Nat King Cole to be honored at Morristown

MORRISTOWN — Renowned jazz musicians Ramsey Lewis and John Pizzarelli bring, "Straighten Up and Fly Right," a tribute performance to the legendary Nat King Cole to Mayo Performing Arts Center on Feb. 27, 2016, at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $39-$79.
Nat King Cole broke the pop barrier with his smoky, smooth vocals, stringing along a huge number of hits beginning with "Straighten Up and Fly Right" in 1943. Pianist Ramsey Lewis and guitarist John Pizzarelli have tailored a tribute to the titan of fifties vocal pop, which includes his hits to those singular tracks of sophisticated cool jazz that have influenced their own.

Composer, pianist and jazz legend Ramsey Lewis has been referred to as "the great performer," a title reflecting his performance style and musical selections which display his early gospel playing and classical training along with his love of jazz and other musical forms. A native Chicagoan, Lewis represents the great diversity of music for which Chicago is noted. Ramsey Lewis first captivated fans with his first album Ramsey Lewis And The Gentlemen of Swing by the Ramsey Lewis Trio in 1956. By 1965, he was one of the nation's most successful jazz pianists, topping the charts with "The In Crowd," "Hang On Sloopy" and "Wade In The Water." He has three Grammy Awards and seven gold records to his credit.

Often called legendary, Mr. Lewis concedes, "It's a high honor when someone says so, but I don't see myself that way. What keeps me enthusiastic and energizes me, is the realization that the more I learn, the more I find there is to know."

He received the industry award for the 2006 Stellar Award for Best Gospel Instrumental Album, "With One Voice" presented in January 2007. He was also the recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Award in January 2007. Mr. Lewis has received four honorary doctorate degrees and numerous other accolades.

John Pizzarelli, the world-renowned jazz guitarist and singer, has been called "Hip with a wink" by Town & Country, "madly creative" by the Los Angeles Times and "the genial genius of the guitar" by The Toronto Star. Using performers like Nat "King" Cole, Frank Sinatra and Joao Gilberto and the songs of composers such as Richard Rodgers, George Gershwin, James Taylor, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Lennon & McCartney as touchstones, John Pizzarelli has established himself as one of the prime interpreters of the Great American Songbook and beyond, bringing to his work the cool jazz flavor of his brilliant guitar playing and singing.