Bucky Pizzarelli is an American jazz guitarist and banjoist from Paterson, United States. He is active in jazz, post-bop and swing, and his career spans work as a performer, sideman and television musician.

Career

Pizzarelli works as a staff musician for NBC, including work with Dick Cavett in 1971, and also works with ABC alongside Bobby Rosengarden in 1952. He appears with a range of groups and line-ups including Buck Pizzarelli and the West Texas Tumbleweeds, New York Swing, Bucky & John Pizzarelli, Jersey Guitar Mafia, Soprano Summit, the Pizzarelli-Peplowski Sextet, Orizaba & His Orchestra, Summit Reunion, The Tonight Show Band and Doc Severinsen and His Orchestra.

Collaborations and influences

Over his career, Pizzarelli works with Les Paul, Stephane Grappelli and Benny Goodman. He cites Django Reinhardt, Freddie Green and George Van Eps as important influences on his playing style and approach.

Family

He is the father of jazz guitarist John Pizzarelli.