Nat King Cole, jazz musician

[BlueMiles]

I've been checking into Nat King Cole lately. He is certainly an interesting figure, easily among the top pop singers of the 20th Century. Of course, most of us have some familiarity with him as a jazz man. I never have heard a lot of his trio stuff from the 1940s, which is considered pretty influential. However, I just picked up a record called "After Midnight," recorded in 1956--several years past the point where Nat hit it big as a singer. Mr. Cole does sing on every one of the 18 tracks (nothing at all wrong with that), but it is true jazz affair. The core group is a quartet, now with a drummer and John Collins (recently mentioned) on guitar. But each track features a special guest, and what a superb set of guests they are: Sweets Edison, Willie Smith, Juan Tizol, and Stuff Smith. To use a cliche, this is seriously swinging stuff.

[Pete C]

Originally Posted by BlueMiles

I just picked up a record called "After Midnight,"

A classic. I've known the album since I was a kid because it was in the family LP collection. I was thrilled when the additional tracks were unearthed.

For me the ultimate example of his piano greatness is on the Lester Young Trio album.

[Bluebrew]

I have a Verve twofer Lp that has Lester Young in a trio with the Nat King Cole and Buddy Rich. Cole is superb backing up Lester and his solos sing out. It has been reissued in CD and the MP3 version is also available here:

http://www.amazon.com/Lester-Young-Trio/dp/B0000046T5

The other half of the twofer of Lester with Oscar Peterson.

http://www.amazon.com/Oscar-Peterson...6849318&sr=1-2

[Lois Gilbert]

Thanks Bluemiles for starting this thread. I've been a long time fan of Nat Cole

Nat Cole was an integral part of Jazz at the Philharmonic. The story I heard a long time ago is that Norman Granz had Oscar Peterson and Nat King Cole - both great jazz pianists and wonderful singers (they sounds uncannily similar in their singing) - just listen to Oscar Peterson's "With Respect to Nat" and Nat wanted to sing more and Oscar wanted to play more so that's how they "divied" up the duties.

Nat Cole with Oscar Peterson Trio - Sweet Lorraine
http://tv.jazzcorner.com/view_video....45901d524ee2f9

Nat Cole and Norman Granz - first television appearance of JATP - It's Only a Paper Moon
http://tv.jazzcorner.com/view_video....f33961c34144f8

Does anyone know who give him the nickname of King?

[Dr Dave]

"Sewanee Inn [Los Angeles] owner Bob Lewis nicknamed him King Cole and requested that he wear a gold paper crown during performances. The crown soon disappeared but the nickname stuck. The group became known as the King Cole Trio and its leader became Nat King Cole." Link.

Back in my DJ days, my show on WOMR-FM was called "The Late Late Show" after the song Cole recorded with the Basie Band.

[BlueMiles]

I have a big 10-CD box set of Lester Young, and Cole does appear on two sessions with the great Prez. I recall one of them (the later one) being especially satisfying.

[Gary Delligatti]

Besides all that--what a voice eh?

[John L]

Midnight Session is absolutely brilliant.

I really love the early trio sessions as well.

BlueMiles: If that box set is the complete Lester Young on Verve, then you have the trio session that Pete is referring to. Lester Young and Nat King Cole were recorded in short sessions two other times. A few tracks were made in 1942, which were included on the Blue Note CD of Lester Young's Aladdin recordings. Then there was a JATP session from the mid-40s around the same time as the Verve trio date.

[Pete C]

Originally Posted by John L

BlueMiles: If that box set is the complete Lester Young on Verve, then you have the trio session that Pete is referring to. Lester Young and Nat King Cole were recorded in short sessions two other times. A few tracks were made in 1942, which were included on the Blue Note CD of Lester Young's Aladdin recordings. Then there was a JATP session from the mid-40s around the same time as the Verve trio date.

There's also the Jubilee airchecks.

Prob. early April 1946
Lester Young with King Cole Trio & Buddy Rich
AFRS Jubilee #184, Hollywood, CA

Lester Young ts; Nat “King” Cole p; Oscar Moore g; Johnny Miller b; Buddy Rich d
These Foolish Things (Morrell-Strachey-Link) 4:35
Lester Leaps In (Young) 3:33

[Gary Delligatti]

I listened to some samples on Amazon of the Lester Young Trio, does Nat sing on any of the tracks or is it strictly instrumental?

[Monte Smith]

Indeed, The After Midnight Sessions is a terrific record, one that has always been in my Cole library and so an essential part of my understanding of this fine musician. My dad grew up in Los Angeles in the 40s worshipping Cole when Cole was playing in small combos. One of his favorite records was an instrumental, Top Hat Bop, Cole in a trio plus bongos. I guess the bulk of my Cole stuff is early, jazz stuff. You can never tire of his voice, of course, no matter what the material.

[Pete C]

Originally Posted by Gary Delligatti

I listened to some samples on Amazon of the Lester Young Trio, does Nat sing on any of the tracks or is it strictly instrumental?

Strictly instrumental.

[Gary Delligatti]

Thanks Pete, I've always known him as a vocalist, had no idea he was in trios. I am looking forward to explore this further.

