John Pizzarelli Performs Live From Tony Bennett Tribute Album

Summary

Episode Overview

Podcast: All Of It
Host: Alison Stewart (WNYC)
Guest: John Pizzarelli (Grammy-winning guitarist/vocalist)
Air Date: March 5, 2026
Theme:
This episode is a live musical tribute to Tony Bennett in celebration of what would have been his 100th birthday. Celebrated jazz guitarist and vocalist John Pizzarelli joins Alison Stewart in studio to perform selections from his newly released album “Dear Mr. Bennett,” share stories about his personal and family connections to Bennett, and reflect on the cultural impact and artistry of the iconic singer.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening & John Pizzarelli’s Personal Connection to Tony Bennett

• Pizzarelli discusses inspirations for his tribute album and his deep admiration for Tony Bennett, heightened by a family connection: his father, famed guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, played on numerous Bennett recordings.
  • Quote (04:48): “When I heard him open with it, I was at a function in Toronto that he was performing at... That was a great way. I thought he started the show. I thought it was a good way to kick off the record.” – John Pizzarelli

2. Live Performance – “Watch What Happens”

• [02:25–04:26]
  John Pizzarelli delivers a live rendition of “Watch What Happens,” a song often used by Bennett to open his concerts.
  • Quote (04:48): “I thought it was a good way to kick off the record. It’s Michel Legrand and Norman Gimbel who wrote that song.” – John Pizzarelli

3. Early Encounters & Bennett’s Influence

• Pizzarelli recounts his first time seeing Bennett perform at Radio City (1985, “Art of Excellence” tour).

  • Bennett famously sang off-mic to 6,000 people, enchanting the crowd with his pure voice.
  • Quote (05:40): “The orchestra came out of the pit...and even in the middle of the show he turned off the microphone and he sang to 6,000 people without the microphone on.” – John Pizzarelli

• Discusses how Bennett was an ongoing presence in the New York music scene, both on radio and within musician circles.

  • Quote (06:24): “Tony was always on our radar... he just had those amazing records and from the radio here in New York, New York radio constantly played all those.”

4. Family Connections & Bennett as Artist

• Pizzarelli’s father’s studio sessions with Bennett at Columbia 30th St. studio, a legendary spot for jazz.
• Bennett’s skill as a visual artist:
  • Often sketched fellow musicians or audience members during performances (John recalls Bennett sketching him at the Oak Room in 1991).
  • Quote (07:14): “He would sit and write on a napkin, if he had one... he was quite good at what he did.” – John Pizzarelli

5. Live Performance – “Because of You”

• [08:35–11:11]
  Pizzarelli performs one of Bennett’s earliest hits, “Because of You.”

6. Bennett’s Interpretive Artistry & Approach to Ballads

• Discussion on Bennett’s ability to connect deeply with lyrics and melodies, drawing from nuanced phrasing and emotional intelligence.
  • Cites “You Must Believe in Spring” (collaboration with Bill Evans) as a “master class” in vocal interpretation.
  • Quote (11:29): “There’s a conversational quality to the way he connects that wild lyric to the melody...he knows so understands what he’s singing and...how to be intimate with it too.”
• Reflections on Bennett’s 1990s resurgence and how his authenticity appealed to younger generations.
  • Quote (12:47): “He was so genuine...he knew that the material he was gonna present was top notch and he could do that to anybody.” – John Pizzarelli

7. Song Selection and Album Construction

• Challenges of narrowing six decades of music into a 12-song album.
  • Quote (13:08): “There’s only 60 years worth of material, so it’s easy, that’s all.” – John Pizzarelli (laughing)
• Pizzarelli aimed for a cross-section, selecting both classics and less expected material and adapting them for his jazz trio.

8. Bennett’s Connection to New York

• Discussion of Bennett as an embodiment of New York’s spirit—approachable, beloved, genuine.
  • Quote (14:30): “I feel like New Yorkers, they just respected Tony Bennett walking down the street...it’s not a tough city, it’s a beautiful [one]. And Tony embodied that.” – John Pizzarelli

9. Live Performance – “Firefly”

• [15:07–16:28]
  Pizzarelli performs “Firefly,” highlighting Bennett’s knack for uncovering unique material by songwriters like Cy Coleman & Carolyn Leigh.

