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John Pizzarelli Trio at Keystone Korner

By Mark Robbins
April 11, 2020
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From 1972 to 1983 NEA Jazz Master's award recipient Todd Barkan operated San Francisco's Keystone Korner as one the preeminent jazz clubs in the country. Performers such as

Sonny Rollins

saxophone
b.1930

" data-original-title="" title="">Sonny Rollins,

Miles Davis

trumpet
1926 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Miles Davis,

Art Blakey

drums
1919 - 1990

" data-original-title="" title="">Art Blakey,

Betty Carter

vocals
1929 - 1998

" data-original-title="" title="">Betty Carter,

" data-original-title="" title="">McCoy Tyner and so many more played on the Korner's stage until, due to financial difficulties, Barkan had to close the club down.

Then in 2019 Barkan, with Michelin-starred chef Robert Wiedmaier, revived Keystone Korner but this time in Baltimore's Harbor East. Keeping the tradition of having the best jazz musicians on the Korner's stage the opening act on April 30, 2019 was bassist

Ron Carter

bass
b.1937

" data-original-title="" title="">Ron Carter with

Russell Malone

guitar
1963 - 2024

" data-original-title="" title="">Russell Malone on guitar and

Donald Vega

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Donald Vega on piano. Most recently the

John Pizzarelli

guitar
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">John Pizzarelli played 6 gigs there over a cold Baltimore weekend paying homage to one of his musical heroes,

Nat King Cole

piano and vocals
1919 - 1965

" data-original-title="" title="">Nat King Cole. Continuing Cole's centennial birthday celebration Pizzarelli with pianist

Tadataka Unno

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Tadataka Unno and bassist

Mike Karn

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Mike Karn spent the evening putting their spin on popular and seldom heard Cole songs like "Straighten Up and Fly Right," "Route 66," "Save the Bones for Henry Jones ('Cause Henry Don't Eat Meat" and many more. If there was one disappointment in the 90 minute set it was the lack of an audience. The 200 seat room had less than 20 people in attendance for a ten o'clock Friday night show. The hostess said the earlier set was just about sold out but it was still disappointing to see such a poor turnout for such a great trio. Oh well, at least the 20 who were there got to see a show that was "Unforgettable." View Slideshow

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