"Nat King Cole is the reason why I do what I do," comments John Pizzarelli. "The joy that he brought me hasnever faded and the musicality of his group remains fresh and vibrant to this day.”John Pizzarelli recently releasedhis new album, For Centennial Reasons: 100 Year Salute to Nat King Cole onGhostlight Deluxe, an imprint of Ghostlight Records.Following high-profile collaborations with Sir PaulMcCartney and Michael McDonald, Pizzarellireturns to his roots to honor his hero, the legendary jazz/popvocalist and pianist Nat King Cole, whose centennial is being celebrated around the world this year withvarious concerts, books and recordings.For Centennial Reasons...completes an epic trio of Pizzarelli albumssaluting Cole, starting withDear Mr. Cole, which helped put Pizzarelli on the map as an influential jazzguitarist and singer in 1994, and continuing withP.S. Mr. Cole, which cemented his legacy five years later.Pizzarelli is embarking on a tour this year to celebrate the new album. He explains, "The trio has developedand refined these songs and, over time, figured out what we feel have become the definitive versions. Somearrangements, like 'Route 66,' have gotten much faster.But 'Straighten Up and Fly Right,' which I recordedfor my first album way back in 1983, has settled into more of a mellow tone. After all this time, I can slowdown and savor it. These songs never get old."ThetourwillfeatureJohn Pizzarelli on guitar and vocalswithMike Karnon double bass, and KonradPaszkudzki on piano.