Nov. 20 & 21: Freddy Cole: Feinstein’s at the Nikko
Freddy Cole
November 20 & 21 at 8 pm
Feinstein’s at the Nikko
222 Mason Street, San Francisco, California 94102
http://www.hotelnikkosf.com/feinsteins.aspx
Here’s Steve Murray’s review of Freddy’s last gig in San Francisco.
What a spectacular start to Black History Month musically in the Bay Area! Mary Stallings at the Rrazz, Paula West at the Herbst, and now the Freddy Cole Quartet swings through San Francisco. The younger brother of Nat King Cole, Freddy undoubtedly has similar vocal qualities, yet is quite distinctive in his lower, huskier range. In his five decades of performing, he has honed his charming deliveries, amassed a voluminous repertoire of material and mastered his lyrical piano style.
Profoundly influenced by John Lewis, Oscar Peterson and Teddy Wilson, Cole provides the base for his quartet to overlay their considerable skills on “toe-tapping” swing numbers, like Cole Porter’s “You’re Sensational” and the Sammy Cahn/Jimmy Van Heusen “More Than Likely” and “It’s Crazy, But I’m in Love.” Surrounding himself with longtime drummer Curtis Boyd—and the “young cats”, as Cole calls them—one of the finest young jazz guitarists available in Randy Napoleon and bassist Elias Bailey, Cole approaches each number aggressively with a joyous enthusiasm and professional clarity borne of decades of experience.
When he’s not swinging, Cole loves a good ballad. Dorsey/Van Heusen’s “It’s the Dreamer in Me” (a 1958 hit for brother Nat under the title, “You’re Bringing Out the Dreamer in Me”), “Pretty One,” “Why Did I Choose You?” and “A Sinner Kissed an Angel” are all charming vignettes that evoke romantic images we all can recognize. There’s a simple, lovely essence to “If I Love Again” and the bittersweet “rendezvous” lyrics of 1947’s “Mam’selle.” His gravelly, weathered voice makes lyrics rings true and you can’t help but be mesmerized by the timeless spirit of Cole’s music.
Category: Pick of the Week, Regional, San Francisco, San Francisco Pick of The Week
