It's like an act of murder; you play with intent to commit something. -- Duke Ellington
A+ R A-
 
20 Mar

Freddy Cole

Rate this item
(0 votes)


“Freddy has an impeccable sense of swing…he is, overall, the most maturely expressive male jazz singer of his generation, if not the best alive.”
-The New York Times

The Freddy Cole Quartet is amongst the most respected jazz musicians today and his style is described as suave, elegant, formidable, and articulate. With Freddy on piano, the Quartet includes guitarist Kris Kaiser, drummer Curtis Boyd, and bassist Elias Bailey. Even though Freddy is often compared to his brother Nat King Cole, his voice is raspier, smokier, some even say jazzier, and has established himself as a musician whose “toe-tapping forays recall the bluesy minimalism of Count Basie, the urbane sophistication of George Shearing and the uptown swagger of Duke Ellington” (Topeka Capital-Journal).

Recognized as one of the great practitioners of American Song, Freddy Cole is widely regarded as one of the most influential singers in jazz. Growing up in a musical household, Freddy remembers “music was all around me.” In the Chicago home of his youth, visitors included Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Lionel Hampton. Freddy Cole doesn’t apologize for sounding like his brother, Nat “King” Cole. There are certain unmistakable similarities. He plays piano, sings, and performs live with guitar and upright bass—just like Nat. Yet his voice is raspier, smokier, even jazzier. His vocals—suave, elegant, formidable, and articulate—are among the most respected in jazz.

Cole, who turned 82 last month, is a swinging jazz pianist and vocalist and a true American Treasure!



Last modified on Tuesday, 18 February 2014 15:55
Banner