This evening concert capped off what was a phenomenally successful
daytime extravaganza of jazz performances that delighted the significantly
large outdoor crowd.
Guitarist/vocalist John Pizzarelli opened the evening indoor concert, fronting a fine big band which was comprised of top New York City jazz musicians. Pizzarelli delighted the near-SRO audience, energetically performing selections associated with Frank Sinatra. Pizzarelli covered GAS warhorses such as Luck Be a Lady, I’ve Got You Under My Skin, In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning, and even a slick quasi-rendition of New York, New York.
Wisely
not miming his subject, Pizzarelli was his own solid voice and delivered a
number of fine guitar and guitar-cum-scat solos. His inter-tune rapport with
the audience was quite engaging, detailing anecdotes about Sinatra, the songs’ composers
and arrangers and also about his dad, studio legend guitarist, Bucky
Pizzarelli. The very swinging ensemble rose to the level of the celebrated
material and framed Pizzarelli superbly throughout the highly entertaining show.
Multi-Grammy
award winner, trumpeter Arturo Sandoval
and his fiery – and youthful - ensemble took the stage and peeled off a catchy opening
selection. Sandoval, not only one of the world’s greatest trumpeters, but, a
masterful showman, had the audience ignited from note one. A hypersonic presentation
of Clifford Brown’s solo on Ray Noble’s Cherokee
thrilled with Sandoval and tenor Mike Tucker afire.
Maestro
Sandoval, now on the higher side of his 70s, was a force of nature throughout the
show, incredibly moving from horn to synthesizer to timbales. Playing clips of Hot House, and Bebop, he, along with outstanding tenor man Mike Tucker, delivered
musical props to the leader’s mentor, John Birks Gillespie and Dizzy’s partner
in creating bebop, Charlie Parker.
A
hilarious solo voce rendition of Mumbles
paid respect to another mentor of Sandoval’s, the great Clark Terry. One of the
surprising highlights of the performance was Arturo, an accomplished pianist,
doing an impromptu piano solo. Shades of Debussy, Brahms, Chopin and others
were brilliantly presented in a six-minute stream of melodic and harmonic
interpretation. Demonstrating his vocal chops, Sandoval strolled into the crowd
and delivered When I Fall in Love
with fine piano backing. The supporting ensemble, obviously all tremendously
gifted, drew great energy from their leader and it showed.
A terrific
original selection, Timba, helped to
conclude what this writer (who has seen dozens of the maestro’s performances)
fervently believes was one of Sandoval’s all-time best.
A
magnificent and truly memorable evening all-around. Nick Mondello
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