Dear Mr. Sinatra

Performer: John Pizzarelli
Artist: Bucky Pizzarelli
Engineer: Harold Kilianski; Robert Friedrich
Producer: Robert Woods
Distributor: Fontana Distribution

Notes: Personnel: John Pizzarelli (vocals, guitar); John Pizzarelli; Bucky Pizzarelli (vocals, guitar); John Clayton (clarinet, alto saxophone, bass guitar); Charles Owens, Charles Owens II (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Bijon Watson (trumpet); Maurice Spears, Robbie Hioki (trombone, bass trombone); Ryan Porter (trombone); Christoph Luty (bass guitar); Jeff Clayton , Keith Fiddmont (clarinet, alto saxophone); Rickey Woodard (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Lee Callet (bass clarinet, baritone saxophone); Gilbert Castellanos, James Ford , Sal Cracchiolo, Bobby Rodriguez (trumpet); George Bohanon, Ira Nepus (trombone); Tamir Hendelman (piano); Jeff Hamilton (drums). Audio Mixer: Robert Friedrich. Liner Note Author: Bucky Pizzarelli. Recording information: O'Henry Sound Studios, Studio A, Los Angeles, CA (06/29/2005/06/30/2005). Editor: Robert Friedrich. Photographer: Andrew Southam. Arrangers: John Clayton; Chris Walden; Don Sebesky; Quincy Jones. John Pizzarelli is noted for his sensitive vocals, which recall the relaxed stylings of Nat "King" Cole and Chet Baker, as well as for his fluid, inventive guitar playing. On this album of covers of songs made famous by Frank Sinatra, Pizzarelli wisely avoids the pitfalls of Ol' Blue Eyes imitations in favor of his own intimate approach, best heard on the set's more relaxed arrangements, like "I've Got You Under My Skin," "Nice and Easy," and "You Make Me Feel So Young." Both attention-grabbing and supportive, his expertly arranged big band accompaniment likewise evokes the ring-a-ding-ding of the Rat Pack era while steering clear of mere pastiche. 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

Down Beat (p.65) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "He has chosen wisely...Pizzarelli is backed by nine bright big band charts...all crisply played by the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra..." JazzTimes (p.84) - "[S]marter and eminently more pleasurable than the dozens of cookie-cutter tributes that have preceded it."

One of four sons of jazz guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, John took up the same instrument as his father and, by his late-teens, was regularly appearing with the senior Pizzarelli at performances. During the '80s he worked extensively in the New York area and by decade's end was established internationally. In the '90s Pizzarelli began singing regularly in a style influenced by Nat "King" Cole. In 1997 he led a trio in the Broadway show DREAM, a tribute to Johnny Mercer. His recordings often find him in good company, with players such as Stephane Grappelli, Benny Green and Christian McBride. A controversial 1998 album, MEETS THE BEATLES, found Pizzarelli reworking a selection of the Fab Four's songs with big band in tow.

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