Album Review: John Pizzarelli Shows The Humanity Of Johnny Mercer At Cafe Carlyle
Funny, charming, and an excellent jazz guitarist! Check Please! At Cafe Carlyle, John Pizzarelli is performing from April 25 through May 6, and he is a worthy show because you feel like he is a worthy person. Kind and non-stop in energy and conversation for the audience John Pizzarelli turned Cafe Carlyle’s ritzy lounge into a cool, living room of music intellectuals and wit.
It is no easy feat to bring a grounded aura to Cafe Carlyle. This space is legendary and glamorous, of which John Pizzarelli brought an air of casualness and friendliness that opened it up. The exceptional guitarist could wow anyone with his skills. Son of Bucky Pizzarelli, John knows how to bring out the best of this instrument, and make you kick yourself for telling your mom you did not want music lessons. He brings out the eternal beauty of the guitar as a simple instrument to pick up and embody human sentiment in ways the even human beings cannot. Yet, Pizzarelli had good material to play with. Dedicating the night to the late great Johnny Mercer, songs like, “Jeepers Creepers”, “Bob White”, “Goody Goody”, and “Emily”, hypnotized the crowd that, admittedly, was of later generations happy to relive the songs that defined their youth. Still, the night was a timeless invite to explore the history of music and conclude that greatness is not a grandiose feat as much as a simple step.
While John exchanged jokes and adages with the crowd, people fell in love with his spirit. He is probably the most welcoming human being I have ever met, and made Cafe Carlyle feel like his home, of which you were his favored guest. This dynamic helped the audience see that Johnny Mercer was a legend because he was a human being. He was a heavy drinker that would send flowers to hostesses when he felt he ruined the party. He was a loyal guy that would change the title of a song from “Blue River” to “Moon River” just to not compete with a fellow friend. And he was a little fussy with lyrics, but nothing a Webster’s dictionary could not solve. The point is he was a person, and it takes a man like John Pizzarelli, whom is so kind and human on stage, to help you realize that.
Although, John exclaims he is not the greatest singer ever, his voice is simple and sticks straight for whimsical nature of Mercer’s music and lyrics. Mercer was a man who let the poetry of his words be the platform of his songs, more than the vocals and, at times, the chords. He may have been one of the few song-writers that felt as beloved and respected as any singer. Many do not realize the importance of a song-writer because it is a job that feels like a back-drop, but Johnny Mercer was too bright a talent to stay behind, and John Pizzarelli showed that by being a man worth the front of any stage. Click Here For To Buy Tickets To John Pizzarelli.
