THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 17, 1995 TAG: 9509170071
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Music review
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
If the Tidewater Performing Arts Society decided to end its 1995-96 series right now and bring no more dance or musical acts to the area, it could still pat itself on the back for a wonderful season.
John Pizzarelli's Friday concert was that good.
Pizzarelli and his talented backing combo gave the Pavilion Theater audience a swinging musical treat that was worth the price of the society's season subscription. The spirited concert had the crowd offering sustained applause and whoops after almost every song, along with a standing ovation at the show's end.
The performance showed that if one wraps expert jazzy musical talent in class, taste and economy of execution and combines that with classic songs, humor and a little tuneful showboating, it adds up to a fine evening.
The impeccably dressed trio of Pizzarelli on guitar/vocals, brother Martin Pizzarelli on stand-up acoustic bass and Ray Kennedy on piano delivered a program taken largely from Pizzarelli's 1994 ``New Standards'' long player and his most recent ``Dear Mr. Cole'' release, a recording featuring Nat ``King'' Cole's hit tunes.
From the concert's opening of ``Oh How My Heart Beats for You,'' the audience knew it was in for a treat. Pizzarelli and combo swung like mad, offering flawless interplay and tight playing.
During the two-hour concert, it seemed as if the trio enjoyed themselves as much as the toe-tapping audience. Kennedy and Pizzarelli shadowed each other, played off each other, engaged in musical call and recall and surprised each other with improvised passages.
Brother Martin offered a fat, yet flexible, bass sound, providing a perfect foundation for Kennedy and John's rhythms, solos and harmonies. The drummerless trio never missed a beat, with Kennedy providing solid percussive piano one moment and rippling, smooth arpeggios the next. Kennedy's melodic piano playing and rhythmic fills were as much a concert highlight as the headliner's guitar and vocals.
The affable Pizzarelli offered classic jazz swing tunes and ballads from the '40s, '50s and '60s sung in smooth tones reminiscent of the styles popularized by Nat ``King'' Cole and trumpeter/vocalist Chet Baker.
At times, Pizzarelli closed his eyes and crooned ballads such as the medley of ``The More I See You''/``Love Is Here to Stay''/``As Time Goes By'' or the concert highlight ``Sometimes I Love You,'' a song played with such subtle tension and smoothness that the audience hung on every word and note.
Pizzarelli's way with a heart-felt vocal and his tasteful guitar playing made every standard and classic tune he performed seem fresh and as if it were his very own.
Songs like the swinging ``Route 66,'' ``Fascinatin' Rhythm,'' ``I'm You Guy,'' ``Straighten Up and Fly Right'' and the instrumental ``Just a Skosh'' sizzled with infectious rhythms and good-natured ensemble playing.
The self-taught guitarist coaxed economical riffs, rhythms and leads from his custom-built Benedetto seven-string electric guitar. His playing brought to mind the styles of such jazz guitar greats as his father, John ``Bucky'' Pizzarelli of Benny Goodman fame, Les Paul, Kenny Burrell and Wes Montgomery.
Pizzarelli and trio proved that - to quote the title of the Lieber/ Stoller penned Nat ``King'' Cole hit - ``Style Is Coming Back In Style.'' by CNB