John Pizzarelli returns for the 4th time to the music and style that originally attracted him to jazz, namely the sound of the Nat “King” Cole Trio. Pizzarelli is on major comfort food mode here, swinging and picking with delight on the instrumentals, a gorgeous interpretation of Cole’s read on “Body and Soul,” a cozy “Red Sails in the Sunset” and a tribute pieces “Nat King Cool” that is made for cruising on The Strip.
The Pizza man has done some of these tunes before, but he plays like he’s never tired of them, with fun and frisky versions that have the patented boogie swing on “Straighten Up and Fly Right” and “Hit That Jive, Jack.” A couple Bobby Troup pieces increase the hipness barometer, grooving on the classic “Route 66” and reaching back for the deliciously obscure “I’m Such A Hungry Man.” All done with a smile on his face and a song in his heart.