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.

Pizzarelli has been playing guitar since age six, influenced by his father, guitar legend Bucky Pizzarelli. At an early age, John Pizzarelli was exposed to great jazz music, from Erroll Garner and Les Paul to Django Reinhardt. He began playing with his father at age twenty, then went out on his own. Since 1992 the John Pizzarelli Trio has toured extensively. In 1993 they opened for Frank Sinatra’s international tour and then joined in the celebration for his 80th birthday at Carnegie Hall.

Despite his youth, John Pizzarelli has recorded nearly 40 albums of music, either as the leader or in tandem with other performers. Among others, Pizzarelli has recorded with such luminaries as George Shearing, Rosemary Clooney, and Buddy DeFranco, as well as the Boston Pops Orchestra. Many if not most of his albums have received good to excellent reviews and are very popular sellers. Additionally, he has been a guest performer on numerous records throughout his career.

Particularly lauded for his interpretations of jazz standards, Pizzarelli also composes his own songs. He is also a fan of bossa nova and released an album entirely composed of that type of music. Pizzarelli is also known for his winning personality, and his great rapport with audiences during his live performances has gone a long way to garnering him cache with the jazz public.

Pizzarelli grew up in New Jersey and frequently expresses pride about this fact. A fan favorite at his live shows is the Cosgriff-Bernardi number "I Like Jersey Best", a largely humorous tribute to the Garden State. He married singer Jessica Molaskey in 1998, and the couple have a daughter, Madeleine Elizabeth.

In addition to being a bandleader and solo performer, Pizzarelli has been a special guest on recordings for such major pop artists as James Taylor, Natalie Cole,Tom Wopat, Rickie Lee Jones, and Dave Von Ronk, as well as leading jazz artists like Rosemary Clooney, Ruby Braff, Johnny Frigo, Buddy DeFranco, Harry Allen, and, of course, Bucky Pizzarelli. He was recently featured opposite Donna Summer, Jon Secada, and Roberta Flack on the Grammy Award–winning CD Songs from the Neighborhood: The Music of Mr. Rogers. Mr. Pizzarelli continues to tour throughout the United States, Europe, and Japan, performing classic pop, jazz, and swing, while setting the standard for stylish modern jazz. Please visit www.johnpizzarelli.com for more information.

Larry Fuller has established himself as a world-class jazz pianist firmly rooted in the hard swinging traditions of mainstream jazz. Raised in Toledo, Ohio, he began his musical studies at age 11 and immediately began showing an aptitude for jazz. I In 2000 he joined the Ray Brown Trio; he was the trio’s last pianist, and performed with Ray Brown until his passing in 2002. Fuller has performed with Harry “Sweets” Edison, Stanley Turrentine, Phil Woods, Clark Terry, Herb Ellis, Marlena Shaw, Kevin Mahogany, John Clayton, John Heard, Bennie Golson, Emily Remler, Jeff Hamilton, Jimmy Witherspoon, Eddie Harris, Ernestine Anderson, Anita O’Day, Steve Allen, Regina Carter, Nicholas Payton, and others. He continues to appear at festivals, clubs, and jazz parties around the world.

Bassist Martin Pizzarelli has appeared in the major jazz festivals around the world with the John Pizzarelli Quartet. He has performed on The Tonight Show, Conan O’Brien, and The Late Show with David Letterman with the ensemble. It was through his father, Bucky Pizzarelli, that he met his influences, Frank Sinatra, Benny Goodman, and Milt Hinton.

Drummer Tony Tedesco's wide variety of drum work has included jazz festivals, recordings, television shows, performances with the New York City Opera, clinics, movies (Woody Allen’s Crimes and Misdemeanors and Celebrity), and Broadway shows including the Tony Award–winning revival 42nd Street. Tedesco has toured with many artists, including Peggy Lee, Perry Como, Dick Hyman, Bucky Pizzarelli, Harry “Sweets” Edison, and Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis. He has been the drummer for John Pizzarelli since 1998, which has included tours of various jazz festivals and symphony concerts, along with many recordings.

In 1998, Lincoln Center launched its newest program, American Songbook, dedicated to the extraordinary achievements of the popular American songwriter. Designed to highlight and affirm the creative mastery of America’s popular songwriters from their emergence at the turn of the last century up through the present, American Songbook spans all styles and genres from the form’s early roots in Tin Pan Alley and Broadway, to the eclecticism of today’s singer-songwriters. American Songbook also showcases the outstanding interpreters of popular song, including established concert, cabaret, theater, and singer-songwriter performers as well as the next generation of talented performers. American Songbook presentations include major concert programs in Avery Fisher Hall and Rose Theater, cabaret and other performances in The Allen Room, as well as educational activities and symposia. For more information visit www.jalc.org.

MORE UPCOMING AMERICAN SONGBOOK EVENTS IN THE ALLEN ROOM:

• Wednesday Evening, February 7, 2007, at 8:30 CHERRY HOLMES
  
• Thursday Evening, February 8, 2007, at 7:30 and 9:30 CALEXICO
• Friday Evening, February 9, 2007, at 8:30 (limited availability) JASON ROBERT BROWN
• Saturday Evening, February 10, 2007, at 8:30 (limited availability) and 10:30 BETTY BUCKLEY: QUINTESSENCE featuring Kenny Werner
• Wednesday Evening, February 21, 2007, at 8:30 (limited availability) UTE LEMPER
• Thursday Evening, February 22, 2007, at 8:30 SASHA DOBSON, JESSE HARRIS, and RICHARD JULIAN
• Friday Evening, February 23, 2007, at 8:30 and 10:30 (limited availability) NEKO CASE
• Saturday Evening, February 24, 2007, at 8:30 (limited availability) JANE MONHEIT

Jazz at Lincoln Center presents John Pizzarelli: Dear Mr. Sinatra with the John Pizzarelli Quartet and Big Band on Saturday Evening, February 3, 2007, at 8:30 and 10:30 at he Allen Room, Frederick P. Rose Hall Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center. The performance is approximately 75 minutes long and will be performed without intermission. For tickets visit www.jalc.org.