(Guitarists: John Pisano, George Van Eps, Herb Ellis, Anthony Wilson, Ted Greene, Pat Kelly, Scott Henderson, Corey Christiansen, Joe Diorio, Barry Zweig, Frank Potenza, Peter Bernstein, Larry Koonse)
John Pisano is a relatively unknown jazz guitar player to the typically low-key jazz fan. However, for the true jazz guitar lover, he is well known and respected. He was Jim Hall’s replacement in the mid 50s for the Chico Hamilton chamber jazz super quintet. He later did mostly studio work in LA, but found time to play rhythm guitar for several years with Joe Pass, and also was a early member of Herb Alpert’s Tijuana Brass.
John has led a Tuesday Guitar Night, at Spazio, a Van Nuys dinner club, for many years. As a retrospective of these guitar fests, Mel Bay has issued a 2-CD compilation of Guitar Night tracks ranging from 1997 to 2006. On most nights, true to fashion, Pisano would play rhythm guitar behind the night’s headliners. These featured guitar players are a “who’s who” of guitar titans ranging from veterans, Van Eps and Herb Ellis, to the younger new bright lights of Peter Bernstein, and Anthony Wilson – the son of band leader extraordinaire, Gerald Wilson.
Both George Van Eps and Ted Greene passed away during the time period covered in this compilation, so it is a nice opportunity to hear them. Greene’s contribution is a July 2000 solo rendition of When Sunny Gets Blue.
What makes this guitar set so special is that the guitarists really get to stretch out in the spotlight as most selections are in the nine to twelve minute range. The repertoire is largely made up of standards such as Good Bait, Whisper Not, My One and Only Love, Autumn Leaves, and All of You. Knowing the standards, the listener gets to concentrate on the spin and chords that each guitarist brings to the standard. The recording quality is quite good for a restaurant setting. My personal favorites are the duets of Anthony Wilson and Peter Bernstein on Whisper Not and Herb Ellis and Pisano kicking up their heels on I Want to Be Happy.
If you are a jazz guitar fan, make a bee-line for your local CD shop or online merchant and spend some time on Guitar Night.
– Jeff Krow
