| | Nat "King" Cole After Midnight: The Complete Session CD Nat "King" Cole Discography of CDs
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Digitally remastered using 20-bit technology by Ron McMaster.
Nat "King" Cole's music is the perfect combination of romantic charm and musical invention. Cole is renowned for his big production numbers and pop hits such as "Stardust," but he was also an accomplished and unique jazz pianist and excelled in a small-group setting.
AFTER MIDNIGHT's album cover states that this is a "trio" release. However, Cole is actually paired up with his trio plus five guest soloists (saxophone, trombone, trumpet, percussion, and violin). The dubious credits don't matter much though. This is precious music and, without a doubt, one of Cole's best records. Included here are wonderful and intimate renditions of Cole favorites "Sweet Lorraine," "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66," and many others. Trombonist Juan Tizol performs a beautiful version of his Afro-Cuban tune "Caravan," and Cole and violinist Stuff Smith trade some hot licks on the up-tempo "I Know That You Know." For anybody looking to understand the depth and breadth of Cole's jazz roots, this disc is an excellent point of departure.
Recorded at Capitol Studios, Los Angeles, California between August 15 & September 24, 1956. Includes liner notes by Ralph J. Gleason and Michael Cuscuna.
Reissue producer: Michael Cuscuna.
Personnel: Nat "King" Cole (vocals, piano); Willie Smith (alto saxophone); Harry "Sweets" Edison (trumpet); Juan Tizol (valve trombone); Stuff Smith (violin); John Collins (guitar); Charlie Harris (bass); Lee Young (drums); Jack Costanzo (congas, bongos).
Producer: Lee Gillette.
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JazzTimes (3/97, p.99) - "...this is classy music for mellow hours, before or after midnight." After Midnight: The Complete Session Music | Category | Rock/Pop Albums, Jazz CDs, R&B, Pop, Jazz Instrument, Easy Listening, Nostalgia, Vocal, Guitar | | Label | Capitol Jazz | | Orig Year | 1956 | | All Time Sales Rank |  10012  | | CD Universe Part number | 1107401 | | Catalog number | 20087 | | Discs | 1 | | Release Date | Jun 29, 1999 | | Studio/Live | Studio | | Mono/Stereo | Mono | | Personnel | Nat "King" Cole - vocals, piano
John Collins - guitar
Jack Costanzo - congas, bongos
Lee Young - drums
Charlie Harris - bass
Also: Harry "Sweets" Edison, Juan Tizol, Willie Smith, Stuff Smith | | Additional Info | Remastered |
Nat "King" Cole After Midnight: The Complete Session Songs After Midnight: The Complete Session Music Review Average Rating: (5 out of 5 stars)  Cole returns to his roots
At a time (1956) when Cole was riding high as a pop singer, Capitol Records wisely chose to record him as a jazz trio, augmented by drums and several guest artists: Harry "Sweets" Edison, Juan Tizol, Stuff Smith, and Willie Smith. These recordings are of high quality, with superb musicianship from all the players, and are looser and more spontaneous than the earlier trio sides. Cole's voice has matured and is even more musical, and the trio, driven my Lee Young (Lester's brother) on drums and Charlie Harris on bass (both of whom came out of the Lionel Hampton organization) is top-notch in the swing department. The selections feature fresh versions of the trio recordings that became such huge hits, and include a number of new standards that are just as wonderful. Cole's piano chops, under-rated by some at the time but now seen as pivotal and influential, are in full display on this, my favorite Nat King Cole recording.
Submitted by rick (Arvada CO)
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