Freddy Cole
December 17-20
Blues Alley
1073 Wisconsin Ave., Washington, DC
202.337.4141
Here’s Steve Murray review of Freddy’s recent show in San Francisco:
Revered by his peers, Freddy Cole has reserved a seat at the table of jazz giants and continues, five decades into his career, to be a standard bearer of the swinging romantic balladeers. A master of the judicious, never embellished piano style, Cole and the music he makes are inseparable.
His swing, blues and ballads are gorgeously supported by his combination of ace musicians: guitarist Randy Napoleon; bassist Elias Bailey; and percussionist Quentin Baxter, all of whom Cole allows tasteful opportunities to shine.
Seemingly effortless, Cole owns every song, stamping his signature velvety baritone and well-honed jazz sensibilities to “I’m Making Believe” (Mack Gordon/James V.
Monaco), a lovely homage to his brother Nat King Cole on “Sometimes I’m Happy” (Vincent Youmans/Irving Caesar) and a stunningly haunting version of “A Cottage for Sale” (Willard Robison/Larry Conley).
Cole Porter’s “You’re Sensational” was, wait for it, simply sensational.
Studying mentors like Oscar Peterson and drummer Sonny Greers, Cole has fashioned a subtle but powerful quartet framework that maximizes his style and enhances that of his band members. “Manhã de Carnaval” (Antônio Maria/ Luiz Bonfá/Nacio Herb Brown) is a joy to hear, Cole standing midstage and enjoining the audience to capture the samba feel of a Brazilian romance. The Latin rhythms created by Napoleon, Bailey and Baxter supporting Cole’s entreating vocals are delightfully playful.
The second set added some standard blues—“Goin’ Down Slow” (St. Louis Jimmy Oden) and “On the South Side of Chicago” (Phil Zeller)—although there was nothing standard about Cole’s jazzy interpretations.
He takes the Paul Williams/Ken Ascher “You and Me Against the World” to a whole new level of emotional complexity, and soars on Joe and Noel Sherman’s “To the Ends of the Earth” (another homage to his brother).
The word “legend” gets thrown around pretty easily these days, but it cannot diminish the status that Cole has achieved in his lifetime. Still meaningful and energetic at 84, Freddy Cole seemed as young at heart as his youthful trio.
