WNC Jazz Society presents the Freddy Cole Quartet

Freddy Cole of the Freddy Cole Quartet.

staff reports

With their signature elegance and authentic cool, legendary vocalist-pianist Freddy Cole’s performances make audience members’ hearts smile. Indicative of Freddy’s love of his chosen career, even after five decades of touring, is this description by his current guitarist, the youthful Randy Napoleon: “Freddy is invincible.”

One reason Freddy’s audiences respond so strongly to his performances
is his immersion in the moment: “Once I start to play, things happen.
Unless you stop me right there and then, I don’t know what I’m thinking
about. Once I see from the body language that people are into what we’re
doing, I’m home free. I can call whatever I want!”

Cole doesn’t apologize for a style that faintly echoes his
brother, Nat “King” Cole. There are certain unmistakable similarities.
He plays piano masterfully and sings and performs live with guitar and
upright bass, just like Nat. Yet his voice is raspier, smokier, jazzier
even. Freddy clearly has emerged from the awesome shadow cast by his
elder brother. In truth, his phrasing is far closer to that of Frank
Sinatra or Billie Holiday than that of his brother and his timing swings
a little more. His vocals — suave, elegant, formidable, and articulate —
are among the most respected in jazz. Cole’s career continues to ascend
as he’s moved into the front ranks of America’s homegrown art form with
a style and musical sophistication all his own.