JESSICA MOLASKEY — Make Believe (2004) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Veteran Broadway actress Jessica Molaskey's third CD for PS Classics is a mix of favorites from musicals and standards from the Great American Songbook, though many of these compositions have not been recorded much at all for quite some time. Backed by a band that includes husband John Pizzarelli on guitar along with her guitarist father-in-law Bucky Pizzarelli, trombonist John Mosca, tenor saxophonist Harry Allen, and a number of superb New York-based musicians, Molaskey's acting skills come across even though the listener can't see her perform these timeless tunes. She sounds young and flirty in "I Cain't Say No" (from Oklahoma!) in a superb orchestration by John Clayton, while restoring the often omitted verse. She soars in the stunning strings and piano arrangement of "Make Believe." But one of the assets of Molaskey's choice of songs is rediscovering overlooked gems like "Stepsisters' Lament," making the most of its hilarious lyrics in a rapid-fire rendition. A very welcome guest is singer Adam Guettel (Richard Rodgers' grandson) in the warm duet of Rodgers' melancholy "Glad to Be Unhappy" with a brilliant orchestration by Don Sebesky. Husband John Pizzarelli sings with his wife in the humorous interwoven medley of Jon Hendricks' bop classic "Cloudburst" and Stephen Sondheim's "Getting Married Today," a real laugh riot arranged by Jason Robert Brown. Molaskey jointly wrote the bittersweet ballad "Cradle and All" with Ricky Ian Gordon, which features another fine orchestration by Sebesky. The only thing better than listening to this outstanding CD is getting to hear Jessica Molaskey perform in person. Ken Dryden 
Tracklist:
1 I Cain't Say No
Arranged By – John Clayton
Orchestrated By – John Clayton
Written-By – Rodgers & Hammerstein
2 Guys And Dolls
Arranged By – John Clayton
Orchestrated By – John Clayton
Written-By – Frank Loesser
3 Make Believe
Arranged By – Larry Goldings
Orchestrated By – Don Sebesky
Written By – Hammerstein-Kern
4 Stepsisters' Lament
Arranged By, Orchestrated By – Don Sebesky
Written-By – Rodgers & Hammerstein
5 Glad To Be Happy
Arranged By, Orchestrated By – Don Sebesky
Written-By – Rodgers & Hart
6 Hey, Look Me Over, [With A Touch Of] Big Spender
Written-By – Carolyn Leigh, Cy Coleman, Dorothy Fields
7 So Many People
Written-By – Stephen Sondheim
8 Medley
Orchestrated By – Don Sebesky
8a Cloudburst
Written-By – Jon Hendricks
8b Getting Married Today
Written-By – Stephen Sondheim
9 Growing Pains
Written-By – Arthur Schwartz, Dorothy Fields
10 All That Jazz
Arranged By, Orchestrated By – John Clayton
Written-By – Kander And Ebb
11 Right As The Rain
Written-By – E.Y. Harburg, Harold Arlen
12 You're A Builder Upper
Written-By – E.Y. Harburg, Harold Arlen, Ira Gershwin
13 Cradle And All
Orchestrated By – Don Sebesky
Written-By – Jessica Molaskey, Ricky Ian Gordon
14 Goodnight My Someone
Written-By – Meredith Willson
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Andy Fusco
Baritone Saxophone – Ken Berger
Bass – Martin Pizzarelli
Cello – Clay Ruede
Drums – Tony Tedesco
Flute – Pam Sklar, Shelley Woodworth
Guitar – Bucky Pizzarelli, John Pizzarelli (tracks: 9)
Lead Vocals, Liner Notes – Jessica Molaskey
Piano – Larry Goldings (tracks: 3, 7, 11, 14), Lee Musiker, Ray Kennedy (tracks: 6, 8)
Producer – John Pizzarelli
Tenor Saxophone – Harry Allen
Trombone – John Mosca
Trumpet – "Bud" Burridge, Tony Kadleck
Viola – Conway Kuo
Violin – Antoine Silverman, Paul Woodiel
Vocals – Adam Guettel (tracks: 5), John Pizzarelli (tracks: 8) 

