Alto saxophonist Richie Cole has been on the jazz scene since the late Sixties when he was a member of the Buddy Rich Orchestra. He came to prominence with his Alto Madness ensembles and an association with vocalist Eddie Jefferson in the Seventies. Since then he has never stopped playing and recording, both with his own bands and as a guest artist. Now based in the Pittsburgh area, Cole has been leading a quintet with guitarist Eric Susoeff, pianist Kevin Moore, bassist (and album producer) Mark Perna, and drummer Vince Taglieri for the past few years. His latest opus is Cannonball, featuring his band and guests performing a number of pieces associated with the great alto saxophonist Cannonball Adderley. Trombonist Reggie Watkins plays on every track, and there are appearances by drummer Roger Humphries, a member of the Horace Silver group in the Sixties who performs on Sack o’ Woe; vocalist Kenia, who sings Save Your Love For Me twice, once in English and once with her own Portuguese lyrics; and a few horns added here and there to fill out the sound. Cole is in fine form, with a bright tone and a crisply swinging approach that soars through the changes. You have to play Stars Fell on Alabama on a Cannonball tribute, and Cole does the theme justice. While Adderley’s influence is clear, Cole is by no means a copycat. His own brashly excitable sound is quite effective on such Cannonball staples as Duke Pearson’s Jeannine, brother Nat Adderley’s Jive Samba and Victor Feldman’s Azule Serape. Trombonist Watkins’ smooth lines make him an immensely supportive front line partner for Cole, and the rhythm section is superlatively swinging. That kind of backing and a stack of prime material is pretty much all Cole needs to sound his best, and on Cannonball, those conditions are just about perfect. A delightful session.
Richie Cole Presents RCP 003; J.D. Chaisson (tp on 2-5) Reggie Watkins (tbn) Richie Cole (as) Tony Campbell (as on 12) Kenny Blake (as on 13) Rick Matt (ts on 2-5) Eric Susoeff (g) Kevin Moore (p, el p) Mark Perna (b) Vince Taglieri (d, exc. on 8) Roger Humphries (d on 8) Kenia (vcl on 10,14); Aspinwall, PA, February 6, March 20 & 27,(2018 ?); 1.Del Sasser/ 2.Dat Dere/ 3.Stars Fell on Alabama/ 4.Matchmaker, Matchmaker/ 5.Jeannine/ 6.Jive Samba/ 7.Bell of the Ball/ 8.Sack o’ Woe/ 9.Mercy, Mercy, Mercy/ 10.Save Your Love For Me (Portuguese)/ 11.Toy/ 12.Azule Serape/ 13.Unit 7/ 14.Save Your Love For Me (English); 65:12; www.markpernamusic.com
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