Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Joe Bourne: Remembering Mr. Cole

Joe Bourne: Remembering Mr. Cole

By Jim Santella
March 6, 2005
Sign in to view read count

Singers have tried to imitate Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, and other notable legends with mixed results. How can one ever hope to replace the original? In this day and age when our CD and DVD collections boast some of the best audio reproductions ever thought imaginable, we know for sure that we've already got those memories locked up.

Freddie Cole tested the waters. His sound was so much like his brother's that it was difficult to tell them apart. He wanted to remind the public that his sound was his own—but the parallel to Nat King Cole was much too close. Why listen to imitations, when the real thing is available on our shelves at home?

Joe Bourne imitates Nat Cole in style, instrumentation and in his swinging vocal manner. His charming rapport places the "Frim Fram Sauce," "Besame Mucho," and "Sweet Lorraine" in our laps with a hearty welcome. His accompaniment does a swell job of keeping the mood genuine.

The session swings lightly and holds a cohesive grip on ensemble interaction. Ed DeLucia and Gary Moran provide stellar solo work alongside Bourne's comfortable vocal manner. However, Remembering Mr. Cole doesn't open any doors. There's nothing new here. Originality, that element most treasured by jazz artists, has taken a back seat. Bourne's pleasant tribute does no more that repeat cherished memories with the flattery of imitation foremost on his mind.

For audio samples, visit Joe Bourne on the web.

Track Listing

This is My Night to Dream; The Best Man; Besame Mucho; You're Looking at Me; Frim Fram Sauce; Satchel Mouth Baby; Slow Down; Sunny Side of the Street; 'Tis Autumn; Little Girl; When I Fall in Love; Walkin' My Baby Back Home; Sweet Lorraine; Orange Colored Sky; Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby; For All We Know.

Personnel

Joe Bourne

vocals

Joe Bourne- vocals; Gary Moran- piano; Scott Black- bass; Ed DeLucia- guitar.

Album information

Title: Remembering Mr. Cole | Year Released: 2005 | Record Label: JONAJA Records

< Previous
Careless Love

Next >
Zoho Music: Lower Westchester County'...

Comments

About Joe Bourne

Instrument: Vocals

Tags

For the Love of Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help

To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.