JOHN PIZZARELLI — Dear Mr. Sinatra (2006) SACD | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Frank Sinatra, though not a jazz singer, was long respected by jazz musicians for his natural ability to get the best out of a song while developing a trademark approach to singing that had great appeal. While many recorded tributes to Sinatra since his death have been abysmal at best, vocalist and guitarist John Pizzarelli knows a little something about swinging and finding the essence of each song. Backed by the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, with whom Pizzarelli toured prior to the making of this CD, along with arrangements by John Clayton, Don Sebesky, Dick Lieb, and Quincy Jones, he sought to focus primarily on songs written with Sinatra in mind, though taking new approaches to each of them. Dear Mr. Sinatra opens with an over-the-top rendition of "Ring-A-Ding-Ding." Clayton's sensitive writing for reeds provides the perfect backdrop for Pizzarelli's warm vocals in "If I Had You." The singer works magic in another fine Clayton chart, "I've Got You Under My Skin," delivering the goods in a sensitive interpretation. Pizzarelli is backed only by pianist Tamir Hendelman in the miniature scoring of "The Last Dance," which serves as a perfect finale. Only three of the tracks clock in at over four minutes, so there's not much of a focus upon instrumental solos, though Pizzarelli's guitar is featured in "Witchcraft." With a total time just under 40 minutes, the program is a little short by CD standards, but the performances by John Pizzarelli and the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra in this warm tribute to Old Blue Eyes are consistently of high caliber and hit the mark every time. Ken Dryden  
Tracklist :
1    Ring-A-Ding Ding    3:37
Sammy Cahn / James Van Heusen
2    You Make Me Feel So Young    3:59
Mack Gordon / Josef Myrow
3    How About You?    2:43
Ralph Freed / Burton Lane
4    If Had You    4:48
Reginald Connelly / Ted Shapiro
5    Witchcraft    4:13
Cy Coleman / Carolyn Leigh
6    I've Got You Under My Skin    3:26
Cole Porter
7    Nice'n' Easy    2:46
Alan Bergman / Marilyn Bergman / Lewis Spence
8    Medley: I See You Face Before Me - In The Wee Small Hours (Of The Morning)    4:14
Howard Dietz / Bob Hilliard / Dave Mann / Arthur Schwartz
9    Can't We Be Friends?    3:57
Paul James / Kay Swift
10    Yes Sir, That's My Baby    3:03
Walter Donaldson / Gus Kahn
11    Last Dance    2:24
Sammy Cahn / James Van Heusen
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Clarinet – Jeff Clayton, Keith Fiddmont
Baritone Saxophone, Bass Clarinet – Lee Callet
Bass – Christoph Luty
Bass Trombone – Maurice Spears (tracks: Tracks: 2,7,10), Robbie Hiaki (tracks: Tracks:1,5,6,8,9)
Bass, Conductor – John Clayton
Drums – Jeff Hamilton
Guitar – Bucky Pizzarelli
Guitar, Vocals – John Pizzarelli
Piano – Tamir Hendelman
Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet – Charles Owens, Rickey Woodard
Trombone – George Bohanon, Ryan Porter
Trombone [Lead] – Ira Nepus
Trumpet – Bobby Rodriguez, Gilbert Castellanos, James Ford, Sal Cracchiolo
Trumpet [Lead] – Bijon Watson

