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. Hanging out with his father, John was exposed to all the great jazz music of the era, from Erroll Garner and Les Paul to Django Reinhardt. He began playing with his father at age 20, before going out on his own.
John Pizzarelli has recorded as a bandleader for RCA, Chesky, Stash and Novus, and in 1997 appeared in the Broadway musical Dream, a revue of Johnny Mercer songs. Along the way, Pizzarelli and his band have earned rave reviews. Reviewers often compare the Pizzarelli Trio to jazz icons such as Nat "King" Cole: "The John Pizzarelli Trio has never been tighter, and Pizzarelli himself has never been looser," said The Village Voice of a recent New York show. "We can say we’re as lucky to listen to [Pizzarelli] as Nat Cole fans were in the years before he became a legend."
For Pizzarelli, the comparison to the Nat "King" Cole Trio is the highest of compliments. "I've always said in my concerts that Nat 'King' Cole is why I do what I do." Using greats like Nat "King" Cole and Frank Sinatra and the songs of writers like Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen as touchstones, Pizzarelli is among the prime contemporary interpreters of the great American songbook, bringing to the work his signature style and brilliant guitar playing.
With Telarc’s recent release of Dear Mr. Sinatra, an homage to 'Ol' Blue Eyes,' Pizzarelli's album count now stands at 21, an odyssey that began with My Blue Heaven in 1990. Some of his most recent CDs include, Knowing You (Telarc 2005), Bossa Nova (Telarc 2004), and Live at Birdland (Telarc 2003).
A veteran radio personality, Pizzarelli hosted "New York Tonight" on WNEW from 1984-1988. Now, with the launch of "Radio Deluxe with John Pizzarelli," he brings warmth, humor and that long-lost "live" feel back to radio. The show takes place in their "deluxe living room," where he and his guests play live and recorded music, and enjoy conversation that is relaxed, candid, and off-the-cuff. Recent guests include Regis Philbin, Liza Minnelli, Peter Cincotti, Keely Smith, Steve Tyrell and Tony Danza.
In addition to being a bandleader, radio personality and solo performer, John has been a special guest on recordings for major pop names such as James Taylor, Natalie Cole, Tom Wopat, Rickie Lee Jones and Dave Von Ronk, as well as leading jazz artists like Rosemary Clooney, Ruby Braff, Johnny Frigo, Buddy DeFranco, Harry Allen and, of course, Bucky Pizzarelli. He was recently featured opposite Donna Summer, Jon Secada and Roberta Flack on the Grammy Award winning CD, Songs From The Neighborhood: The Music of Mr. Rogers.
John has performed numerous times on the country's most popular national television shows such as "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "The Late Show with David Letterman," "Live With Regis & Kelly," "The Tony Danza Show," "The CBS Early Show," Fox News Channel and Jerry Lewis's Labor Day Telethon.
Pizzarelli continues to tour throughout the United States, Europe and Japan, performing classic pop, jazz and swing, while setting the standard for stylish modern jazz.
Full Discography:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Pizzarelli#Select_discography
Satin Doll
John Pizzarelli Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Over her shoulder, she digs me.
Out cattin' that satin doll.
Baby, shall we go out skippin?
Careful, amigo, you're flippin',
Speaks Latin that satin doll.
I'll give it a whirl but I ain't for no girl catching me,
Switch-a-rooney!
Telephone numbers well you know,
Doin' my rhumbas with uno
And that 'in my Satin Doll.
The lyrics of "Satin Doll" by John Pizzarelli talk about a woman who catches the singer's eye. He describes her holding a cigarette holder that intrigues him and being attracted to her glamour as she looks over her shoulder. They go out on the town together, but the singer is cautious about not getting too attached to her. He acknowledges that she is not easily fooled, so he tries to play it cool. However, he does give in to her allure and dance with her.
The song's chorus includes the line "Switch-a-rooney!" which is a nod to the dance move of the same name. This move involves partners swapping places by quickly stepping around each other.
Throughout the song, the singer mentions dancing the rhumba, which is a Cuban dance characterized by a slow rhythm and hip movements. He also references speaking "Latin," which could be interpreted as the woman being knowledgeable about languages or simply having a sophisticated manner of speaking.
One interesting fact about "Satin Doll" is that it was written by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn in 1953. It has since become a jazz standard, with countless covers and interpretations.
Another notable version of the song is by Ella Fitzgerald, who recorded it in 1956 as part of her album “Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook”.
The song has been featured in several films, including "The Fabulous Baker Boys" and "Bridget Jones's Diary".
John Pizzarelli's version of the song was released in 1992 as part of his album "All of Me".
The song has been sampled by several hip-hop artists, including Ice Cube, Wu-Tang Clan, and The Pharcyde.
In 2013, Vanity Fair named "Satin Doll" one of the 25 Best Jazz Songs of All Time.
The song's chord progression features a unique pattern of ii-V-Is, which has become a common jazz progression.
