May 13 - 14th In Seattle
The Pacific Jazz Institute at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley presents guitar giant Bucky Pizzarelli for two nights. Band members are TBA. Set times Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:30pm. Doors open at 6pm on Tuesday and 5:30pm on Wednesday.
“...moves effortlessly from the daunting format of the solo guitar to playing solid, swinging rhythm and single string solos.” - RIVERWALK.ORG
John ‘Bucky’ Pizzarelli (1926) began his professional career in 1943 at 17 years old playing in the Vaughn Monroe dance band. He toured and recorded with Monroe through 1951, and in 1952 he joined NBC as a staff musician. At NBC, for many years, he played in the Doc Severinson Band on the “Tonight Show”. He also toured and recorded with Benny Goodman into the 1980’s.
His extraordinary skill as a rhythm player places him in the company of the great rhythm players like Freddie Greene and Barry Galbraith. The list of big bands and vocalists with whom Bucky has performed and recorded reads like a veritable Who’s Who of Jazz. One of the era’s most solid rhythm players, Pizzarelli was in high demand, playing and touring with Benny Goodman, Zoot Sims, Bud Freeman, and Stephane Grappelli, and, later, recording with George Van Eps, Carl Kress and George Barnes. And he has brought forward the great chord solo tradition begun by George Van Eps and Dick McDonough. Like George Van Eps, Bucky Pizzarelli adopted the seven-string electric guitar (in fact, playing the Gretsch Van Eps model for many years). And, although this guitar is very popular today, for many years, Bucky Pizzarelli, was considered the only guitarist next to George Van Eps, to play the seven-string electric guitar exclusively. Bucky is a complete jazz musician and guitarist who moves effortlessly from the daunting format of the solo guitar to playing solid, swinging rhythm and single string solos in an ensemble setting.
Mr. Pizzarelli’s superior mastery of the seven-string guitar is unparalleled.
Reservations can be made on our web site at www.jazzalley.com by phoning Jazz Alley at 206.441.9729 or through TicketMaster at www.ticketmaster.com. Children under the age of 12 are admitted free. Making reservations is advised. All shows are all ages. The Pacific Jazz Institute does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin.