JESSICA MOLASKEY — A Kiss to Build a Dream On (2008) APE (image+.cue), lossless

When Broadway actress Jessica Molaskey met jazz guitarist/vocalist John Pizzarelli, an engaging partnership (both musical and marital) was formed. Molaskey enjoyed the musical family she married into, including father and guitarist Bucky and brother-in-law/bassist Martin, all of whom join her on her first CD for a purely jazz label. Rounding out the band is the talented young violinist Aaron Weinstein, a swinging, sensitive player in the Stéphane Grappelli tradition whose maturity on his instrument belies his youth. One of Molaskey's greatest strengths is her effortless ability to convey the emotion of each song without overdoing it, while her vocals are always right on the money. She also chose quite a few pieces that have long fallen into obscurity, including the upbeat "Happy Habit," the brightly swinging "Hello Sunshine Hello" (which interpolates "You Are My Sunshine" and utilizes multi-tracked vocals), and "Breezin' Along with the Breeze." John joins her for an intimate vocal duet of "Tea for Two" that includes the oft-omitted verse, along with their warm original "Hiding in Plain Sight," the latter adding guest Larry Fuller on piano. She also chose a pair of Stephen Sondheim songs, offering a playful rendition of "Everybody Loves Louis" (from Sunday in the Park with George and the sentimental ballad "Isn't He Something" (from Bounce. Jessica Molaskey will warm an audience of any size with this superb release.  Ken Dryden  
Tracklist :
1 Happy Habit 3:46
Dorothy Fields / Arthur Schwartz 
2 Medley: You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby/Baby Face 4:20
Harry Akst / Benny Davis / Johnny Mercer / Harry Warren 
3 Hello Sunshine Hello 3:28
Jack Murray / Charles Tobias 
4 A Kiss to Build a Dream On 4:11
Oscar Hammerstein II / Bert Kalmar / Harry Ruby 
5 Everybody Loves Louis 3:17
Stephen Sondheim 
6 Tea for Two 4:09
Irving Caesar / Vincent Youmans 
7 Take Me To You 3:41
Jessica Molaskey / John Pizzarelli 
8 Breezin' Along With the Breeze 4:12
Haven Gillespie / Seymour Simons / Richard A. Whiting 
9 Isn't He Something 3:47
Stephen Sondheim 
10 Hiding In Plain Sight 3:46
Jessica Molaskey / John Pizzarelli 
11 I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover 3:07
Mort Dixon / Harry Woods 
12 You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You 5:51
Larry Stock 
13 Ain't Misbehavin' 5:53
Harry Brooks / Andy Razaf / Fats Waller 
14 Bye Bye Blues 4:49
Dave Bennett / Chauncey Gray / Fred Hamm / Bert Lown 
15 Heart's Desire 2:48
Alan Broadbent / Dave Frishberg
Credits :
Jessica Molaskey, Composer, Cover Design, Vocals
Bucky Pizzarelli, Guitar
John Pizzarelli, Vocals
Martin Pizzarelli, Bass, Bass Instrument
Aaron Weinstein, Violin

SARA GAZAREK – Blossom & Bee (2012) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Sara Gazarek is one of the most winning vocalists on the current jazz scene, a singer with a voice as clear and pure as mountain air, great taste in arrangements, and a hint of wicked humor in both her repertoire and her delivery. She is also a talented songwriter herself, and on her third album as a leader she displays all of these gifts in abundance. Here she works in close collaboration with pianist, organist, and composer Larry Goldings; they are joined by bassist Hamilton Price, drummer Zach Harmon, and pianist Josh Nelson, as well as by guest artist John Pizzarelli (who sings and plays guitar on the wonderful "Blossom & Bee" and contributes rhythm guitar to a pleasingly hard-swinging arrangement of the vaudeville song "Some of These Days"). Gazarek's musical vision is wide-ranging, and on this album jazz is more of a touchstone than a straitjacket -- it's what connects the romantic Ben Folds ballad "The Luckiest" with an alternately funky and swinging rendition of "Down with Love," and bridges the divide between the Blossom Dearie weeper "The Lies of Handsome Men" and a delightful take on the Schoolhouse Rock! classic "Unpack Your Adjectives." And it's what turns "So This Is Love," perhaps the most affecting of all Disney movie songs, into a deliciously swaying bossa nova, complete with a fantastic scat section. This is an utterly captivating album, one on which all musical barriers seem permeable and Gazarek's voice is a source of constant delight. Rick Anderson  
Tracklist  :
1    Everything I've Got    3:26
2    Blossom & Bee    3:36
3    Fly Away Birdie    4:31
4    The Luckiest    4:19
5    Down With Love    4:46
6    Lucky To Be Me    5:33
7    Tea For Two    6:10
8    I'm Old Fashioned    5:01
9    So This Is Love    4:14
10    The Lies Of Handsome Men    5:36
11    Some Of These Days    4:49
12    Unpack Your Adjectives    3:46
Credits :
Bass – Hamilton Price
Drums – Zach Harmon
Guest, Vocals, Guitar – John Pizzarelli
Organ, Piano, Melodica, Producer – Larry Goldings
Piano, Keyboards – Josh Nelson
Vocals, Glockenspiel – Sara Gazarek

