Bucky Pizzarelli is a New York institution.  In a 66-year career, he has been the go-to guitar sideman on the great records by Frank Sinatra, two of the Tonys (Bennett and Martin), Peggy Lee, Nat “King” Cole, Neil Sedaka, The Four Seasons, Carole King, Julie London, Ray Charles—the list goes on.  He was part of the big band era, jazz, rock ’n’ roll and pop music.  He played for The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and then The Dick Cavett Show.  If you’ve been to a New York nightclub, you’ve seen him with Rosemary Clooney, Barbara Cook and, of course, with his son, John Pizzarelli, who was co-artistic director/co-writer/performer of his father’s 85^th birthday weekend at the 92^nd St. Y’s Lyrics & Lyricists.

As John pointed out, you don’t even have to say his last name, just “Bucky.”

John Pizzarelli’s co-chef of this musical banquet was wife Jessica Molaskey, spicing the evening with witty writing and ad libs, John’s easy humor, outstanding musicianship, and Molaskey’s interpretive vocals.  Added was the silky jazz/pop sound of Darius de Haas and Judy Kuhn’s lush, resonant voice.  Director Daisy Eagan arranged a varied lineup of 30-plus songs, a mix of up-tempo and ballads, representing Bucky’s depth of the American Songbook.  Included was a playful medley of light rock from the mid ’50s to ’60s.

John opened nostalgically, facing the back screen projected with images of his family and Bucky at work.  Turning to face the audience, he raced into “Bye Bye Blues” (Hamm/Bennet/Lown/Gray), an early Bucky Pizzarelli favorite.  Darius de Haas appeared with an outstanding smooth rendition of Vaughn Monroe’s theme song, “Racing with the Moon” and later, “Stand by Me” (Ben E. King with Leiber and Stoller).  Judy Kuhn’s “Hey There” (Adler and Ross) was reminiscent of the husky, sensual Rosemary Clooney tone and Molaskey sang Peggy Lee/Dave Barbour’s sprightly “It’s a Good Day.”

Evident was the easy chemistry among the musicians and vocalists.  The band is already familiar to Pizzarelli fans — Larry Fuller on piano, drummer Tony Tedesco, Ken Peplowski on woodwinds and Bucky’s other son, Martin Pizzarelli, on bass.  Added was jazz violinist Aaron Weinstein, and together they were musical magic. John noted that his father’s birthday was the next day and added, “This coming June, his knees will be nine years old.”

The guest of honor appeared midway in the second act, and joined the band to raise the roof with a rousing “Sing, Sing, Sing” (Louis Prima).  Bucky and John delivered a duet of “Honeysuckle Rose” (Andy Razaf and Fats Waller).  When the audience was invited to sing along for another of Pizzarelli’s earliest favorites, “Yes, Sir, That’s My Baby” (Gus Kahn and Walter Donaldson), many had already been singing along to Bucky’s impromptu “It’s Been a Long, Long Time,” a song as nostalgic as the show.

Elizabeth Ahlfors
Cabaret Scenes
January 8, 2011
www.cabaretscenes.org