John Pizzarelli: Double Exposure – review

4 / 5 stars

This will come as a surprise to everyone who had John Pizzarelli tagged as a latter-day swing crooner who also plays some tasty guitar. Born in 1960, he is, in fact, a second-generation jazz guitarist, his father being the great Bucky P. This is a collection of 13 songs from his own generation, all given surprising new treatments. The Beatles meet Lee Morgan, Tom Waits meets Billy Strayhorn, James Taylor meets Joe Henderson and they both meet Lambert, Hendricks and Ross. The arrangements are sharp and witty, the singing deceptively easygoing, and the guitar playing just terrific. It's a delight.