JOHN PIZZARELLI PRESENTS “DEAR MR. BENNETT” (Wed, 9/16/26)

Grammy-winning producer, guitarist, and vocalist JOHN PIZZARELLI celebrates the centennial of iconic singer Tony Bennett with a pair of heartfelt tributes. Dear Mr. Bennett, to be released March 3, 2026, via Green Hill Music, features Pizzarelli’s trio with bassist Mike Karn and pianist Isaiah J. Thompson performing timeless songs made famous by Bennett. A 5-song EP will follow on August 7, the week of Bennett’s 100th birthday

When Tony Bennett passed away in July 2023, just shy of his 97th birthday, the loss was felt throughout the world of music. Few artists have made as profound an impact over such a wide range of styles and eras, with connections spanning Frank Sinatra, Bill Evans, Willie Nelson, and Lady Gaga.

For world-renowned guitarist and vocalist John Pizzarelli, Bennett was more than simply an influence. Pizzarelli’s late father, the revered guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, was a frequent sideman for the legendary singer, appearing on albums including 1960’s To My Wonderful One and 1969’s I’ve Gotta Be Me. John got his own opportunity to accompany Bennett for a radio broadcast that also featured pianist Ralph Sharon and bassist Jay Leonhart.

The admiration was mutual – Bennett could be found in the audience for a number of Pizzarelli’s performances, and sketched his likeness on two occasions. The charming artwork that graces the cover of Pizzarelli’s heartfelt new tribute album, Dear Mr. Bennett, was rendered during an engagement at Feinstein’s nightclub at New York’s Loews Regency hotel.

Dear Mr. Bennett, set for release on March 3, 2026, via Green Hill Music, is, on the one hand, a loving farewell to a profoundly influential musician who meant so much to so many. At the same time, it’s a spirited celebration, arriving just in time for Bennett’s landmark August 3rd centennial. A five-song EP will follow on August 7th to coincide with the occasion. Both releases feature songs made famous by Bennett over the course of his remarkable seven-decade career, rendered with lively warmth, soulful balladry, and embracing swing by Pizzarelli and his trio featuring bassist Mike Karn and pianist Isaiah J. Thompson. Pizzarelli and the trio will be touring the world to perform this repertoire throughout 2026 and into 2027.

Few performers in any genre or medium can tout the kind of longevity and universal admiration that Bennett enjoyed. As Pizzarelli marvels, “Tony’s artistry was just so magnificent. And he was able to continually reinvent himself. He went from being a pop singer in the ‘60s to a singer/entertainer who always had to play second fiddle to Sinatra in the ‘70s. Then, because he was such a great singer, he was able to do what he really wanted to and move from making commercial records to working with the likes of Bill Evans, George Barnes, and Ruby Braff. He had one of the great second acts and became a superstar all over again with the MTV generation, Amy Winehouse, and Lady Gaga.”

Dear Mr. Bennett kicks off with a sprightly rendition of Michel Legrand’s “Watch What Happens,” which Bennett was the first to record following its debut in the French musical The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. Pizzarelli recalls seeing Bennett open one of his final performances in Toronto with the song. “His vocal quality remained great, right until the end of his life. It was wonderful.”