Freddy Cole's opening, a wispy "You're Sensational," delivered to a nearly packed house at Birdland, offered a peek at what this 77 year old veteran was up to.  Playing and singing very lightly, he put his audience into a relaxed, low-key mood that appeared to set the pace.  Randy Napoleon's swinging guitar, highlighting the perennial standard, "I Remember You," seemed to confirm that things were going to remain mellow.  Cole's dark bluesy sound was less reminiscent of his brother at this point of his career as it might have been in the past. His keyboarding began almost tentatively and his vocals were marked with caution as he quickly warmed up to the audience in this, the first set of his opening run.

Things really started to open up in the lyric "What Does it Take to Make You Take Me."  By the time the Latin-style "I Must Go Where Love Takes Me" hit, it was clear the careful pacing of this artist might be why he has flourished for more than a half-century while others have bit the jazz dust.  The voltage continued to rise with bass (Elias Bailey) and Cole dueting in some lesser known but worthy jazz/blues tunes.  Things took a more esoteric turn as Cole turned the Martin/Leonard "Why Did I Choose You?" from the practically unknown Broadway effort The Yearling into a jazz original.

Cole is charismatic, especially when doing some stand-up vocalizing with the band members as he encourages each of them to receive his share of the spotlight, or beaming directly at the audience, declaring his love for them.

Although Christmas was near, a deliciously jazzed-up version of "O Tannebaum" was a giddy surprise,  reminiscent of the jazzy old Charlie Brown holiday specials.  The show closed with a cheery Christmas romp followed by an "Ode to New York," featuring a compendium of tunes from  "New York, New York" to "Take the A Train."  Freddy Cole was a music lover's Santa Claus, enchanting his audience of New Yorkers and tourists alike.

Melody Breyer-Grell
Cabaret Scenes
December 16, 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org