Nirvana

Album Review

Bucky Pizzarelli has been one of the most in-demand session musicians, but it's always a treat when he gets a record date of his own. Joining him for this studio date is his son (and fellow seven-string guitarist) John Pizzarelli, bassist Lynn Seaton, and drummer Bernard Purdie. The program is a varied one, drawing from standards popular during the swing era, jazz compositions from several decades, and even a surprise or two. Wild Bill Davis' "Azure Te" is a bit of an obscurity (recorded by the organist/composer when he toured with Duke Ellington in 1969). The Pizzarellis pick up the tempo a bit, with the father backed by his son's harmonics and adding Seaton's swinging arco bass solo. "A Little World Called Home" is a pretty ballad duet by the guitarists. Al Cohn's loping "Two Funky People" is a lyrical, understated gem from the cool era. Django Reinhardt's "Nuages" has long been a part of Bucky's repertoire and this performance is exceptional. The band also delves into standards that were popular with Benny Goodman (with whom Bucky toured numerous times). The only downside of this budget issue from LRC is the extremely sloppy spelling of composer names.