The Pizzarelli family of Paterson—guitarist Bucky [1926-2020], singer-songwriter-guitarist-producer John and bassist Martin—have always loved the legendary New Jersey Hall of Fame vocalist Tony Bennett from Englewood in Bergen County. Bucky—who was inducted into the NJHOF in 2011—played on Tony’s 1960 To My Wonderful One and 1969’s I’ve Gotta Be Me albums. John backed up Tony on guitar during numerous radio broadcasts and Tony returned the favor by drawing a beautiful portrait of him that now serves as the cover of John’s new Dear Mr. Bennett (Green Hill Music).

When we reported last month upon the direction of Paterson product John Pizzarelli’s new ‘Stage & Screen’ project, we obviously knew it was comprised of classic songs from Hollywood and Broadway. What we didn’t know was the profound scope, the jam-happy aesthetic, and the absolute transformation of these songs into something new, vital and incredibly swoon-worthy.

The pride of Paterson, vocalist-guitarist John Pizzarelli, will release Stage & Screen, April 21 on Palmetto Records. “In thinking about some of the songs that I really love to play,” he says, “it struck me how many of them come from either a Broadway show or from a movie.”