JOHN PIZZARELLI — P.S. Mr. Cole (1999) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Just as when we listen to Harry Connick, Jr., there's a sense that John Pizzarelli is an old soul who is living back in the 1940s and '50s golden age of music and that listeners are time-traveling with him. But that just bears testament to the timeless nature of his easy vocals, lush and often snappy electric guitar work and the loving way he embraces classic material. P.S. Mr. Cole, the follow-up to Dear Mr. Cole is as, pardon the expression, unforgettable as his first tribute to the grace and panache of Nat King Cole. Just as with his recent tribute to the Beatles, Pizzarelli is just fine on the soft, sparse ballads but saves his most interesting interpretations for swinging trio arrangements. Because this is the sequel, the tunes aren't all household hums, and that makes this even more interesting. "Walkin' My Baby Back Home" swings gently along, breaks for a colorful guitar-piano duet (with Ray Kennedy), then speeds up towards the dramatic conclusion. "Welcome to the Club," whose lyric marvelously chronicles the shared experience of being a fool in love, opens with the singer scatting over a buoyant rhythm section (cleverly belying the melancholy nature of the theme). Other titles he adds his unique flair to are "The Late Late Show," "Tenderly," and Charlie Chaplin's "Smile" (which could have perhaps been done with a little more wryness). Recently Pizzarelli declared that he's not intimidated putting his own originals alongside classics, and his tribute tune, "That's Nat," is one of the most adventurous pieces here. Perhaps Pizzarelli should do a few duets next time with Natalie Cole. That would be unforgettable, too. Jonathan Widran
Tracklist :
1. Walkin' My Baby Back Home 2:30
 Fred E. Ahlert / Roy Turk
2. Candy 5:33
 Mack David / Alex Kramer / Joan Whitney
3. Welcome To The Club 3:21
 Noel Sherman / Dick Wolf
4. Indiana 3:23
 James F. Hanley / Ballard MacDonald
5. I Love You For Sentimental Reasons 2:52
 William "Pat" Best / Deek Watson
6. Don't Let It Go To Your Head 2:23
 Henry Hadamik / Frank LaVere / Bob Nast
7. Meet Me At No Special Place 3:19
 Henry Pyle / J. Russel Robinson / Arthur Terker
8. The Late Late Show 3:06
 Roy Alfred / Murray Berlin
9. Smile 3:52
 Charlie Chaplin / Geoffrey Parsons / John Turner
10. Tenderly 4:16
 Walter Gross / Jack Lawrence
11. I Was A Little Too Lonely 3:27
 Redd Evans / Jay Livingston
12. I'm An Errand Boy For Rhythm 3:34
 Nat King Cole
13. Then I'll Be Tired Of You 4:02
 E.Y. "Yip" Harburg / Arthur Schwartz
14. That's Nat 3:04
 John Pizzarelli
15. Azure-Te 3:51
 Bill Davis / Don Wolf
16. I Know That You Know 3:43
 Anne Caldwell / Vincent Youmans
17. Embraceable You 3:28
 George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
18. I Like Jersey Best 7:17
Credits :
John Pizzarelli - Guitar, Vocals
Ray Kennedy - Piano
Martin Pizzarelli - Bass
Guest: Harry Allen - Tenor Sax (tracks: 6, 13)

JESSICA MOLASKEY — Pentimento (2002) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