10. Legacy: Recommended Listening & Pizzarelli’s “13th Song”

• Pizzarelli recommends listeners dig into Bennett’s less obvious catalog and his work with songwriters such as Cy Coleman, Carolyn Leigh, and others.
• If adding a 13th track, he’d include “Moments Like This” or “I Used to Be Colorblind”—the latter connected to his father via the “Life is Beautiful” album.
  • Quote (17:24): “There was a song called Moments like this that I really liked...and Irving Berlin’s I Used to Be Colorblind from an album called Life is Beautiful. My dad was on that record playing rhythm guitar with the orchestra.”

11. Looking Forward: More Bennett Celebrations

• Additional material to be released later (“P.S. Mr. Bennett” in August at Birdland), continuing the centennial celebrations.
  • Quote (17:46): "We'll be back at Birdland in August and we'll have an extra five tracks that we recorded for the record. So It'll be a 'P.S. Mr. Bennett' in August.”

12. Audience Connection and Performance Reflections

• Pizzarelli describes performing Bennett’s songs as a personal adventure, and notes the unique attentiveness and emotional response from his audiences.
  • Quote (18:08): “It’s a very personal adventure, what the songs have to say...there’s really a reaction to this music, that it’s a little more personal, I think, for people than some of the other things I’ve done. And I’m quite moved by it.”

13. Live Performance – “Waltz for Debby”

• [18:47–20:20]
  Pizzarelli performs “Waltz for Debby,” dedicating it as a personal favorite and mentioning his daughter’s upcoming wedding.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• John Pizzarelli on Tony Bennett’s authenticity:
  “He was just a genuine New York figure. He was a great singer and just an amazing interpreter...and a really superior interpreter of song.” [08:02]
• On Bennett’s artistry beyond music (sketches):
  “He would sit and write on a napkin, if he had one...and then he brought a book with him. He was quite good at what he did.” [07:14]
• On performance magic:
  “Even in the middle of the show he turned off the microphone and he sang to 6,000 people without the microphone on. That was pretty cool.” [05:40]
• On the reaction to Bennett’s music:
  “There’s something about the audiences really sitting on the edge of their seats and listening to the music...I’m quite moved by it.” [18:08]
• Personal touch:
  “My daughter’s getting married in August...this is one of those personal songs.” [18:41] (on “Waltz for Debby”)

---

Important Performance & Discussion Timestamps

• [02:25] – “Watch What Happens” (Live performance)
• [05:11] – Reminiscence of first Bennett concert
• [08:35] – “Because Of You” (Live performance)
• [11:29] – On Bennett’s mastery of ballads
• [12:39] – Discussion of Bennett’s MTV Unplugged resurgence
• [15:07] – “Firefly” (Live performance)
• [18:47] – “Waltz for Debby” (Live performance)
• [20:20] – Conversation wrap-up and gratitude

---

Conclusion

In this heartfelt musical and conversational tribute, John Pizzarelli honors Tony Bennett by sharing both personal stories and electric live performances. Through anecdotes and artful explanations, the episode celebrates Bennett’s genius as both a singer and an interpreter of song, his ties to New York, and his profound effect on generations of musicians and listeners. Pizzarelli’s genuine affection for Bennett, combined with thoughtful conversation and a rich setlist, makes this episode a must for fans of classic vocal jazz and New York culture alike.

Transcript

[Alison Stewart]

All of it is supported by Progressive Insurance. You chose to hit play on this podcast today. Smart choice. Make another smart choice with Auto Quote Explorer to compare rates for multiple car insurance companies all at once. Try [e-mail] Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates not available in all states or situations. Prices vary based on how you buy.

[VRBO Advertiser]

You know what they say. Early Bird gets the ultimate vacation home. Book early and save over $120 with Robo because early gets you closer to the action, whether it's waves lapping at the shore or snoozing in a hammock that overlooks. Well, whatever you want it to. So you can all enjoy the payoff come summer with Verpo's early booking deals. Rise and shine. Average savings $141 select homes only.

[Alison Stewart]

This is all of it. I'm Alison Stewart live from the NYC studios in soho. Thank you for spending part of your day with us. I'm really grateful that you're here. Coming up on the show today, we'll talk about the new play the Monsters with its stars. We'll learn about Brooklyn's indie music scene in the early aughts and the heyday of magic in New York City is on display at a new exhibit at the New York Public Library. Its curator will join us to discuss it as well. That's our plan. So let's get this started with some live music. This year, the late Tony Bennett would be celebrating his 100th birthday. Bennett's achievement in music, that recognizable swooning singing voice was something he first discovered as a boy in Queens when he was Anthony Benedetto. Grammy Award winning guitarist and vocalist John Pizzarelli is a Tony Bennett fan with a personal connection. His dad played with Bennett many times. To honor Tony Bennett's centennial, Pizzarelli has released a new album this week called Dear Mr. Bennett. You can see John perform in town at Birdland Jazz Club tonight through Saturday, March 7th. But in the meantime, he's right here across from me in the studio. It's nice to see you.

