After Midnight Sessions

Nat returned to the piano and the sound of his great '40s trio for this 1956 gem, here augmented by five additional tracks and one alternate take! Violinist Stuff Smith, alto saxophonist Willie Smith and trombonist Juan Tizol are featured on four songs each, while trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison stars on five tunes, including mellow, late-night remakes of Sweet Lorraine; Route 66 , and It's Only a Paper Moon . 20-bit Super Bit Mapping remastering insures a hi-fi time. Nat "King" Cole endured more than his share of scorn and rebuke from all manner of fans and critics. He wasn't jazzy enough to satisfy many, not white enough to please the pop cultural obsession with Anglo- and Euro-American stardom. In answer to all of this, Cole simply proceeded, crooning beautifully even after he'd walked away from the piano and become primarily a vocal sensation. This 1956 collection is famous as Cole's riposte to the critique that he wasn't jazzy. The session brings several Swing Era stars on board: violinist Stuff Smith, trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison, trombonist Juan Tizol, and alto saxophonist Willie Smith. The horns and violin fronted a semistandard jazz setup of guitar, drums, and percussion, along with Cole's own considerable chops on piano. As an improviser, Cole heavily influenced a generation of ivory ticklers, including Oscar Peterson and others, and here he shows himself a stellar pianist. His runs bespeak Cole's utter perfection on the keyboard. This is a crucial document. --Andrew Bartlett

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