According to Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary, pentimento is defined as "the presence or emergence of earlier images, forms, or strokes that have been painted over." Musical theater star performer Jessica Molaskey's album of the same name gives a jazzy musical twist to this definition by updating songs from the 1920s and '30s. The play list is made up of those wonderful songs that people were enjoying during the pre-Depression flapper and Depression eras. Often their lyrics reflected the social and economic mores of the time, such as "We're in the Money"; others are just lovely songs from a bygone era, some of which have survived quite well to this day. These were the staples of many vaudeville and music hall performers and Tin Pan Alley song pluggers. Molaskey is joined by a stellar cast of musicians as she freshens up these vintage melodies, giving them a somewhat modern sheen, but not enough to completely mask their authenticity as classic American popular songs. The all-star band includes Ken Peplowski with his middle-register clarinet, Larry Goldings, and veteran Johnny Frigo. This group is augmented by Molaskey's husband, guitarist/vocalist John Pizzarelli, and his father, Bucky Pizzarelli. Molaskey delivers this wonderful material in an ungarnished, straightforward, clear, and pretty voice. She also has a way with taking these oldies and giving them a new look by simply changing the pulse. This happens on "I'm Just Wild About Harry," which is done as a plaintive ballad instead of the usually fast tap-dancing pace of its Broadway introduction in Shuffle Along in 1921. Even more than the pleasant warm feeling of nostalgia this fine album produces, it is a fun album of good music performed by excellent practitioners of their trade. Highly recommended for everybody who enjoys good music. Dave Nathan  
Tracklist :
1 Oh You Beautiful Doll 2:44
Nat D. Ayer / Seymour Brown
2 I'm Just Wild About Harry 3:02
Eubie Blake / Noble Sissle
3 Ain't We Got Fun 3:06
Raymond B. Egan / Gus Kahn / Richard A. Whiting
4 What'll I Do 3:31
Irving Berlin
5 Medley 3:22
Al Dubin / Harry Warren
Jessica Molaskey feat: John Pizzarelli
  6 Waitin' For the Train to Come In 2:29
Martin Block / Sunny Skylar
7 Red, Red Robin 2:42
Harry Woods
8 By the Beautiful Sea 1:57
Harold Atteridge / Harry Carroll
9 I'm Always Chasing Rainbows 2:49
Harry Carroll / Joseph McCarthy
10 Oh, How I Hate to Get up in the Morning 2:46
Irving Berlin
11 You Made Me Love You 4:12
Joseph McCarthy / James V. Monaco
12 I Tried Too Hard For Too Long 1:50
Jessica Molaskey / John Pizzarelli
13 When I Lost You 1:05
Irving Berlin
14 Look For the Silver Lining 1:55
Buddy DeSylva / Jerome Kern
15 I Can't Give You Anything But Love 3:18
Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh
16 Beautiful Dreamer 1:37
Stephen Foster
17 Sail Away 2:57
Jessica Molaskey / John Pizzarelli
 Credits :
Johnny Frigo - Violin
Larry Goldings - Arranger, Piano, Piano Arrangement
Jesse Levy - Cello
Jessica Molaskey - Arranger, Composer, Vocals
Ken Peplowski - Clarinet
Bucky Pizzarelli - Guitar, Ukulele
John Pizzarelli - Arranger, Composer, Guitar, Producer, Ukulele, Vocals
Martin Pizzarelli - Bass
Tony Tedesco - Brushes, Percussion

AARON WEINSTEIN & JOHN PIZZARELLI — Blue Too (2007) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

The combination of jazz and guitar, whether in a group setting or duo, has frequently been associated with swing. This stretches back further than Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli to players like guitarist Eddie Lang and violist Joe Venuti in the 1920s; the tradition, however, also moves forward in time, including work by Stuff Smith with guitarist Herb Ellis in 1963 and numerous recordings by groups put together by Tony Rice and David Grisman beginning in the '70s. Despite the long history, the guitar/fiddle combination is nonetheless a rare one in jazz, which makes the issue of Blue Too by guitarist John Pizzarelli and violinist Aaron Weinstein a real treat. As a duo recording, Pizzarelli and Weinstein have kept Blue Too's arrangements simple and intimate. The material, both new and old, pays tribute to the swing tradition, allowing the duo to reach back to George Van Eps' "I Wrote It for Joe," make a stop at Cole Porter's "You Do Something to Me," and add to the tradition with the original title cut. While Pizzarelli and Weinstein occasionally indulge in lengthy jams, as with Walter Donaldson's "Little White Lies" (nearly seven minutes), most of these pieces run between two and four minutes. The music and tradition may be familiar on Blue Too, but Pizzarelli and Weinstein's lead work and innovative backing deliver it with imagination. Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.
Tracklist :
1    I Want To Be Happy 3:05
Written-By – Irving Caesar, Vincent Youmans
2    Cocktails For Two 4:18
Written-By – Arthur Johnston, Sam Coslow
3    Little White Lies 6:49
Written-By – Walter Donaldson
4    Raggin' The Scale 2:43
Written-By – Edward B. Claypoole
5    Blue Too 6:49
Written-By – Aaron Weinstein, John Pizzarelli
6    You 3:49
Written-By – Harold Adamson, Walter Donaldson
7    Don't Be That Way 2:36
Vocals – John Pizzarelli
Written-By – Benny Goodman, Edgar Sampson, Mitchell Paris
8    Diga Diga Doo 3:02
Written-By – Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh
9    I Guess I'll Have To Change My Plan 3:58
Written-By – Arthur Schwartz, Howard Dietz
10    You Do Something To Me 3:31
Written-By – Cole Porter
11    Melancholy Lullaby 5:24
Written-By – Benny Carter, Edward Heyman
12    The Blue Room 3:16
Written-By – Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
13    I Wrote It For Jo 3:10
Written By – George Van Eps
14    As Long As I'm Singing 2:16
Written-By – Bobby Darin
Credits :
Guitar – John Pizzarelli (All Tracks), Vocals – (Track 7)
Violin – Aaron Weinstein (All Tracks)

