A BENNETT SONGBOOK
WITH PIZZARELLI SWING

The singer-guitarist and his trio offer solid entertainment
and a nostalgic stroll through a legend’s songbook

There may not be many things you can count on in the world, but you can always depend on John Pizzarelli to deliver quality performances with quality material—and a few laughs along the way. Whether the singer-guitarist appears solo, with a small combo, or backed by a big band, live or on disc, he brings a reliable mix of swing, sophistication, and easygoing charm.

His current engagement at Birdland Jazz Club is no exception. This time it’s a trio treat, with the jazz veteran joined by longtime collaborator Mike Karn on bass (with him for a decade) and dazzling 24-year-old pianist Tyler Henderson, very much an accomplished rising star.

The jazz du jour ties in with Pizzarelli’s just-released album (like, today!), Dear Mr. Bennett, a tribute to the late Tony Bennett featuring songs closely associated with the legendary vocalist. Most of the album’s dozen selections appeared in the late set tonight, March 3. Only “Shakin’ the Blues Away” and one other track were missing—the most obvious omission being Bennett’s longtime signature song, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.” No doubt it shows up in other performances during the run—two shows nightly through this Saturday, March 7. (Note: The recording’s pianist is the more usual Pizzarelli keyboard colleague, Isaiah J. Thompson, who is apparently too far away for commuting back and forth all week – his website indicates that he’s performing in Switzerland.)

Gratifyingly, the program also nodded to the two Tony Bennett albums recorded with the esteemed jazz pianist Bill Evans, on which Bennett was accompanied solely by Evans’ piano. In that spirit—sans guitar and bass—Pizzarelli stepped aside to spotlight Henderson’s playing and his own more wistful vocal side in “Young and Foolish” and “Waltz for Debby,” the latter composed by Evans for his young daughter with lyrics later added by Gene Lees.

The deliciously satisfying musical banquet also included four songs by the team of Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh, each offering a different flavor: the joyful “The Best Is Yet to Come,” the tender “It Amazes Me,” the playful “Firefly,” and the sly tale which tells of temptation while traveling, “When in Rome (I Do as the Romans Do).”

Early Bennett hits such as the ardent “Because of You,” the bold “Rags to Riches,” and the melodramatic “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” originally showcased the young singer’s somewhat bombastic style. Pizzarelli’s interpretations soften those edges, delivering calmer, more intimate readings with his own personalized stamp.

On the livelier side, Pizzarelli’s trademark high-energy romps remain a highlight: rapid-fire guitar chords, breezy vocal improvisations, and the kind of effortless swing that keeps audiences smiling. The trio matched that momentum with ease, though there were also quieter interludes when the bassist and pianist exited, leaving Pizzarelli alone with voice and guitar. Those moments included “I Wanna Be Around,” preceded by the story of the song’s genesis, and a pair of instrumental turns—“The Way You Look Tonight” and “Swinging on a Star.”

Pizzarelli also spoke warmly about Bennett and his own connections to the icon—including the fact that Bennett himself sketched the portrait on the cover of Dear Mr. Bennett. One story that didn’t come up in this set: Bennett had collaborated with Pizzarelli’s father, the late guitar great Bucky Pizzarelli, on several occasions.

Ever the relaxed host, Pizzarelli chats easily with the crowd. Still, it was somewhat surprising that he made less eye contact than usual, often singing with eyes closed or glancing toward sheet music. He did mention dealing with hearing issues, which may explain the habit. The topic did, however, produce a characteristic quip: introducing “Just in Time,” he noted it came from Bells Are Ringing—“So are my ears.”

That number and another show tune, “I Want to Be Happy” from No, No, Nanette, are not on Dear Mr. Bennett but did appear on Pizzarelli’s 2023 album Stage & Screen. Here, both songs—along with “The Shadow of Your Smile”—benefited from the rarely heard introductory verses that many singers omit.

Before launching into “Just in Time,” Pizzarelli jokingly observed that its verse felt almost autobiographical:

 “I was resting comfortably, face down in the gutter.
Life was serene. I knew where I was at.
‘There’s no hope for him,’ my dearest friends would mutter,
I was something dragged in by the cat. Then…”

Journeying jazzman John’s next stops include Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and his home state of New Jersey. Meanwhile, he continues his hosting duties—shared with his wife, the terrific singer/actress Jessica Molaskey—on the long-running Radio Deluxe programs heard both over the air and online. Considering that many of Tony Bennett’s later albums were built around duets—with full-length collaborations alongside Diana Krall, k.d. lang, and Lady Gaga—perhaps the Pizzarelli–Molaskey team might one day salute that chapter together. After all, Tony tributes are sure to continue throughout 2026, the centennial year of Bennett’s birth—the legend who lived to be 97.

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John Pizzarelli
Dear Mr. Bennett Album Release
Birdland Theater, 315 West 44th St
reviewed on March 3, 2026
two shows nightly through March 7, 2026
follow John Pizzarelli on instagram or visit his site

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