John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey: Lost and Found

In addition to death and taxes, it’s a sure thing that when real-life couple John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey come together on a stage, they’re bound to demonstrate great chemistry and superb musicianship. Those qualities once again come through loud and clear in
Lost and Found, their very fine new show at the Cafe Carlyle.

One can also be guaranteed that every one of the pair’s shows will feature at least one unexpected yet brilliant pairing of songs that will not only wow you while listening to it, but leave you hungry to hear it again immediately afterwards. Luckily, Lost and Found boasts two such “medleys” among its many pleasures.

First and foremost is a deeply beautiful intertwining of George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” (sung by Pizzarrelli) and Norman Gimbel and Charles Fox’s “Killing Me Softly” (sung by Molaskey). Just as stunning is Molaskey’s mesmerizing version of Joni Mitchell’s “I Had a King” bookended by her husband’s gorgeous rendering of Rodgers & Hart’s “She Was Too Good to Me.” (As a bonus on Wednesday evening, they also performed their most inspired — and requested — duet, which marries Jon Hendrick’s “Cloudburst” with Stephen Sondheim’s “Getting Married Today.”)

While the couple work beautifully together — as also evidenced by an infectious “Haven’t We Met” — they also allow each other to shine as individuals. For example, Pizzarelli shows off his unparalleled virtuosity on the guitar in the middle of “I Just Found Out About Love,” and also contributes a great deal of amusing patter to the proceedings. Meanwhile, Molaskey’s playful yet sultry rendition of Mitchell’s “Raised on Robbery” and her nicely understated version of Irving Berlin’s “I Got Lost in His Arms” show off her skill in capturing the essence of a lyric. (Molaskey’s flair for writing lyrics is also put front and center with the clever words she put to an instrumental that precedes Duke Ellington’s arrangement of “Perdido.”)

So, get yourself to the Carlyle before November 7, or you’ll be kicking yourself over a lost opportunity for a great evening of music!