JOHN PIZZARELLI — Dear Mr. Cole (1995) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

John Pizzarelli's tribute to Nat King Cole features him in a drumless trio with pianist Benny Green and bassist Christian McBride on all but one selection. Pizzarelli is fine as a rhythm guitarist, but since he sings on most of the selections and his voice is merely average, this session (which includes 18 selections, most of which were originally associated with Cole) is of less interest than one might hope. At least Pizzarelli has a cheerful style and does not seem to take himself too seriously; Green has many forceful solos, but the leader's limited vocal abilities keep this recording from being too essential. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Style Is Coming Back In Style 2:42
Written-By – Leiber/Stoller
2    What Can I Say After I Say I'm Sorry 2:24
Written-By – Lyman, Donaldson
3    Little Girl 2:51
Written-By – Henry, Hyde
4    You Must Be Blind 3:39
Written-By – Cole
5    Sweet Georgia Brown 5:47
Written-By – Bernie, Casey, Pinkard
6    It's Only A Paper Moon 2:33
Written-By – Rose, Harburg, Arlen
7    September Song 3:30
Written-By – Weill, Anderson
8    On The Sunny Side Of The Street 2:54
Written-By – McHugh/Fields
9    Nature Boy 3:44
Written-By – E. Ahbez
10    This Way Out 4:49
Written-By – Cole
11    Too Marvelous For Words 2:05
Written-By – Mercer, Whiting
12    Route 66 6:42
Written-By – Troup
13    Sweet Lorraine 3:29
Written-By – Burwell, Parish
14    Straighten Up And Fly Right 5:08
Written-By – Mills, Cole
15    Honeysuckle Rose 2:54
Written-By – Razaf, Waller
16    L-O-V-E 2:18
Written-By – Kaempfert, Gabler
17    Unforgettable 1:58
Written-By – Gordon
18    Portrait Of Jenny 2:53
Written By – Newman
Credits :
Bass – Christian McBride
Drums – John Guerin (tracks: 1)
Guitar, Vocals – John PIzzarelli
Piano – Benny Green (tracks: 2 to 18), Ray Kennedy (tracks: 1)

RAY BROWN TRIO — Some of My Best Friends Are ... Guitarists (2002) APE (image+.cue), lossless

The fifth in Ray Brown's series of recordings pairing his working trio with several different musicians from the same family of instruments (although one volume was exclusively singers) features a half-dozen guitarists, ranging from fellow Oscar Peterson alumni Herb Ellis (who worked with Brown in the pianist's most famous trio) and Ulf Wakenius to veteran Kenny Burrell, as well as seasoned players like John Pizzarelli and Bruce Forman and the rising star Russell Malone. Each song sounds as if the group could be a working quartet, due to the great interaction between the trio and each guest. Pizzarelli shines in a bluesy, strutting take of Duke Ellington's "Just Squeeze Me" (erroneously labeled as Fats Waller's "Squeeze Me") which has a nice series of exchanges between the guitarist and the leader. Ellis brings back memories of the Oscar Peterson Trio with a heated performance of "I Want to Be Happy" during which pianist Geoff Keezer is up to the task of carrying on where Ellis left off. Wakenius is the guest on a particularly moody take of "My Funny Valentine." Burrell, Forman, and Malone also fare nicely on each of their pair of tracks, so it's very easy to recommend this very enjoyable disc. Ken Dryden   Tracklist & Credits :

BUCKY PIZZARELLI - Challis In Wonderland (2011) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Bucky Pizzarelli salutes arranger Bill Challis, who was responsible for many of the most important charts played by the Jean Goldkette Orchestra and Paul Whiteman's Orchestra, along with helping transcribe the handful of compositions by legendary cornetist Bix Beiderbecke. In his eighties at the time of these sessions, the seven-string guitarist shows no signs of slowing down, joined by bassist Jerry Bruno and on a few tracks adding his son John on guitar or a swinging string quartet led by the talented young violinist Aaron Weinstein with string arrangements by Dick Lieb. Most of the repertoire includes music of the '20s and '30s, with two exceptions. Pizzarelli's original "Challis in Wonderland" is a lush, laid-back ballad saluting the arranger performed as a guitar duet, while Bob Haggart's timeless ballad "What's New" has long been a part of the leader's repertoire. Zez Confrey (the novelty pianist and composer of "Kitten on the Keys") penned the obscure "Romanza," played as an intimate father/son duet. The trio's intricate reading of Beiderbecke's "In the Dark" is a lyrical masterpiece. Pizzarelli is buoyed by the strings in his breezy, toe-tapping rendition of Beiderbecke's "Davenport Blues," while the cornetist's "In a Mist" has long been a brilliant, expected solo feature for the guitarist at jazz parties. Weinstein switches to mandolin for a swinging setting of "Oh Baby" with the leader and Bruno. These rewarding sessions by Bucky Pizzarelli provide ample proof that the master guitarist keeps the spirits of Bix Beiderbecke and Bill Challis very much alive. by Ken Dryden   
Tracklist
1 Sunday 4:59
Chester Cohn / Bennie Krueger / Ned Miller / Jule Stein
2 Sugar 4:05
Edna Alexander / Sidney D. Mitchell / Maceo Pinkard
3 Challis in Wonderland 4:01
Bucky Pizzarelli
4 Davenport Blues 7:09
Bix Beiderbecke
5 In the Dark 3:00
Bix Beiderbecke
6 Romanza 1:29
Zez Comfrey
7 Singing the Blues 5:38
Con Conrad / Sam M. Lewis / J. Russel Robinson / Joe Young
8 In a Mist  4:52
Bix Beiderbecke
9 Oh Baby  3:40
Owen Murphy
10 Sugar 5:55
Edna Alexander / Sidney D. Mitchell / Maceo Pinkard
11 Candlelights 5:11
Bix Beiderbecke
12 What's New 6:38
Johnny Burke / Bob Haggart
13 I'm Coming Virginia 4:54
Will Marion Cook / Donald Heywood
14 Flashes 2:58
Bix Beiderbecke
Personnel:
Bucky Pizzarelli - acoustic guitar, 7-string guitar
John Pizzarelli - 7-string guitar
Jerry Bruno - bass
Dick Lieb Strings:
Aaron Weinstein - violin, mandolin
Svetlana Tsoneva - violin
Olivia Koppell - viola
Jesse Levy - cello

BUCKY PIZZARELLI - Challis In Wonderland 

(2011) ARBORS / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

O Púbis da Rosa

JESSICA MOLASKEY – Sitting in Limbo (2007) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Jessica Molaskey came up with a list of "limbo songs" for her fourth CD, describing them as pieces where someone is trying to figure out the difference between what seems to be taking place vs. what is actually going on. With a fine band that includes her husband, John Pizzarelli, on guitar, bassist Martin Pizzarelli, and drummer Tony Tedesco, with either Larry Goldings or Larry Fuller on piano, plus several appearances by saxophonist Harry Allen, she offers thoughtful interpretations of material drawn from the pop and rock of several decades, a few standards, and a pair of originals. She works magic with the unpromising soul hit "O-o-h Child" -- a simplistic ballad with a trite two-line lyric -- by slowing its tempo, accompanied solely by Goldings' thoughtful arrangement. Her humorous side comes out as she and her spouse interpolate "I Want to Be Happy" and "Sometimes I'm Happy" in a playful, sometimes conversational setting. They also jointly wrote the subtle but amusing ballad "Knowing You." This veteran Broadway singer/actress continues to shine in the spotlight, whether in the studio for a recording date or on-stage. Ken Dryden   
Tracklist :
1 Sitting in Limbo 3:58
Gully Bright / Jimmy Cliff
2 Heavy Cloud, No Rain 3:09
Jessica Molaskey
3 Summer, Highland Falls 4:16
Billy Joel
4 Ooh Child 3:00
Stan Vincent
5 I Want to Be Happy/Sometimes I'm Happy 2:13
Clifford Grey / Vincent Youmans
6 There Will Never Be Another You 3:12
Mack Gordon / Harry Warren
7 Knowing You 4:31
Jessica Molaskey / John Pizzarelli
8 I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter 3:31
Fred E. Ahlert / Joe Young
9 The Circle Game/Waters of March 4:48
Joni Mitchell
10 Walkin' After Midnight 3:35
Don Hecht
11 Hearts and Bones 4:11
Paul Simon
12 Morning Has Broken/I Woke Up One Early Morning 4:26
Eleanor Farjeon / Jessica Molaskey / John Pizzarelli / Traditional
Credits :
Bass – Martin Pizzarelli
Drums – Tony Tedesco
Guitar – John Pizzarelli
Piano – Larry Fuller (tracks: 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10)
Piano, Organ – Larry Goldings (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12)
Saxophone – Harry Allen