The John Pizzarelli Quartet Coming to the Bickford Theatre at the Morris Museum

The John Pizzarelli Quartet makes a rare Bickford Theatre appearance for one night only on Saturday, April 1, at 8:00 p.m. Joining John will be Konrad Paskudzki on piano, Andy Watson on drums, and Mike Kam on bass.

John Pizzarelli may be a world-renowned guitarist and singer, but he is a Jersey guy through and through. Born in Paterson and raised in Bergen County, he comes from a musical family. His father, Bucky Pizzarelli, is one of the most beloved jazz guitarists of all time and brother Martin is a popular jazz bassist and sister Mary played professionally before turning to a career in business.

While John is best known as of one of the prime interpreters of the Great American Songbook, he has expanded that repertoire to include the music of Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Tom Waits, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Lennon-McCartney. His latest album, Midnight McCartney, was recorded at the request of Paul McCartney, a big fan, who asked him to interpret some of his songs in a jazz style.

John Pizzarelli is quick to tell people that no matter what he is singing or playing, his hero and the foundation for his approach to music is the great Nat "King" Cole, to whom he has devoted two albums and to whom he owes the configuration of his latest piano, bass and drums quartet. It has been said that John carries on Cole's tradition of soft crooning, impeccable musicianship and a love a swing unlike anyone else in jazz today.

"We look forward to having John come to the Bickford Theatre next month," said Eric Hafen, the theater's artistic director. "We have been celebrating his dad's birthday in January for years so it is appropriate to make it a family tradition. And John agrees."

Tickets for The John Pizzarelli Quartet range from $20 to $50 and may be purchased online at morrismuseum.org, by phone at (973) 971-3706, or in person at the Bickford Theatre Box Office. The Morris Museum's Bickford Theatre is located at 6 Normandy Heights Road in Morristown, NJ, and offers free parking and full accessibility. Box office hours for phone sales are Monday through Friday, 10:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. Walk-up hours are Tuesday through Friday, 11:00a.m. to 5:00p.m.

About the Bickford Theatre

The Bickford Theatre is a professional theater that produces and presents year-round entertainment, including a Main Stage Series, two Children's Theatre series, a Jazz Showcase Series, and other concerts. The theatre is an Equity Producing Theatre member of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance, a not-for-profit organization of 30 professional theaters throughout the state, and works in conjunction with Actors' Equity Association (AEA) and the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC). From its beginnings in 1994 to the present, tens of thousands of theater-goers from across the tri-state area have enjoyed the Bickford Theatre's many entertaining and diversified offerings in theatre, music and dance.

About the Morris Museum

Founded in 1913, the Morris Museum is an award-winning, community-based arts and cultural institution which serves the public through high-caliber exhibitions in the arts, sciences and humanities. The Museum also offers educational programs, family events, and is home to the Bickford Theatre and its wide range of performing arts offerings. Continuously serving the public since 1913, the Morris Museum has been designated a Major Arts Institution and has received the New Jersey State Council on the Arts' Citation of Excellence, among other awards. The first museum in New Jersey to be accredited, the Morris Museum was re-accredited in 2013 by the American Alliance of Museums.

The Morris Museum is a Blue Star Museum, offering free admission to active duty military personnel and their families, from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Photo credit: Timothy White

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