Bucky Pizzarelli & Ed Laub Jazz Concert - March 2 @ 4 PM

by David Baer | published: Monday, January 27, 2014, 3:50 PM

On Sunday, March 2, Highlands Presbyterian Church welcomes jazz guitarists John “Bucky” Pizzarelli and Ed Laub as they perform in concert at the church at 4:00 PM.

Tickets

The event is currently booked, but you can put your name on the waiting list.  Tickets are $25 per person when purchased in advance, and $30 at the door. The proceeds will benefit the church’s organ restoration project.

Bucky Pizzarelli

Bucky Pizzarelli is superb jazz guitarist who has played with some of the biggest names in music in a career that has spanned 7 decades! Born in 1926 in Paterson, Bucky now lives in Saddle River. He began playing with the Vaughn Monroe Orchestra in 1944. After World War II, when he served as an infantryman in Austria, he went on to play for NBC and Doc Severinson’s Band on the Tonight Show.

Playing in hundreds of concerts worldwide including at the White House, Bucky provided propulsion and background for musicians, as well as solo performances. Bucky performed with numerous jazz greats including Stephane Grapelli, Charlie Byrd, Les Paul and Benny Goodman.

Bucky has carried forward the great jazz traditions of Carl Kress, Dick McDonough and many others. He has hundreds of recordings with jazz legends, as well as solo recordings and recordings with his sons, John, also a jazz guitarist and Martin, an upright bassist. In 2011 he was inducted into the NJ Hall of Fame. Bucky also has become one of the first musicians from NJ to have two of his guitars plus a recorded history of his lifetime in music, inducted into the Smithsonian Institute.

Bucky has shared his talents with so many and is revered by his students. He is known for playing the 7 string guitar with the extra string providing a bass line. He is a complete jazz musician who moves from the challenges of solo guitar to rhythm and string solos in an ensemble setting. We are honored and pleased that Bucky is performing in our fundraiser for our pipe organ restoration project.

Ed Laub

We are grateful for the friendship and talent of Ed Laub who rounds out this wonderful duo. Born in 1952 in Upper Saddle River, Ed began playing the guitar at age 11 and became a student of Bucky Pizzarelli in 1969. Ed graduated from Farleigh Dickinson University with a minor in music. He has performed in many concerts and clubs in the New York area including at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Berrie Performing Arts Center, PNC Arts Center and many more. Noted as a 7 string guitarist, Ed is in demand as a rhythm guitarist and accompanist, as well as a vocalist. He has performed with Paul Meyers, Frank Vignola, Jack Wilkins and many more. We appreciate Ed’s music which he has shared with our church on several memorable occasions.

The Bucky Pizzarelli/Ed Laub Duo

Since teacher and student joined together in a duo more than a decade ago, they have been invited to play in many venues. They will be releasing their first CD in 2014.

“Pizzarelli is the complete jazz musician and Laub complements him perfectly.” All About Jazz