John Pizzarelli
Knowing You
(Telarc)
The core personnel on this album - John Pizzarelli, his regular accompanists brother Martin on bass, Ray Kennedy on piano and new boy drummer Tony Tedesco - appear at City Hall on Wednesday, and, although they have a few special guests here helping them out, this album should give us a fair idea of what to expect.
A fine jazz guitarist in the swing tradition, Pizzarelli has been promoted more with each successive album as a vocalist, and although there's plenty of fine guitar work here, it plays a supporting role to his singing.
Although his voice is lightly charming rather than notably powerful, there's little room for complaint. This is elegant and intelligent vocal jazz rather than background music, and he puts his often humorous stamp on every song.