When Sir Paul McCartney requests a new take on his post-Beatles songbook, ours is not to question.
Jazz guitarist John Pizzarelli didn't.
He had backed McCartney in 2012 on an album of standards — "Kisses on the Bottom." After the collection received a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, McCartney sent Pizzarelli a letter.
"I thought it was to say, 'Thank you,' " Pizzarelli says. "Out of the clear blue was a request. He had this idea: Would I lend my stylings to his post-Beatles catalog and lesser-known titles?"
The master suggested a few of the songs he thought could lend themselves to jazz — "Warm and Beautiful," "Junk," "My Valentine." And if Pizzarelli liked the idea, maybe the title could be: "Midnight McCartney." The cover could feature Pizzarelli walking through Manhattan at night.
"This may tickle your fancy or you may decide these are the ramblings of a deranged composer with too much time on his hands," McCartney wrote.
Far from it. Pizzarelli was honored.
"He had the whole thing figured out," he says. "It was very sweet."
So he got to work. On Saturday, the John Pizzarelli Quartet will showcase the results of McCartney's brainstorm in a show at Capitol Theatre, part of the JazzSLC series.
Pizzarelli worked with his father, daughter, brother and wife, Jessica Molaskey, to reimagine songs both familiar and largely unknown. They turned "My Valentine" into a bossa-nova track and added Michael McDonald's soulful vocals to "Coming Up." "Silly Love Songs" now features a "Ray Brown rhythm section."
Knowing the legendary status of the artist he was reworking, Pizzarelli paused, but just for a moment.
"It was a real challenge, but in a great way," he says. "One of the things we do is translate songs into other styles. I really feel like we had it."
About half of Saturday's show will feature McCartney's songs, the other half will be Pizzarelli's other work — songs he's performed at New York City's Carlyle Hotel, including Joni Mitchell and Stephen Sondheim. Some holiday favorites could be thrown into the mix.
There are still holdouts — audience members looking for a Lennon-McCartney or Wings-McCartney revival. But, Pizzarelli says, they're in the minority.
"There's still 10 percent of the people who say it doesn't sound like the originals," he says, "but that's the whole idea."
For the record, McCartney approves.
—
John Pizzarelli Quartet
With Jessica Molaskey
When • Saturday, Jan. 2, 7:30 p.m.
Where • Capitol Theatre, 50 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $34.50-$39; ArtTix, artsaltlake.org
| Courtesy Jazz guitarist and singeer John Pizzarelli,performing with his wife, singer/actress Jessica Molaskey, will take the stage Saturday, Jan. 2, at the Capitol Theatre as part of the JazzSLC series.
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