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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)
