Reviewed by Michael Barbara

Rockin’ in Rhythm:  A Tribute to Duke Ellington is singer / guitarist John Pizzarelli’s ninth release with Telarc International, and his first ever Duke Ellington recording.  An accomplished master of The Great American Songbook, Pizzarelli puts his personal touch on twelve of Duke’s charts, with arrangements ranging from solo guitar, to the “mini-big band sound.”  The elegant arrangements of Don Sebesky for the Swing Seven horns, combined with the incredible tight interaction of Pizzarelli’s arrangements for his Quartet (pianist Larry Fuller, bassist Martin Pizzarelli and drummer Tony Tedesco) make for a seemingly effortless swing style that will have you moving your feet.

Opening with “In a Mellow Tone,” the Quartet immediately sets the mood, with bassist Pizzarelli and drummer Tedesco laying down a rock solid rhythm for the singer’s vocals, and signature sweet solos on his guitar and Fuller’s piano.  This is a classic JPQ upbeat performance, with just the right balance of virtuosity and melodic constructions, and the building dynamics of the horn sections.

A unique presentation of “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore,” is layered over the melancholic chords of “East St. Louis Toodle-Oo,” and works surprising well to convey the mood of the lyrics in a decidedly more minor tone.   The Ellington standard, “Satin Doll,” brings veteran Bucky Pizzarelli (often referred to as “the Pope” by sons John and Martin) to the Quartet, laying down a solo in his classic style, with Fuller adding a chorus on piano, before John softly modulates the lyrics to end the tune.

A guest appearance by saxophonist Harry Allen beautifully compliments the Quartet on “C-Jam Blues,” with his extended solo leading into featured choruses around the room for the Swing Seven (Tony Kadleck, trumpet; John Mosca, trombone; Andy Fusco, alto sax; and Kenny Berger, bari sax), and Aaron Weinstein on violin.

“In My Solitude,” features John Pizzarelli’s melodic tapping solo, layered with Bucky Pizzarelli’s rhythm guitar and Weinstein’s violin to compliment this ballad.  The younger Pizzarelli demonstrates his complete mastery of his seven-string guitar with a dynamic solo rendition of “Just Squeeze Me.”

The bandleader is joined by his wife Jessica Molaskey and vocalist Kurt Elling for a surprising, swinging rendition of “Perdido,” which opens with a verse written by Molaskey, which according to her husband was inspired by a stressful cross-town move in the middle of a New York summer. “Perdido,” is skillfully delivered in a rapid fire repartee style.

The focused recording and precise mixing of the album by Jim Czak and Bill Moss is highlighted in the Quartet’s “All Too Soon,” featuring the rich, clear sound of Fuller’s piano, balanced by Tedesco’s tasteful percussion accents.  Shifting right back into big band mode with “I’m Beginning to See the Light,” John sets a perfect time and feel with his vocals, before turning it over to Sebesky’s lyrical arrangement of the horns.  It’s a wonderful example of how, throughout this album, the soloists strike the perfect balance of creativity and musicality!

The easy bounce feel of “Love Scene,” set up by Martin and Tedesco segues into the classic torch “I Got it Bad and That Ain’t Good,” which once again features Allen’s smoky tenor sax.  Closing with a medley of “Cottontail/Rockin’ in Rhythm,” Fuller comes up front with a stride piano solo, and blends into a blazing unison riff by the Swing Seven, before Tedesco finishes with a tasteful flourish.

A recent concert at the Mayo Center for the Performing Arts (Morristown, NJ) offered the opportunity to hear some of these tracks in a wonderful venue, as the Quartet was joined by Bucky Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey, with the complete ensemble being presented as “The First Family of Cool.”  John’s inimitable, amiable style kept the audience fully engaged, and belied the size of the venue. The perfect timing of his delivery, his anecdotes and back-stories provided a wonderfully entertaining evening that opened with just the Quartet, performing renditions of “In a Mellow Tone,” and “Satin Doll,” with subtle variations from the recorded tracks.  A highlight of any Pizzarelli performance occurs when John and Bucky Pizzarelli perform guitar duets, which offer touching insights into the depth of their musical and personal relationships, and as you watch them perform, it is easy to envision the countless hours they may have spent playing together over the years.  Similarly, John’s duet of “Perdido,” with Molaskey was filled with close harmonies in a fast-paced, flawless delivery.

John Pizzarelli’s connection to Ellington’s music has clearly been influenced by his father and Rockin’ in Rhythm: A Tribute to Duke Ellington and it is very evident that this is a labor of love, with the familiarity originating in Bucky Pizzarelli’s repertoire and the intimate affection that he has for these classic songs.

In one of the final recording sessions, Don Sebesky thanked John for “getting them all together to play Duke Ellington” and after listening to this album you will feel the same way!!