John Pizzarelli’s Tribute to Nat King Cole at the Café Carlyle

For his run at the Café Carlyle this week, John Pizzarelli focuses on one of his inspirations, Nat King Cole, who would be 99. On guitar and vocals, John fronts an outstanding band of jazz musicians: Mike Karn on bass, Konrad Paszkudski on piano and “the sheriff” Andy Watson on drums for standards including “Paper Moon,” “Sweet Lorraine,” and “Straighten Up and Fly Right.” Yes, regulars wanted to know, where is Jessica? Well John’s wife and partner in music Jessica Molaskey was taking the night off. And how is Bucky? John’s father doesn’t make the rounds any more. Still, Bucky Pizzarelli is often the star of the lore and anecdotes by which this erudite and schmoozy performer laces together his not-to-be-missed show.

On the night we attended, his daughter was also present, and so was Kathy Davis, visiting from Florida, who, John crowed, makes the best fried chicken. While this dish was not on the Carlyle’s menu, it served to introduce a sequence of food focused sounds including “Firm Flam Sauce,” a lively “Save the Bones for Henry Jones (Henry Don’t Eat No Meat),” and his own blues composition with Grover Kemble, “Headed Out to Vera’s (If you’re headed out to Vera’s/ Make sure she cooks for you).” Vera, he explained, is my father’s sister.

If you can quibble with perfection for a great night at the Carlyle, it is only that the generous set seemed to end too soon. Pizzarelli usually foregoes the formality of leaving the stage for an encore, but this night, after a rousing “Route 66,” he hit the road.

Regina Weinreich

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