by Matt Collar Pianist/vocalist Tony Desare is a jazz musician and crooner in the tradition of Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole as well as such revivalists as Harry Connick, Jr. and John Pizzarelli. A native of New York State, Desare began playing piano at a young age and by 17 had more than a few live performances under his belt. During his time at Ithaca College, Desare continued performing and developed a loyal following around upstate New York. Moving to New York City in 1998, he nabbed a gig playing at the Marquis Hotel in Times Square and eventually landed a role in the off-Broadway musical Our Sinatra. A chance meeting with guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli during a performance at the Apollo Theater led to numerous projects between the up-and-coming Desare and the journeyman Pizzarelli, including a pair-up on Desare's debut CD, Want You, released on Telarc in 2005. Last First Kiss followed in 2007.