Contact: Allison Griffin
Public Relations Associate
503-416-6347
March 16, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Portland, Ore. … John Pizzarelli, contemporary jazz vocalist and guitarist, will join special guest Freddy Cole for a tribute to Nat King Cole at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on Saturday, April 14 at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, April 15 at 3 p.m. and Monday, April 16 at 7:30 p.m.
“I’ve always said in my concerts that Nat King Cole is why I do what I do,” said Pizzarelli. “But we aren’t trying to copy him. That sound was so singular and inspired. I’ve always said we’re an extension, a ’90s version of what that group was.”
Pizzarelli will be joined by the late singer’s brother, Freddy Cole, on piano and vocals. Cole was recognized as the “2005 Outstanding Male Jazz Vocalist” at the Playbill Nightlife Awards. A resident of Atlanta since 1972, he currently leads a group made up of himself, guitarist Royce Campbell, drummer Curtis Boyd and bassist Elias Bailey that regularly tours the US, Europe, the Far East and South America. Freddy has been a recording artist since 1952, when his first single, “The Joke’s on Me,” was released on an obscure Chicago-based label.
Under the direction of guest conductors Jeff Tyzik and Rudi Schlegel, the Symphony will accompany Cole and members of Pizzarelli’s quartet, including younger brother Martin Pizzarelli on bass. He has performed on “The Tonight Show,” “Conan O’Brien” and “The Late Show with David Letterman.” Drummer Tony Tedesco is currently in the orchestra of Broadway’s 2001 Tony Award winning revival of “42nd Street,” and has toured with many vocalists and entertainers including Peggy Lee, Perry Como and Mickey Rooney. World class jazz pianist Larry Fuller has performed with vocal great Ernestine Anderson, in addition to the Ray Brown Trio, where he stayed until Brown’s death in 2002.
Born on April 6, 1960, in Paterson, New Jersey, Pizzarelli has been playing guitar since age six, following in the tradition of his father, guitar legend Bucky Pizzarelli. John was exposed to all the great jazz music of the era, from Erroll Garner and Les Paul to Django Reinhardt. He began performing with his father at age 20, then went out on his own. Since 1992, the John Pizzarelli Trio has toured extensively. In 1993, they were honored to open for Frank Sinatra’s international tour and then joined in the celebration for his 80th birthday at Carnegie Hall. He has appeared in films like The Out-Of-Towners with Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn and has been seen on performance stages from Radio City Music Hall to the Hollywood Bowl to festivals around the globe. He has been heard on numerous recordings and now on his nationally syndicated radio program, Radio Deluxe with John Pizzarelli, for which he’s interviewed such stars as Tony Danza, Liza Minnelli and Regis Philbin.
Tickets are $29 to $80 and may be purchased at the Oregon Symphony Ticket Office, located at 923 S.W. Washington. Ticket office hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Sept. through May). Tickets can be charged by phone at (503) 228-1353 or (800) 228-7343, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Sept. – May). Tickets may also be purchased at Ticketmaster outlets or by calling (503) 224-4400. Discounted tickets for groups of eight or more are available through the group sales hotline at (503) 416-6380. Additional concert information may be found at OrSymphony.org. Media support is provided by K103 and 1190 KEX.