[John Pizzarelli]

Good to see you. How are you?

[Alison Stewart]

I am doing well, thank you very much. Let's start with a song. What are we gonna hear first?

[John Pizzarelli]

The first song. This is Watch what Happens. It's a song that I heard Tony Bennett open a show with many times and it's on the record.

[Alison Stewart]

Let's listen.

[John Pizzarelli (singing)]

Let someone start believing in you Let him hold out Let him touch you and watch what happens. Want someone who can look in your eyes and see into your heart Let him find you and watch what happens. Cold No, I won't believe your heart is cold maybe just afraid to be broken again why not let someone with a deep love to give Give that deep love to you and what magic you'll see Let someone give his heart Someone who cares like. Cold no, I won't believe your heart is cold maybe just afraid to be broken again why not let someone with deep love to give Give that deep love to you and what magic you'll see Let someone give his heart Someone who cares like me Let someone give his heart Someone who cares like me.

[Alison Stewart]

That was Grammy winning guitarist and vocalist John Pizzarelli. He's here to perform live and discuss his new Tony Bennett tribute album. In honor of Bennett Sant birthday this year. It's called Dear Mr. Bennett. You can see John perform at Birdland tonight through Saturday, March 7th. So that's the first song on the record, right?

[John Pizzarelli]

Yes.

[Alison Stewart]

Why did you want that to be the first song people would experience?

[John Pizzarelli]

It was the first. When I heard him open with it, I was at a function in Toronto that he was performing at and that was how we opened the program. And I thought that's a good song because in all of the songs there's a lot more ballads. You're always looking for the uptempo numbers. And that was a great way. I thought he started the show that. I thought it was a good way to kick off the record. It's Michelle Legrand and Norman Gimble wrote that song.

[Alison Stewart]

When was the first time you saw him?

[John Pizzarelli]

That's a good. Oh, I saw him at Radio city. Yeah, in 1985 when on the Art of Excellence tour. That was the first time I saw him there. That's right. That was a great, that was an amazing concert because the orchestra came out of the pit, you know, they, they came rose up after he played with the, with the quartet and it was quite magical. And even in the middle of the show he turned off the microphone and he sang to 6,000 people without the microphone on.

[Alison Stewart]

Oh, that's amazing.

[John Pizzarelli]

Yeah, that was pretty cool.

[Alison Stewart]

When did you first become aware of who Tony Bennett was, though?

[John Pizzarelli]

I guess he was, you know, it was part of the fabric of what I was doing when I was about 20 years old and I started playing in restaurants and I worked with a singer named Joe Francis for a while and we knew all these records, Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Rosie Clooney, Nat Cole, those things. And so Tony was always on our radar and also he just had those amazing records and from the radio really here in New York, New York radio constantly played all those and, and Made a festival of. It was a big deal when Tony Bennett made a record with Bill Evans or something like that. And so that's how I. He was always on my radar. For that reason.

[Alison Stewart]

I made a reference to it in the intro. Tell us how he was involved with your family.

[John Pizzarelli]

Well, he. My father was a constant fixture in the New York studio scene. There was a studio on 30th, the second and third, called Columbia 30th street, where they made Miles Davis records, Dave Brubeck records, on a lot of Tony Bennett records. And so my father knew him from that. And then Tony was a ubiquitous New York figure. When I first played the oak room in 1991, in January of 91, Tony Bennett showed up and sat in front of me and sketched my picture, just like you see on the COVID of the record. And he was just that kind of guy. You find him around and was sort of amazing. He was just around.

[Alison Stewart]

He was well known as an artist as well.

[John Pizzarelli]

Yes.

[Alison Stewart]

Especially later in his career. And I think on. On the COVID of your album, it kind of shows.

[John Pizzarelli]

Yes. He would sit and write on a napkin, if he had one. And then he brought a book with him. And actually last year they auctioned off a lot of his sketches. And he even sketched some friends of mine. One was a gentleman named Tony Monti. And I was able to get that sketch. He was quite good at what he did. Yeah.

[Alison Stewart]

Oh, that's extraordinary.

[VRBO Advertiser]

Ye.

[Alison Stewart]

It's interesting. When he was sketching you, were you aware that he was sketching you on a napkin?

[John Pizzarelli]

Yes. Cause he always had. He had his. Actually, I wasn't. He had his hand. His head in his hand. And I thought, oh, he's hating this. And then I. And it wasn't until afterwards that he would hand you the sketch, you know, so it was quite. It was funny then at that point. Oh, you were sketching, so that was great.

