Results for "Freddy Cole"

A Turntable for One Fourth of July Celebration

by H William Stine
August 1, 2020

What did you do for the Fourth of July? I celebrated with some traditional songs, plus the Buddy Rich Big Band for fireworks, Laverne Butler with a declaration of independence, tributes to Freddy Cole, Johnny Mandel, and Jim Pepper, and songs by Dave Frishberg, Randy Newman in celebration of the First Amendment. Looks like I'll be ...

Struttin With Some Barbeque - Celebrating July 4 with Louis Armstrong, Lena Horne and Friends

by Mary Foster Conklin
July 13, 2020

The Independence Day broadcast included new releases from Jimmy Heath featuring Cecile McLorin Salvant, vocalists Kathleen Grace, Melody Gardot and drummer Jake Reed with birthday shoutouts to Rhoda Scott, Lena Horne, Natalie Cressman and Louis Armstrong (yes we know, it's really in August but he claimed July 4 for his own and who are we to ...

Thanks, Freddy, for the jazz connection

July 1, 2020

The fine pianist and singer Freddy Cole died Saturday, June 27, at age 88 at his home in Atlanta. He had been struggling with cardiovascular issues for a while. His manager, Suzi Reynolds, called him Mr. Magic. “He wove a web of sonic beauty with every note and kept listeners silently breathless with his casual, elegant ...

Freddy Cole Leaves The Stage

by Martin McFie
June 29, 2020

Freddy Cole died 27th June, 2020 after a career of almost seventy years singing and playing piano. He was 88 years old. Born Lionel Frederick Cole in Chicago, October 15, 1931, Freddy Cole was younger brother to Eddie, Ike and Nat “King" Cole. Mr. Freddy was a late night cabaret singer, with impeccable phrasing and timing. ...

Take Five with G. Thomas Allen

by AAJ Staff
June 23, 2020

Meet G. Thomas Allen Redefining the career possibilities of his rare vocal category, generally tied to classical music, he takes his play in the world of modern jazz. Paying homage to the post-bop era, he offers a collection of songs with the aesthetics of R&B, blues and Gospel roots. Bridging genres with an undeniable melodic blend ...

Take Five with Alex Bird

by AAJ Staff
May 3, 2020

Meet Alex Bird Alex Bird is a singer/songwriter and actor in Toronto, ON. With a swinging style and an indescribable charm, Alex and his “Jazz Mavericks" are currently working on an entirely new chapter in the Great American Songbook, with their soon to be released, all original debut album, “Whisky Kisses" (Summer 2020). “The Way She ...

Jazz Goes to the Movies and Valentine's Day Singles

by Mary Foster Conklin
February 17, 2020

This week we feature new releases from The Coachella Valley Trio, trumpeter Rachel Therrien, pianists Lisa Hilton and Carol Albert, vocalists Robin McKelle, Kaylé Brecher, and Raquel Cepeda, plus Valentine's Day singles from Sue Maskaleris and Cynthia Scott, with birthday shout outs to Carole King, Michika Fukumori and Carmen Staaf, among others. There are also plenty ...

Freddy Cole

Born: October 15, 1931

Lionel Frederick Cole was born on October 15, 1931, the youngest of Edward and Paulina Nancy Cole's five children. His three elder brothers, Eddie, Ike and Nat (twelve years Freddy's senior) were all musicians.

"I started playing piano at five or six," Freddy remembers. "Music was all around me." In the Chicago home of his youth, visitors included {{m: Duke Ellington = 6521}}, {{m: Count Basie = 3676}}, and {{m: Lionel Hampton = 7376}}. He also credits {{m: Billy Eckstine = 6481}} as a major influence. " He was a fantastic entertainer," Freddy recalls. " I learned so much from just watching and being around him." After a possible career with the NFL was shelved due to a hand injury, he began playing and singing in Chicago clubs as a teenager

Charleston Jazz Festival 2020

by Martin McFie
January 28, 2020

Various Venues Charleston Jazz Festival Charleston, SC January 23-26, 2020 Jazz Festivals are like people, six years old is still in infancy, but everything has to start somewhere. Historically, the city which gave birth to the Charleston dance craze and was the inspiration for Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, deserves The Charleston ...

Christmas In My Soul

by Mary Foster Conklin
January 17, 2020

Includes more Christmas songs penned by women, with holiday recordings by Dave Stryker, Laila Biali, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Rebecca Angel, plus new releases by Youn Sun Nah, Chloe Perrier, Fostina Dixon, and Elena Gilliam, with birthday shout outs to Bob Dorough, Sue Maskaleris, Diane Schuur, Sean Harkness, Edith Piaf, Camille Thurman ...