delightful vocal CD by John Pizzarelli consisting of fine interpretations of familiar and not so familiar tunes, all backed up with excellent accompaniment. Pizzarelli's somewhat nasal baritone is instantly recognizable, and all of the selections here except one feature his singing. (The one exception is an original of John's, a slow ballad, and very pretty.) Harry Allen's tenor sax can be found on a handful of the cuts, adding a decided jazz feel as well as his own brand of lyricism. AIN'T THAT A KICK IN THE HEAD is a highlight of the CD - it's a cute Cahn-Van Heusen composition, the kind of song Pizzarelli is a specialist at; Harry takes a nice solo, too. COFFEE, BLACK is another snazzy tune with an interesting scat vocal by John that blends compellingly with his guitar playing. On QUALITY TIME he sings a duet with his wife, Jessica Molaskey, a singer who reminds me a little of Blossom Dearie. John takes on a very Chet Baker-like sound to his vocal on the slow ballad THE SHADOW OF YOUR SMILE. All in all, this is a very pleasant, handsomely produced CD, another one of the many excellent albums Pizzarelli has issued over the years.

He's done it again. What an enjoyable album. Full of humor and a lot of suprises, expecially on lesser known songs. He somewhat manages to make theme his own. The additional vocals of his wife is pure pleasure. Can't wait for more from Mr. Pizzarelli

I wanted to love this album; I really did. I have asked myself why I believe that the current crop of young women jazz singers are so much better than the current crop of young men jazz singers. I thought this one would prove me blessedly wrong.

But it didn't.

John Pizzarelli has a very light voice. I don't mean thin or weak; I mean light. But he's not "Caetano Veloso"-light. He's more like what Wayne Newton probably sounded like, when Mr. Newton was 15 (i.e., just post-"Danke Schoen").

And when he's singing an uptune, particularly while playing the guitar, he shows his lightness off to maximum advantage. "Coffee, Black", "New Sun in the Sky" and "Pick Yourself Up" are all terrific. Scatting is his strength.

I don't mean he can't do ballads as well; he can. The title track and the last track, "If It's the Last Thing I Do", both have a lazy swing-feel about them, and his voice well suits that style.

But what Mr. Pizzarelli doesn't have in his bag of chops, and the reason I'm not giving this 5 stars, is the ability to sing a dramatic ballad. "The Shadow of Your Smile", "Say It (Over and Over Again)" and "How Long Has This Been Going On" just don't work. Caetano Veloso, for his lightness, can sing a dramatic ballad. Ditto Mel Torme. John Pizzarelli just doesn't have that kind of flexibility in his voice, at least not yet.

What he does have, though, is a musical partner and spouse, Jessica Molaskey, with whom he ought to cut a whole album of duets. In her "Make Believe" of earlier this year, the strongest cut on the album was her duet with her husband, "Cloudburst/Not Geting Married Today". And on this album, the strongest cut is their duet, the tres witty "Quality Time." Not only do they enjoy each other's company, but their voices match. Ms. Molaskey can do the drama; Mr. Pizzarelli can do the lightness; and together they create a very effective vocal "yin-yang."

I look forward to an album of duets by them. I'm certain that, absent major production blunders, that will be a 5-star album. RC

"Sometimes meeting a musician transforms my way of thinking forever. Meeting a songwriter teaches me more about the nature of life from having lived inside his music." ~ John Pizzarelli ~

I will say it over and over again that John Pizzarelli is one of the most versatile and remarkable jazz artists of today! He's not only an impressive jazz singer but also a gifted guitarist, talented songwriter/composer all rolled into one. He has been recording jazz standards that we all know and love mostly in trio or big band settings.

This CD, "Knowing You" is a program of timeless standards mix with some of his original songs, plus a song by the Beach Boys, "God Only Knows." This is a tribute to the songwriters, composers and musicians he met and have known in the course of his musical career. The brilliance and creativity in singing and guitar playing that Mr. Pizzarelli brings not only in this CD but in all of his recordings have continuously delighted my auditory sense.

He sings two of Jimmy McHugh's gems with new twists - "I Just Found Out About Love" and one of my all-time favorites, "Say It Over And Over Again," written with Frank Loesser. In the same manner, he gives Johnny Mandel's "The Shadow of Your Smile" a graceful reading and making it as one of the best tracks from this collection. While all the tracks are great listens, the notables include the title track "Knowing You," Dave Frishberg and Dan Barrett's "Eastwood Lane," featuring Ken Peplowski on beautiful clarinet, George and Ira Gershwin's "How Long Has This Been Going On?" and Sammy Cahn's "If It's The Last Thing I Do." A delightful duet with Jessica Molaskey, "Quality Time," another Dave Frishberg song, is also an enjoyable listen for their voices blended and harmonized so well creating a warm musical romance between this real-life-couple.

This is one of John Pizzarelli's most remarkable recordings and I most definitely recommend it!

"Say it over and over again
Ever and ever so sweet
Just like an old Valentine"

this guy knows his material. its sooo clear on this cd. check it out.

LOVE John Pizzarelli! Most amazing scat ever and he does it while he's riffing the guitar at top speed. Sounds to me like it should take at least two people to do that, but no. Incredible. His singing is sweet and fun. "Quality Time" is a riot. Great jazz.