After changing into my evening clothes, which I didn’t even know were in my closet, I took the train uptown to the classic Rosewood Hotel. When I got there, I checked my coat and was guided towards an inconspicuous door that read Café Carlyle. Greeted by the maître d', our party was escorted to a table on the far side of the room. Far is a relative term, since the Carlyle is an intimate room that seats about 90 guests, who are all surrounded by a melodious mural. That night, the class of the Carlyle was only outdone by the talent on stage.
This Tuesday was the first night of the two-week engagement of Strictly Bossa Nova II at Café Carlyle. A bossa nova experience brought to New York by guitarist John Pizzarelli and singer-songwriter-pianist Daniel Jobim. As the name implies, this is the second installment at the Carlyle by these two musical heirs (Daniel Jobim the grandson of bossa nova legend, Antônio Carlos Jobim, and John Pizzarelli, the son of jazz guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli). The reviews from last year’s show forecasted a superb Tuesday evening, and it was that and more.
The show opened with a wonderful bossa nova twist on a classic standard, “Swonderful.” Following the song, Pizzarelli welcomed the crowd to Strictly Bossa Nova II, and in his best Portuguese accent, paid tribute to the Brazilian writers, “George and Ira Gershwin.” The crowd erupted with a laughter that continued throughout the evening. He then spoke about the song’s arrangement, from João Gilberto’s 1976 album Amoroso, which he hilariously described as “musical Viagra.” With this light heartedness the show took off. Pizzarelli and Jobim continued with two more suggestive arrangements from the album, Joao Gilberto’s “Tin Tin Por Tin Tin” and “Besame Mucho.”
The duo sat in front of their quartet, comprised of younger brother Martin Pizzarelli on the bass, Rio native Duduka Dafonseca on the drums, and fellow Brazilian Helio Alves on the piano. Jobim, a gunner for Orson Wells, casually wearing a fedora, took to the piano to play his grandfather’s first song of the evening, a rendition of the whimsical “Two Kites.” Jobim’s performance gave the crowd a sense of his deep adoration for his grandfather and his music. This was reinforced throughout the night as he performed many of his grandfather’s songs accompanied by his own nostalgic stories.
Pizzarelli, in turn, demonstrated his admiration for both Jobim and the bossa nova, as he played thoughtfully selected songs. This included his own “Soares Samba” from the album Bossa Nova. The song, which illuminates both the sexy samba and the cool jazz origins, also allowed members of the band to shine. One could sense the energy of the crowd, especially during Duduka Dafonseca’s drum solo during “Soares Samba.” As his sticks finished rhythmically racing over his drums, the crowd responded with an equally exhilarating cheer.
Another memorable moment included a transition from Sondheim’s “I Remember Sky” into Jobim’s “Waters Of March.” Pizzarelli shared that when his wife, Jessica Molaskey, listened to this song pairing, she was brought to tears. When they got to playing the medley it was the crowd’s turn to cry. This energy from the crowd carried the band all the way to the end of the evening with their encore selection of Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes’s “Agua De Beber.”
It is important to note that part of the evening was dedicated to the 1967 collaboration between Antônio Carlos Jobim and Frank Sinatra. Daniel Jobim fondly told the story of when Sinatra first contacted his grandfather. When Sinatra called Jobim at home, he learned from Jobim’s wife that Tom, as he was affectionately called, was at the local bar. Sinatra called the bar and insisted on speaking with the composer. Two arrangements were selected to represent their musical partnership. First, a medley of “If You Never Come To Me” by Jobim and Aloysio de Oliveira and “Change Partners” by Irving Berlin. Followed by “The Girl From Ipanema.” Pizzarelli and Jobim emphasized the importance of this partnership for validating the significance Jobim’s music and sharing the bossa nova with the world.
Over fifty years later, this music does not require any endorsements, but rather speaks for itself. Through eloquent lyrics and jazzy samba rhythms, one cannot resist its lure. Of course, to truly enjoy any music, talent is required. Jobim and Pizzarelli bring more than just talent to the stage; they bring admiration for the music that allows their audience to drift to another time and space. See them at Café Carlyle through May 2.