John Pizzarelli Brings New “Dear Mr. Bennett” to Jazz at Kleinhans

Buffalo Will Be Among the First to Hear New Album Honoring Tony Bennett

On Sunday, April 26, Jazz at Kleinhans will welcome one of the great keepers of song, swing, and storytelling when John Pizzarelli brings his deeply personal new project, Dear Mr. Bennett, to Buffalo. This performance places our city among the first audiences anywhere to hear music from a brand-new recording that honors the centennial of Tony Bennett—an artist whose voice, artistry, and humanity helped define the Great American Songbook for generations.

That matters. It matters because Buffalo has earned its place as a city where important jazz work is not only presented, but truly heard. And it matters because Jazz at Kleinhans was built with a clear purpose: to bring the very best artists and projects to our community—programs where melody still matters, where songs are honored, and where concerts are experiences to be treasured rather than experiments to be decoded.

Dear Mr. Bennett, set for release on March 3, 2026, is exactly that kind of project.

When Tony Bennett passed away in July 2023, the loss reverberated far beyond jazz. Few artists bridged eras, genres, and generations as gracefully—from Frank Sinatra and Bill Evans to Amy Winehouse and Lady Gaga. For John Pizzarelli, the connection runs even deeper. His late father, the legendary guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, was a longtime sideman to Bennett, appearing on classic recordings and performances. John himself shared the bandstand with Bennett and was warmly supported by him throughout his career—often with Bennett sitting in the audience, sketching Pizzarelli as he played. One of those sketches now graces the cover of Dear Mr. Bennett.

This is not a tribute built from a distance. It is a conversation across generations.

Joined by bassist Mike Karn and pianist Isaiah J. Thompson, Pizzarelli brings to life songs that Bennett made timeless—rendered with warmth, swing, intimacy, and joy. The album opens with Michel Legrand’s “Watch What Happens,” flows through Cy Coleman gems like “The Best Is Yet to Come” and “Firefly,” and dives deep into jazz with Ellington’s “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing).” There are moments of tenderness—“Waltz for Debby,” “Young and Foolish”—and moments of pure exhilaration, closing with a bristling take on Irving Berlin’s “Shaking the Blues Away.”

This trio has developed a rare chemistry over the past several years—equal parts elegance, drive, and deep listening. Karn marks nearly a decade with Pizzarelli, while Thompson, first encountered as a teenage prodigy, now stands as one of the most lyrical pianists of his generation. Together, they don’t just revisit these songs—they care for them.

That care is central to what Jazz at Kleinhans represents.

The Jazz at Kleinhans program at the historic Kleinhans Music Hall is about more than presenting concerts. It is about establishing Buffalo as a place where great artists bring meaningful work—where audiences listen deeply, and where the legacy of jazz and song is honored with respect and intention. These are presentations built on craftsmanship, beauty, and connection—music that stays with you long after the final chord.

On Sunday, April 26, Buffalo won’t just hear a tribute to Tony Bennett. We’ll be part of a living continuum—where jazz, song, and story converge in one of the world’s great concert halls.

John Pizzarelli’s Dear Mr. Bennett is not to be missed. And it’s another powerful affirmation that Buffalo is a premier jazz destination, worthy of the finest artists and the most meaningful music being created today.

Reserve your seats soon!