Jazz-Pittsburgh.com Smooth Jazz Artist BiographySteve Cole - smooth jazz saxophonist CD NYLAVisit the Pittsburgh smooth jazz news resource and restaurant directory at Jazz-Pittsburgh.com, the official Smooth Jazz event listings website and best dining guide of jazz clubs in pittsburghSteve Cole - NYLA One of the CDs that keeps finding its way into the player here at Jazz-Pittsburgh.com is saxophonist Steve Cole's "NY LA", his third effort and latest release on the Warner Bros. label. Those of you who remember Cole's smash hit "When I Think of You" on his debut album "Stay Awhile"--released back in 1998--remember this tune because back then, Pittsburgh (eh-hem) had a Smooth Jazz radio station that played the heck out of it! We here at Jazz-Pittsburgh.com were hooked when we first heard it as were a bunch of other folks. The tune became a No. 1 hit on the NAC charts along with "Say It Again". In 2000 Cole received a Prism Award for Best New Artist at the Oasis Smooth Jazz Awards.
Born in Chicago Illinois, Cole was influenced early on by his musical parents and the music he'd heard around the house and on the radio. His father--a clarinetist and saxophonist encouraged Cole to pursue music. A stint with the clarinet would steer Cole toward the saxophone and Northwestern University to study music with classically trained teachers and develop his technique by playing French and Russian saxophone concertos. Cole was awarded for his developing talent and skill in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's Young Artists' Competition. Cole would play in many groups, be influenced by the many other genres of music (like Jazz, Blues, R/B, Soul, Reggae, Hip Hop, and Rap) that were immediately available and all around him in Chicago, and develop his soulful, sensual, and funky sound that we've come to know and love. Cole stepped on to the recording scene in the early to mid nineties contributing his talent to Smooth Jazz keyboardist sensation Brian Culbertson's Modern Life (1995) and After Hours (1996) albums. It was in 1998 that Cole would release his debut "Stay Awhile" on Atlantic Records. Produced by and co-written with Brian Culbertson, the Cole and Culbertson combination became a Smooth Jazz hit-making machine and "Stay Awhile" would produce 3 hit singles. Cole's second Album "Between Us" proved his mainstay as a notable saxophonist and Smooth Jazz artist/songwriter to take notice of. The album turned out another No. 1 hit "Got it Goin' On" and featured a tasty remake of the 1995 R/B smash "Waterfalls" by the female R/B group TLC. The dynamic duo of Cole and Culbertson does it again! Incredibly contagious hooks, melodies, and sax section work, a few more vocals, a couple pleasantly funky surprises, and just all around soulful playing by Cole would be the end result of "NY LA". Released in 2003, "NY LA" is somewhat a collage of Coles' musical influences, blending his Smooth Jazz with some R/B, Acid Jazz, and even Hip Hop. There are too many Jazz-Pittsburgh.com favorites on "NY LA"--but to name a few: the title cut "NY LA" will get you on your feet and "Everyday" will keep you in motion with a catchy vibe and compelling retro dance pulse. Track 3, "Tonight it's On" is a great club tune featuring the sultry R/B vocals of Mauli B. and Cherlean Hines. Among other stand out tracks, "Missing You" is a captivating and heavily soulful ballad with Cole's tenor melody mesmerizing you at every verse and chorus. What a tune! "Keep It Live" is an Acid Jazz tune during which Cole pulls out his bop (bebop) chops and flows over a funky, funky upright bass line and old school groove featuring the rapping and vocal scatting of Aloe Blacc and Brevi respectfully. You can't go wrong with "NY LA"--it's sure to be a gem in your collection and park itself in your CD player! Find out more about Steve Cole at: www.stevecolemusic.com. Don't forget to sign the Jazz-Pittsburgh Guest List and receive the newsletter to stay tuned to the announcements about what’s going on when and where! Leave any comments and/or suggestions you might have in the Guest Book and spread the word by Telling a Friend! Also view:
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