The quartet includes John Pizzarelli, Guitar and Vocal, Larry Fuller on Piano; Martin Pizzarelli on Bass, and Tony Tedesco on Drums. For the big band start with the quartet and add Tony Kadleck, BudBurridge, Jim O’Connor, Jim Rotondi, on Trumpet; Bruce Bonvissuto, Randy Andos, Larry Farrell, Alan Raph, Trombone Andy Fusco, Chris Byars, Gary Keller, Tom Christensen, and Kenny Berger on Saxophones.

John Paul Pizzarelli Jr. (born April 6, 1960) is a celebrated jazz guitarist, singer, songwriter and is the son of legendary jazz guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli. Pizzarelli is among the prime revivalists of the great American songbook, bringing to his work the cool jazz flavor of his brilliant guitar playing.

“…a tenor saxophonist who can play at all tempos, in all registers, and never without swinging mightily”—George Kanzler, Hot House

In the past decade, tenor saxman Eric Alexander has more than lived up to his Young Lion hype. With an astounding 18 recordings to his credit as leader and dozens more as sideman, the 2003 Jazz Week Musician of the Year keeps a busy schedule composing and performing. On February 2-3, he brings his stellar quartet featuring long-time mentor, pianist Harold Mabern, to the intimate stage of the Kitano Hotel in Manhattan.

Eric Alexander © Andrea Canter

Born in Galesburg, IL and raised in Olympia, Washington, Alexander first learned piano at age six, then clarinet at nine, and moved to alto sax at 12. With a strong classical background, Alexander became obsessed with jazz as a student at Indiana University and converted to tenor. Transferring to William Paterson College in New Jersey, he studied with Harold Mabern, Joe Lovano, and Rufus Reid. "The people I listened to in college are still the cats that are influencing me today," says Alexander. "Monk, Dizzy, Sonny Stitt, Clifford Brown, Sonny Rollins, Jackie McLean, Joe Henderson--the legacy left by Bird and all the bebop pioneers, that language and that feel, that's the bread and butter of everything I do. George Coleman remains a big influence because of his very hip harmonic approach, and I'm still listening all the time to Coltrane because I feel that, even in the wildest moments of his mid- to late-Sixties solos, I can find these little kernels of melodic information and find ways to employ them in my own playing."

Curtis Fuller

While the musicians readied their instruments a man came to the front of the crowd. "I want you all to know how special this is." He said into the microphone. "Curtis Fuller is the best trombone player ever to play." The man continued to remind the crowd of the importance of the occasion. Yet, no one could deny the significance of Coltrane's only trombone player. Then Mr. Fuller emerged from the shadows. The din of the crowd came to a halt as Mr. Fuller began the obligatory introduction of the performance.

Young alto saxophonist/composer Pete Robbins has been garnering accolades in the Big Apple and beyond with his sophomore release, Waits and Measures (Playscape). On Saturday night, January 27th, Robbins and his Centric ensemble will tune up to a spring tour of Spain with a one-night stand at Tonic in Manhattan. Centric features Sam Sadigursky on tenor and soprano sax, Eliot Cardinaux on Nord Electro keyboard, Thomas Morgan on bass, and Dan Weiss on drums, Centric All but Carindaux also appear on Waits and Measures, which included keyboardist Eliot Krimsky.