Freddy Cole - He Was The King

Size: 121,5 MB
Time: 52:13
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Easy To Remember (6:01)
02. Exactly Like You (4:30)
03. Funny (Not Much) (6:05)
04. That's My Girl (3:06)
05. Maybe It's Because I Love You Too Much (5:24)
06. The Best Man (3:13)
07. Sweet Lorraine (4:33)
08. Love Is The Thing (5:20)
09. Jet (4:08)
10. Mona Lisa (2:29)
11. It's Only A Paper Moon (4:03)
12. He Was The King (3:16)

Freddy Cole has finally recorded his own tribute to his famous older brother Nat "King"Cole and it's a lovely, heartfelt one at that. Freddy's warm voice and masterful presentation of the material here is a pure delight throughout.

The program features a wide ranging set of tunes from Nat King Cole's career ranging from "It's Only A Paper Moon", a number in Cole's repertoire in his early days, to "Mona Lisa" which was a huge hit for him when he had made the transition to popular balladeer. Other highlights include "Easy To Remember", "Sweet Lorraine" , the Latin tinged "Jet" and the title track "He Was The King" which Freddy composed especially for this project.

Freddy Cole has many of the same musicians on this recording that he has worked with in recent years. John Di Martino on piano, Randy Napoleon on guitar, bassist Elias Bailey and drummer Quentin Baxter. And some special guests show up on several tracks to add their instrumental artistry to the mix as well. Houston Person and Harry Allen on tenor saxophones, Joe Magnarelli on trumpet and Josh Brown on trombone.

Freddy Cole spent a number of years early in his career in the shadow of his more famous brother, but through the decades he carved out his own place in the jazz world and is a highly respected vocalist and performer in the jazz community. Since the 1990's he has issued a new album nearly every year which is quite an accomplishment. "He Was The King" honoring the legacy of Nat Cole is another fine addition to Freddy Cole's catalogue.

He Was The King

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Freddie Cole - Waiter, Ask The Man To Play The Blues

Bitrate: 320K/s

Time: 32:04

Size: 73.4 MB

Styles: Blues-jazz vocals

Year: 1964/2004

Art: Front

[2:18] 1. Waiter, Ask The Man To Play The Blues

[2:35] 2. Black Night

[2:34] 3. Rain Is Such A Lonesome Sound

[2:38] 4. Bye Bye Baby

[3:24] 5. Just A Dream

[2:16] 6. Muddy Water Blues

[2:39] 7. Black Coffee

[2:28] 8. The Joke Is On Me

[2:44] 9. I Wonder

[2:21] 10. This Life I'm Living

[3:41] 11. Blues Before Sunrise

[2:21] 12. I'm All Alone

Originally released either in 1956, according to Freddy Cole's official website, or 1964, per the reissue's information, Waiter Ask The Man to Play the Blues: Freddie Cole Sings & Plays Some Lonely Ballads isn't as the title might tempt one to think an exercise in despondent blues and wrist slashing. Actually, it has plenty of tight, low, sizzling bluesy swing.

Cab Calloway alumni Milt Hinton and Sam "The Man Taylor (the latter being the instrumental star of the session) are the most notable musicians in the quintet. Cole sings and plays the piano in fine form, Osie Johnson offers smartly played drumming, and Barry Galbraith and Wally Richardson split the guitar duties. The New York recording is a product of its time, with assured long-lasting worth nonetheless. All of the cuts are short and to the point. They do, however, generate interest and radiate musicality.

"Muddy Water Blues is a cool, yet engaging percussive piece with a characteristic blues march. Taylor seems eager to jump in until he does exactly that about halfway through with energetic aplomb and swing. This one is a jumping jive that would make an audience clap with abandon.

On "I Wonder, Cole sweetens the pot with his tasteful piano playing on a mellow blues, Hinton lays back ever so strong, Taylor seduces with his classic jazzy saxophone tone, and Johnson eats this romantic cooker up. "Black Night and "Rain is Such A Lonesome Sound are similar in scope, extension, and sonic character. On both of these numbers, particularly the second, you'll find yourself marking time with your feet or snapping your fingers to the steady beat.

This release is a superb example of urban settled and cosmopolitan blues arousing affection through sheer straightforwardness even when as expected of the blues many of the lyrics are thematically inclined to the loneliest travails of love and life. ~Javier AQ Ortiz

Bass: Milt Hinton. Drums: Osie Johnson. Guitar: Barry Galbraith & Wally Richardson. Piano & vocal: Freddy Cole. Tenor sax: Sam "The Man" Taylor.

Waiter, Ask The Man To Play The Blues

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