The lyrics were inspired by a female patron of the Cotton Club in Harlem, who Duke Ellington saw smoking a cigarette through a holder and immediately thought of writing a song about her.
Chords (key of C):
Verse:
C Bb7 A7 Ab7
Cigarette holder, which wigs me,
Gm7 C7 Fmaj7
Over her shoulder, she digs me.
Fm7 Bb7 Dm7 G7
Out cattin' that satin doll.
C Bb7 A7 Ab7
Baby, shall we go out sketchin'?
Gm7 C7 Fmaj7
Careful, amigo, you're catchin' lead poisoning.
Fm7 Bb7 Dm7 G7
Out cattin' that satin doll.
Bridge:
G7 Gbmaj7 F#7 Fmaj7
Droopy-eyed and laughing, I met the pain,
G7 Gbmaj7 F#7 Fmaj7
Plenty of time to fall in love again,
D7 Db7 C7
Out cattin' that satin doll.
Line by Line Meaning
Cigarette holder which wigs me
The woman has a cigarette holder that catches John's attention and makes her seem more elegant.
Over her shoulder, she digs me.
The woman has noticed John staring at her and seems to be interested in him as well.
Out cattin' that satin doll.
The woman is out on the town and enjoying herself, maybe even searching for someone to spend time with.
Baby, shall we go out skippin?
John is interested in spending time with the woman and asks her out.
Careful, amigo, you're flippin'
The woman warns John to be careful, as he may be getting ahead of himself.
Speaks Latin that satin doll.
The woman is cultured and educated, knowing a language like Latin.
She's nobody's fool so I'm playing it cool as can be.
The woman is smart and experienced, so John is trying to play it cool and not mess anything up.
I'll give it a whirl but I ain't for no girl catching me,
John is willing to take a chance with the woman, but he doesn't want to be caught and manipulated by her.
Switch-a-rooney!
John is taking a chance with the woman and hoping that it all works out.
Telephone numbers well you know,
John is collecting numbers from women he meets, just in case nothing works out with the satin doll.
Doin' my rhumbas with uno
John is dancing alone, possibly because he has struck out with the satin doll or other women.
And that 'in my Satin Doll.
Despite his other options and difficulties, John is still interested in the satin doll and wants to be with her.
Writer(s): DUKE ELLINGTON
Contributed by Jasmine G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@blindblackpianist
(6 years late)
I always thought of that as an old bop lick, I can't think of the origin but I've heard it on lots of different instruments possibly starting around the 40s, but that could be the first time it was used that specific way, which would have been 1958 (released 1959). To keep my mind off of death, I feel like breaking it down :) I like that you pointed it out.
In any scale
1, 4-b3-3, 6-4-5, 9-7-8
In the key of C
C, FEbE, AEG, DBC
*if my ear is correct*
(More ranting)
I couldn't find that lick in Moanin', at least in the studio version off of that album, with that famous Lee Morgan trumpet solo. Maybe we're talking about two different things.
@altannamar
Cigarette holder which wigs me
over her shoulder, she digs me.
Out cattin' that satin doll.
Baby, shall we go out skippin?
Careful, amigo, you're flippin',
speaks Latin that satin doll.
She's nobody's fool so I'm playing it cool as can be.
I'll give it a whirl but I ain't for no girl catching me,
swich-e-rooney.
Telephone numbers well you know,
doing my rhumbas with uno
and that'n my satin doll.
@namaraltannamar1365
00:32 Cigarette holder which wigs me
over her shoulder, she digs me.
Out cattin' that satin doll.
Baby, shall we go out skippin?
Careful, amigo, you're flippin',
speaks Latin that satin doll.
She's nobody's fool so I'm playing it cool as can be.
I'll give it a whirl but I ain't for no girl catching me,
swich-e-rooney.
Telephone numbers well you know,
doing my rhumbas with uno
and that'n my satin doll.
@WalterHolokai
Can never get enough of John Pizzarelli. He's a national treasure.
@foxyjazzbopper
look...Mr.Pizzerelli is a fantastic jazz guitar player...who enjoys every minute the guitar is in his hands...his voice suits his music...and is just pure fun.....he always smiles when he plays.....man...he's got it licked.....brilliant.
@jean-lucbersou758
I could say " exactly as you " !
@drastelli9323
One is never too old to love jazz and the Pizzarellis. Met them once in Madison, NJ. I can't believe NJ politicians won't endorse "I Like Jersey Best" as our state song.
@vincenzo6162
the guitarist's tone is so good. and his playing is kind of rock n roll. awesome!
@stanmarsh8282
Grahams phrasing is really good. I love his playing and his tone.
John is a beast on guitar... everybody knows that
@ivanvillalobos286
I may hear this again and again,.. i must say,Pizzarelli is Jazz... he has a jazzy smile!
@SangahNoona
You are my favorite of favorites John! You’re getting hotter and hotter.... ❤️
@tmagooda
this is so! so! nice.cant stop watching this
@dutchjay1515
So Beautiful Thank You