5 Quotes by John Pizzarelli

Nat King Cole was the place where I started, ... The music his trio did is what moved me to do that same sort of thing. The very first time I heard (Cole), I learned all those songs -- 'Straighten Up and Fly Right,' 'Route 66,' 'Paper Moon.'

We call it swing jazz, ... Think Nat King Cole, Benny Goodman-style stuff. I grew up with those people around me. So it's natural that that is what I like doing.

If my father had been an IRS agent, I probably would have been an IRS agent,

... I would urge a young player to listen to Charlie Christians' sense of time ... I'll never forget listening to my father (Bucky Pizzarelli) and Tal Farlow playing Christians' 'Solo Flight' backstage at a gig... that's when it hit me how big of an effect Christian had on jazz guitar. 'Solo Flight' was like the gospel...

And everyone came through our house. I grew up with people like Benny Goodman, Zoot Sims, in the house, playing right in front of me.