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Nat "King" Cole: Hittin’ the Ramp: The Early Years (1936-1943)
by Victor L. Schermer
While he achieved fame and fortune as a pops crooner of the 1950s-60s, Nat “King" Cole firmly occupies a place in jazz history. Unlike Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney and others who began their careers as singers, Cole started out as a pianist, composer/arranger, and band leader, working small clubs in Chicago, soon adding vocals at the suggestion of a fan. From the late 1930s through 1943, when he received his legendary contract as a singer with the newly ...
Continue ReadingWild Is Love - Celebrating Nat King Cole's Centennial
by Mary Foster Conklin
We take a brief detour in the middle of Women's History Month to celebrate the centennial of Nat “King" Cole in the second hour and play some of the songs he was famous for. The show also includes new releases from guitarist/vocalists Camila Meza, John Pizzarelli, and trumpeter Samantha Boshnack with more birthday shout outs to organist Shirley Scott, vocalists Mark Murphy, Bobby McFerrin, Al Jarreau, Judy Niemack and pianist Billy Childs, among others. Playlist Shirley Scott ...
Continue ReadingUnforgettable: Nat King Cole at 100
by Peter Coclanis
Few cities in the U.S. have musical traditions so strong and varied as Chicago's. Although cases can be made for other cities--New Orleans, Detroit, New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Memphis come to mind--in no other city is the range and depth of musical expression so strong as in Chi-Town. Other cities may dominate certain genres and discrete niches, but in no other burg does the musical tradition run so deeply in genres ranging from Classical to hip-hop and house, ...
Continue ReadingNat@100, Withers ‘Just Because’, Newk & More
by Marc Cohn
We get a jump on the Nat 'King' Cole centennial [coming in March] with his classic trio, along with two piano players influenced by Mr. Cole. Our Sonny Rollins celebration continues with a Miles date with Bird on tenor too. Upfront, there's 21st century sounds, as well as jazzed-up Bill Withers tunes... just because, well, it's a lovely day. Make yours one and give a listen; you will enjoy the show. Playlist Harold Mabern “A Few Miles ...
Continue ReadingNat King Cole Trio: Swiss Radio Days, Vol. 43 - Zurich 1950
by Dan Bilawsky
Nat King Cole means two very different things to two different segments of the music-loving populace today. To those simply plugged into popular culture he's the golden-voiced baritone crooner, debonair and delightful as can be while travelling over the airwaves. But to those steeped in jazz history he's known as a mighty and true pianist, throwing down the gauntlet at Jazz at the Philharmonic shows, pushing a then-progressive agenda with fellow giants Buddy Rich and Lester Young, and walking a ...
Continue ReadingStorie poco standard. Le avventure di 12 grandi canzoni tra Broadway e jazz
by Maurizio Zerbo
Storie poco standard. Le avventure di 12 grandi canzoni tra Broadway e jazz Luca Bragalini 224 Pagine ISBN: # : 978-88-5920-383-4 EDT 2013 Capita raramente di imbattersi in saggi così originali come questo di Luca Bragalini, brillante musicologo e storico del jazz. La sua è una opera di grande spessore, destinata ad essere testo di riferimento nella didattica musicale. In primo piano la fitta rete di intrecci che il jazz intrattiene con ...
Continue ReadingNat King Cole: The Definitive Nat "King" Cole
by Jim Santella
Most of this superb collection features Nat King Cole in the role that he knew first: jazz pianist with a small ensemble playing instrumental favorites with a creative swing. Recorded in Los Angeles between July 1942 and August 1947, the songs come from an expressive pianist who knows the true value of a few complementary partners on stage. He enjoyed his work as much as we enjoy listening to it. This was just slightly before the big split in jazz ...
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