Accessibility links
John Pizzarelli John Pizzarelli artist page: interviews, features and/or performances archived at NPR Music

John Pizzarelli

Two Generations Of Jazz Guitar Tune Up For Father's Day

Father and son Bucky and John Pizzarelli have been playing guitar together since the latter was a kid. Steven Freeman/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Steven Freeman/Courtesy of the artist

Music

Two Generations Of Jazz Guitar Tune Up For Father's Day

Bucky Pizzarelli and his son, John, have been collaborating since John was a kid. They perform live in NPR's studios.

Two Generations Of Jazz Guitar Tune Up For Father's Day

Listen · 11:35
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/191338921/192009435" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Bucky Pizzarelli On Piano Jazz

Bucky Pizzarelli. Joe Kohen/WireImage hide caption

toggle caption
Joe Kohen/WireImage

Studio Sessions

Bucky Pizzarelli On Piano Jazz

The guitarist plays the swinging tunes of the 1930s with his son and guest host, John Pizzarelli.

Bucky Pizzarelli On Piano Jazz

Listen · 57:52
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/125494121/137198755" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Toast Of The Nation

John Pizzarelli: 'Dear Mr. Sinatra' Live

WBGO

The guitarist and singer once opened for Ol' Blue Eyes — who, as Pizzarelli relates, gave him some less than memorable advice. Backed by his Swing Seven, Pizzarelli paid tribute to his former headliner, live from the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

Listen Now: John Pizzarelli In Concert

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/122138519/122148519" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Stars Celebrate 30 Years Of Piano Jazz: Set II

John Pizzarelli performs with John Bunch at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola. Frank Stewart/Jazz at Lincoln Center hide caption

toggle caption
Frank Stewart/Jazz at Lincoln Center

Concerts

Stars Celebrate 30 Years Of Piano Jazz: Set II

A flurry of pianists and guitarist John Pizzarelli put an exclamation point on the all-star concert.

Hear Set II

Listen · 57:51
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/113829750/113785830" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Favorite Sessions

John Pizzarelli: Rodgers, Hart And The Gershwins, Too

KNKX Public Radio

Many say the Great American Songbook is coming back, but Pizzarelli says it never went away. Right off the bat, he scatted along to his lightning-fast guitar work on "I Got Rhythm," the popular Gershwin tune, in a session from Jazz24.

Session Spotlight: John Pizzarelli Performs 'I Got Rhythm'

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/102300845/102301802" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
John Pizzarelli On Piano Jazz

John Pizzarelli. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

John Pizzarelli On Piano Jazz

If classic jazz has a contemporary voice, it's that of guitarist, vocalist and bandleader John Pizzarelli. He's fashioned an ultra-cool style that's both modern and rooted in the jazz tradition. Here, the John Pizzarelli Trio swings on "Here Comes the Sun" before Pizzarelli and McPartland perform "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning."

John Pizzarelli On Piano Jazz

Listen · 57:51
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/99126634/150121779" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Music

John and Bucky Pizzarelli: Father-Son Jazz

Fresh Air

John Pizzarelli has been playing jazz guitar with his legendary father, Bucky, since he was 6 years old. John's latest album is Dear Mr. Sinatra, on which he plays songs written for Ol' Blue Eyes. Pizzarelli appears at the Birdland jazz club in Manhattan this week.

John and Bucky Pizzarelli: Father-Son Jazz

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/6139158/6139159" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Browse archive or search npr.org