[Alison Stewart]

Yeah. People know him as a great singer. People know him as a great artist. What is something that someone might not know about Tony Bennett?

[John Pizzarelli]

I think we've covered it honestly. He was just a genuine New York figure. He was a great singer and just an amazing interpreter. From orchestra work to his jazz work with Bill Evans and George Barnes and Ruby Braff. Just a great and a really superior interpreter of song.

[Alison Stewart]

Are you ready to play another one for us?

[John Pizzarelli]

Certainly.

[Alison Stewart]

As we say, this is John Pizzarelli. What are you going to play?

[John Pizzarelli]

I'm going to play one of his first hits, which was because of you.

[John Pizzarelli (singing)]

Because of you. There's a song in My heart because of you. My romance had its start because of you. The sun will shine the moon and stars will say you're mine forever and never to part. I only live for your love and your kiss. It's paradise to be near you like this. Because of you My life is now worthwhile and I can smile because of you. Sam. I only live for your love and your kiss. It's paradise to be near you like this because of you My life is now worthwhile and I can smile because of you.

[Alison Stewart]

That was John Pizzarelli. He's here to perform live and discuss his new Tony Bennett tribute album. Dear Mr. Bennett. You can see John perform tonight at birdland through Saturday, March 7. What do you think about how Tony Bennett approached a ballad?

[John Pizzarelli]

It's sort of amazing that there's a specific example would be. There's. If you get the record that he made with Bill Evans of a song called you'd Must Believe in Spring, which has a very beautiful winding lyric by Alan Marilyn Bergman. And there's a conversational quality to the way he connects that wild lyric to the melody. And I use it as sort of a master class of how just here's the melody, here's the lyric. And look how simply he presents it. He doesn't have to do anything with it, but sing the melody and understand the lyric. There's something about even the work with Bill Evans that he knows so understands what he's singing and. And how to be intimate with it too.

[Alison Stewart]

It's interesting because I seem to remember in the 90s there was a resurgence of Tony Bennett. And I can remember when I was at mtv, I got to do a story with him and I got a dress from a vintage story. We went out dancing is what we did. And it was amazing. And he appeared with all these different artists. He was. Did an MTV Unplugged, I believe.

[John Pizzarelli]

Yes, he was.

[Alison Stewart]

I wanted to remember. I wanted you to. Your thoughts on why you think he appeared to the youngsters at that time.

[John Pizzarelli (singing)]

I think.

[John Pizzarelli]

Cause he was so genuine, he could, you know, he was a genuine person that didn't think about. I don't think he really cared about where his surroundings were. He knew that the material he was gonna present was top notch and he could do that to anybody.

[Alison Stewart]

Yeah. So you chose 12 songs for this album. How did you go about it?

[John Pizzarelli]

That's a good question. As I said last night at Birdland, I said, well, there's only 60 years worth of material, so it's easy, that's all. And when I got the box. It was 40 years, so there was still another 20 years that you're talking about the MTV through all those Grammy Award winning records. So I tried to find things that were slightly unusual and even do and then still do because of you and San Francisco and things like that.

[Alison Stewart]

As you were thinking about the songs and adapting the songs, what was your process for adapting Tony Bennett's work?

[John Pizzarelli]

Well, we did. Well, I actually looked at it also from the sense of the 50s with because of youf and Rags to Riches and Boulevard of Broken Dreams. There were hits in the 50s, there were hits in the 60s, and then there was the work with. With Bill Evans and throughout there. So it was about trying to find an arc of all those songs and then put them in the jazz voice of our trio with Isaiah Thompson on piano and Mike Karn on bass.

[Alison Stewart]

So Tony Bennett was born Anthony Dominic Benedetto. Yes, he was in Queens. And you've mentioned him being a New York figure. What did he capture about New York?

[John Pizzarelli]

The idea that, you know, I feel like New Yorkers, you know, they just respected Tony Bennett walking down the street. I mean, people always say, you know, I was walking down the street. And I think the idea about New Yorkers to get to a grander vision of it is New Yorkers are so much nicer than people realize. You know, you sit and Tony was, hey, how you doing?

[John Pizzarelli (singing)]

Hey.

[John Pizzarelli]

Boom. Just, you know, in a bodega, walking down or doing whatever. People will give you directions in New York. It's not a tough city. It's a beautiful. And Tony embodied that.

[Alison Stewart]

I think we're gonna try to slip in four songs. What's our next one we're gonna hear?

