Guitarist John Pizzarelli will return to Omaha in February. Two performances with the Omaha Symphony, Thomas Wilkins, conducting, will be presented on Saturday, February 9, 2013, at 8 p.m. & Sunday, February 10, 2013, at 2 p.m. at the Holland Performing Arts Center.
As a jazz guitarist, vocalist and bandleader, John Pizzarelli is known worldwide for classic standards, late-night ballads, and the cool jazz flavor he brings to his performances and recordings. Pizzarelli brings his vocal style and brilliant guitar playing to songs from legendary performers like Nat "King" Cole and Frank Sinatra as well as those written by greats Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen. He is an ardent student and advocate of the Great American Songbook.
John Pizzarelli was born in April, 1960, in New Jersey. He has been playing guitar since age six, following in the tradition of his father, guitar legend Bucky Pizzarelli. While spending time with his father, John was exposed to all the great jazz music of the era, from Erroll Garner and Les Paul to Django Reinhardt. He began playing with his father at age 20, before going out on his own. A veteran radio personality, Pizzarelli hosted "New York Tonight" on WNEW from 1984-1988 and established himself as the consummate entertainer and radio program host with the launch of "Radio Deluxe with John Pizzarelli" a nationally syndicated radio program co-hosted with his wife, Broadway star Jessica Molaskey.
For more information about John Pizzarelli's show at the Holland, you may visit http://www.omahaperformingarts.org/
Jazz in the Afternoon host Chris Cooke interviewed Pizzarelli in 2009. Click on the link above to listen to the interview. Recording engineer: Mike Hansen.
