The best line from John Pizzarelli’s weekend show at the Bickford involved his dad, jazz guitar icon Bucky Pizzarelli, who was in the audience. John’s account:
One of Bucky’s biggest fans made him promise to perform at his funeral when the time came. The time came. Bucky dutifully drove to the funeral parlor and played something appropriately tasteful.
No, no, no, his hosts said. The deceased would have wanted something upbeat. Play your favorite song, Bucky was told. And what might that song be, his son inquired years later?
“Pick Yourself Up,” Bucky replied.
The evening’s funniest song, of course, was John’s I Like Jersey Best.
It must have made Don Jay Smith feel right at home. Don, co-producer of the Morristown Jazz and Blues Festival, is perhaps best known for his years promoting the New Jersey Hall of Fame.
In his song, John managed to impersonate just about every member of that hallowed hall–along with key members of the Rock and Roll-, Country-, Folk-, Jazz- and Soul halls of fame.
He may have covered the Baseball Hall of Fame, too; we’ll have to review the video.
Apologies in advance if the footage looks a little shaky. The cameraman was laughing pretty hard.
Stay tuned for more from this show.
JOHN PIZZARELLI AT THE BICKFORD
Slideshow photos by Kevin Coughlin