[John Pizzarelli]

This is a song called Firefly, which I believe is on the unplugged record too. So it's a Cy Coleman and Carolyn Lee song.

[John Pizzarelli (singing)]

I call her Firefly. Cause oh my. She radiates moon glow. Wants none of that noon glow. She starts to glitter when the sun goes down. Bout 8pm it's mayhem. She switches the brights up, Lights up and gives me a call. Take me to the fireflies ball. But when I get an antenna there.

[John Pizzarelli]

Do I get to pair her there? I grab me some glow no, she's

[John Pizzarelli (singing)]

a gad about mad about Luring every light about. While leaving me moaning low. Oh firefly, why can't I latch until you know how, oh how I love you budgie. While you set the night on firefly, Shine a little light on me. You're leaving me moaning low. Oh firefly, why can't I latch onto you know how, oh, how I love you, budgie While you set the night on Firefly Shine a little light on Shine a little light on Shine a little light on me.

[Alison Stewart]

My guest is Grammy winning guitarist and vocalist John Pizzarelli. He's here to perform live and discuss his new Tony Bennett tribute album in honor of Bennett's centennial birthday. It's called Dear Mr. Bennett. You can see John perform at Birdland tonight through Saturday, March 7th. As someone who's listening to this album or thinks they know Tony Bennett's work, what else would you tell them to listen to? What other songs would you tell them to listen to?

[John Pizzarelli]

I think the idea of who the songwriters were. He was a big fan of Cy Coleman and Carolyn Lee and, and he found material that he introduced, like Firefly was a song that he introduced. And because of you, one of his, you know, he had a singular repertoire like Sinatra, like Nat Cole, and that's what's interesting about it. And I tried to find a few of those songs that were like that.

[Alison Stewart]

If you could pick a 13th song to put on the record, what would you have put?

[John Pizzarelli]

Well, that's a very good question. There was a song called Moments like this that I really liked, and there was one that's a Burton Lane song and Irving Berlin's I Used to Be Colorblind from an album called Life is Beautiful. My dad was on that record playing rhythm guitar with the orchestra, and I always loved that record.

[Alison Stewart]

Tony Bennett would have been 100 this year. What else do you have planned for his centennial?

[John Pizzarelli]

Well, we'll be back at Birdland in August and we'll have an extra five tracks that we recorded for the record. So It'll be a P.S. Mr. Bennett in August.

[Alison Stewart]

Ah, love that. Okay, you've been at Birdland, you were said last night, and you're there until Saturday. What do you think? What do you think about when you're performing his songs?

[John Pizzarelli]

Oh, it's a very personal adventure, what the songs have to say. And there's also, there's something about the audiences really sitting on the edge of their seats and listening to the music. And I find that fascinating that there's really a reaction to this music, that it's a little more personal, I think, for people than some of the other things I've done. And I'm quite moved by it.

[Alison Stewart]

I said we could get a fourth song. Do you think so?

[John Pizzarelli]

Yes. And this is Waltz for Debbie. My daughter's getting married in August.

[Alison Stewart]

Aw, fabulous.

[John Pizzarelli]

So this is one of those personal songs.

[Alison Stewart]

Mazel Tov, by the way, thank you very much.

[John Pizzarelli (singing)]

In her own sweet world, populated by dolls and clowns and a prince and a big purple bear, lives my favorite girl. Unaware of the worried frowns that we weary grown ups all wear in. She dances to silent music songs that are spun of gold somewhere in her own little head. One day all too soon she'll grow up and she'll leave her dolls and her prince and her silly old bear when she goes, they will cr. As she whispers goodbye. They will miss her, I fear. But then so will I.

[Alison Stewart]

My guest has been John Pizzarelli. His new Tony Bennett tribute album is called Dear Mr. Bennett in honor of Bennet birthday this year. You can see John perform at Birdland tonight through Saturday, March 7th. Thank you for being here.

[John Pizzarelli]

It's always a pleasure. Thanks for having me.

[VRBO Advertiser]

Early Birds always rise to the occasion for summer vacation planning because early gets you closer to the action. So don't be late. Book your next vacation early on VRBO and save over $120. Rise and shine. Average savings $141. Select homes only.

[John Pizzarelli]

Quick choose a meal deal with McValue. The five dollar McChicken meal deal, a six dollar McDouble meal deal or the new seven dollars Daily Double Me its own small fries, drink and four piece McNuggets. There's actually no rush. I'm just excited. From McDonald's for a limited time only. Prices of participation may Vary. Not Belgium.

[Alison Stewart]

McDelry.