[clinthopson]

When Nat Cole first came up, he had a regular radio show in LA from the Club where his trio was performing. This was in the early 40's. I dug him immediately. He's always been my favorite vocalist.

Cole won several Downbeat and Metronome polls as a jazz pianist. I have an old 10" lp of the Metronome All-Stars with two cuts by Cole on piano with Sinatra, Charlie Shavers, Lawrence Brown, Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney, Eddie Safranski, Buddy Rich, Bob Ahern (?) and June Christy. It was recorded in 1946. Obviously bebop hadn't hit the Metronome voters yet.

Oscar Peterson had yet to come on the scene. He came in about 1949. He admitted that Nat Cole had a great influence in his concept.

Sidebar on the Cole trio: I've always thought that Oscar Moore was greatly under appreciated guitarist.

[Xavier]

My favorite Nat King Cole piano is on the Lester Young & Buddy Rich trio recording. It's under Lester's name. It's a shame they didn't record more together. Jazz lost a first rate pianist when Nat when pop.

I do like his trio singing with Oscar Moore, and I think you're right about Moore. He's much underrated.

I grew up listening to Nat's Christmas LP. It's still great, although generally I avoid his other orchestrated vocals. Nat was about as talented as anyone. Not many better jazz pianists and not sure if they're was ever I better vocalist, male anyway.

[Xavier]

Not many better jazz pianists, and not sure if they're was ever a better vocalist, male anyway.

[Root Doctor]

I'm pretty sure it's OOP, but there's a five-disc box set on Laserlight of Trio radio transcriptions that is consistently wonderful.

[clinthopson]

Originally Posted by Root Doctor

I'm pretty sure it's OOP, but there's a five-disc box set on Laserlight of Trio radio transcriptions that is consistently wonderful.

I have that one. It's a great memory jogger.

Another gem is the first JATP record.

Hell, I even like Nat's Mexican album. We won't talk about the pronunciation.

[Ron Thorne]

I just ordered two albums as the result of this thread, and I'm hoping that this Lester Young Trio recording is the one Pete referenced in post #2.

Hell, just having an album with "Juicy" Owens on drums is worth the price of admission for me.



Personnel includes: Lester Young, Dexter Gordon (tenor saxophone); Harry "Sweets" Edison (trumpet); Nat "King" Cole (piano); Red Callender, Johnny Miller (bass); Buddy Rich, Clifford "Juicy" Owens (drums).

Recorded between 1943 and 1946 in Los Angeles, California. Includes liner notes by Bill Kirchner.

[Monte Smith]

Originally Posted by clinthopson

When Nat Cole first came up, he had a regular radio show in LA from the Club where his trio was performing. This was in the early 40's. I dug him immediately. He's always been my favorite vocalist.

Those must have been the broadcasts my dad heard. To this day, he can't hear Cole without spinning off into 40's LA nostalgia. He met him a number of times as a junior high schooler/high schooler.

[Xavier]

Originally Posted by Ron Thorne

I just ordered two albums as the result of this thread, and I'm hoping that this Lester Young Trio recording is the one Pete referenced in post #2.

That's the Young/Cole/Rich Trio session. There's no vocals and this is a fantastic recording. Excellent Young. Excellent Cole. Excellent Rich. Doesn't get much better than this. Enjoy.

[Xavier]

Oh, and the other group is good, but the main event is definately the Trio session.

[Al in NYC]

This is really the central available document of Nat Cole as a pianist:



Entirely instrumental and mostly from the classic Capitol King Cole Trio recordings of 1943-49. It shows both Cole's influence on bop and how bop influenced him. It can be purchased here and even more cheaply through Amazon Marketplace. There is also a very interesting companion compilation of vocal sides from this same period, showcasing both the trio's singular group vocal dynamics and Nat's growing singing style.

Hank Jones once told me that he considered Cole to be one of the most important pianists in jazz history, and one who was highly influential on his own style. He credited Cole as being the main player responsible for freeing the left hand from the time-keeping duties of earlier jazz styles, and with being the key influence on Bud Powell.

[Ron Thorne]

Thanks, Xavier. I'm looking forward to hearing this one, especially Buddy Rich in this context.

That compilation is also intriguing, Al. Thanks.

I discovered that DeepDiscount has the 3-disc box with instrumental/vocal tracks* for $31.96 and free shipping.



*The Best Of Nat "King" Cole Trio: The Instrumental Classics, The Vocal Classics (1942-1946), The Vocal Classics (1947-1950).

[Xavier]

Ron: you can't go wrong with this one. I've got it and it's excellent, especially at the price. The Verve trio session with Lester is my favorite late Lester Young and I've never heard Nat play better. Rich more than holds his own with these two. The bulk of the CD is with trio. Enjoy.

[John L]

I seem to recall seeing recently a new budget priced set of Nat's complete early Capitol recordings. You might look into that before purchasing the 3-CD set. Virtually all of the early Capitol stuff is stellar.

[A. Kingstone]

Was listening to Lester Young playing Body And Soul and the piano solo was very evocative with lots of beautiful movement including quotes from 'Hall Of The Mountain King' and I had to check out the notes to see who was hip enough to do that. Nat!