Marilyn Maye with Bucky Pizzarelli: Two Swingin’ Souls

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 Marilyn Maye with Bucky Pizzarelli

Two Swingin’ Souls

Iridium NYC, NYC, November 6, 2014

Reviewed by Elizabeth Ahlfors for Cabaret Scenes

Marilyn-Maye-Iridium NYC-Cabaret-Scenes-Magazine_212 Bucky-Pizzarelli-Iridium NYC-Cabaret-Scenes-Magazine_212Marilyn Maye! Bucky Pizzarelli! Together for the first time! If you were wondering where the brightest lights on Broadway were shining on November 5 and 6, it was right at Iridium NYC where Scott Barbarino featured two legends on one stage.

Except for studio gigs for television, this was the first show together for the ever-popular Maye and guitar maestro Pizzarelli. Both go back to jazz roots, the big band era, jazz and pop music. Maye opened the evening with up-tempo Johnny Mercer showstoppers (with various composers), one leading smoothly into the next with Maye including her own statement with original lyrics to “You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby.” Before introducing Pizzarelli, she added a power punch with improvisational vocals to Paul Desmond’s catchy melody and distinctive 5/4 time of “Take Five.” (Lyrics: Dave & Iola Brubeck.)

For decades, Pizzarelli has been the go-to guitar sideman on recordings by Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Tony Martin, Peggy Lee, The Four Seasons, even Paul McCartney and, of course, those other performing Pizzarellis, son John and daughter-in-law Jessica Molaskey (with another son, Martin, on bass).

The two proved they are still swinging hipsters, in sync from the first “’Deed I Do,” and “Just in Time,” with Pizzarelli’s signature rhythmic chords and single notes and sly reminders of his idol, Django Reinhardt.

By the time they moved into “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” and a hard-driving “Birth of the Blues,” they were beaming, loving the audience feedback, as they crammed a lot of rhythm on the stage. On a seven-string guitar, Pizzarelli presented a harmonic, melancholy “Satin Doll,” with Maye coming in with vocals. With just voice and guitar, they delivered a stunning “Skylark” moment, and he scored with his complex and lyrically nuanced solos of “This Nearly Was Mine” and “Darn That Dream,” a jazz favorite.

He beamed at Maye when she directed “Love Is Here to Stay” his way, and she saluted him with original lyrics to “You Make Me Feel So Young.”  He subtly played the “spaces” behind her.  When asked about staying young, Pizzarelli said, “I drink Ovaltine every night.” As for Maye, “I take vitamins.” Evidently, these octogenarians do something right.

No skimping on talent here. With the five-star accompaniment of Tedd Firth on piano, bassist Tom Hubbard and Ray Marchica on drums, Maye and Pizzarelli presented two sets of energetic sizzle each night. At one show, an additional perk was the continuing 90th-birthday celebration of cabaret queen, Julie Wilson, in the audience. Oh, what a night!

Elizabeth Ahlfors

Born and raised in New York, Elizabeth graduated from NYU with a degree in Journalism. She has lived in various cities and countries and now is back in NYC. She has written magazine articles and published three books: A Housewife’s Guide to Women’s Liberation, Twelve American Women, and Heroines of ’76 (for children). A great love was always music and theater—in the audience, not performing. A Philadelphia correspondent for Theatre.com and InTheatre Magazine, she has reviewed theater and cabaret for the Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia City News. She writes for Cabaret Scenes and other cabaret/theater sites. She is a judge for Nightlife Awards and a voting member of Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle.