Search - John Pizzarelli :: With a Song in My Heart

A Very Jolly Rodgers

Ray Charles | 10/03/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"John Pizzarelli continues to turn out wonderfully fresh versions of everything he touches. His singing and playing bring new life to some of Richard Rodgers old songs and resurrects wonderful half-forgotten songs like "Nobody's Heart" and "She Was Too Good To Me". This time he works with more than his quartet with some great arrangements by Don Sebesky. But it's John, himself, who makes this a highly recommended disc."

"It's Easy To Remember. . .But So Hard To Forget"

Rebecca*rhapsodyinblue* | CA USA | 10/14/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Must you bury the tune?" No way! With Richard Rodgers' beautiful and timeless melodies there's no way that music lovers will ever forget his music. Many thanks to guitarist/vocalist/composer/songwriter John Pizzarelli for paying homage to the unforgettable music of a brilliant composer.



"With A Song In My Heart: John Pizzarelli Sings The Music of Richard Rodgers" is one of the best tributes to the eternal music of one of the most brilliant composers in the history of American popular music, Richard Rodgers. It is also one of Mr. Pizzarelli's best recordings from his body of work. Lovers of Great American Songbook, fans of Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein will surely welcome and embrace this latest offering from one of the torch-bearers of the Great American Songbook.



John Pizzarelli together with a fine arranger Don Sebesky, brother Marty Pizzarelli (bass), Larry Fuller (piano), Tony Tedesco (drums), John Mosca (trombone/baritone horn), Andy Fosco (alto, tenor sax/clarinet), Kenny Berger (baritone sax/bass clarinet), Tony Kadleck (trumpet/flugelhorn), and special guests Cesar Camargo Mariano (piano) and his father Bucky Pizzarelli (guitar) will take the listeners to an enjoyable listening journey. Armed with their combined artistic musical talents, they present a dozen of Richard Rodgers melodies set to the brilliant and meaningful lyrics of Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein, two of the most intelligent lyricists from Tin Pan Alley starting off with a swinging rendition of one of the best tracks from this set, "With A Song In My Heart."



"I Have Dreamed" is a real beauty! I love its arrangement where you can hear Larry Fuller's beautiful piano bridge. It is interpreted and arranged with a touch of Bossa Nova making it so uniquely enchanting.



A pleasantly delightful track is a seldom-recorded song, and another Bossa Nova-infused-interpretation of "Happy Talk" from the Broadway musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein's "South Pacific." It features guest musician Cesar Camargo Mariano on piano whose creative playing adds charms to it.



"It's Easy To Remember" is easily my choicest cut from this set of gems. It features the ingeniously beautiful guitar work of a fine guitarist, Bucky Pizzarelli. I could listen to this lovely track repeatedly and savor the allure that each and every note brings.



"Each little moment is clear before me

And though it brings me regret

It's easy to remember but so hard to forget"



My only quibble is the exclusion of some of the most-loved and my all-time favorites -- "My Romance," "It Might As Well Be Spring" and "Manhattan." It would have been superb if these three songs were included in the material. Nonetheless, it is still a great listen. I wholeheartedly recommend it and some of his most remarkable CDs as well -- Dear Mr. Sinatra, Dear Mr. Cole, After Hours, Bossa Nova, All of Me, Our Love Is Here to Stay and Let's Share Christmas.

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