Hilary Kole@Catalina’s 12.02.09
By George W. Harris

What a great Christmas season it’s going to be! I already got something
from my Wish List, having singer Hilary Kole come from NYC to LA to
promote her rookie walk-off homer of a disc Haunted Heart. Arriving in
LA for just a two day gig (“I didn’t even get to see the Pacific
Ocean,” she quipped) Kole wisely picked the crème of the jazz crop to
make up her band with guys like Alan Broadbent/p, Larry Koonse/g, Tom
Warrington/b and Kendall Kay/dr to provide a Christmas stocking stuffed
evening of tight, sophisticated and swinging music.

I know it’s completely un-PC to say, but it does help the evening that
Ms Kole looked as stunningly gorgeous as she sounded on tunes like
“There’s A Small Hotel” and “Speak Low.” Hey, I’m married, not buried!
But even if she looked like Margaret Hamilton, she would still have won
the audience over, as Kole has a self effacing charm to her wide
ranging voice on songs like the frisky “’Deed I Do” and the caramel
coated samba “Like A Lover” that is like a balm to the ears. More
importantly, Kole doesn’t merely sing these tunes, she delivers them in
heartfelt and carefully wrapped packages, being credibly vulnerable on “What’ll I Do?” and romantically reflective on the ethereal “Haunted Heart.” Not only that,
but besides arranging all of the songs like the snappy reading of Oscar
Brown’s “The Snake,” but she adeptly accompanied herself on piano for a
poignant and penetrating “Blackberry Winter.”

In baseball, there’s what’s called a 5 level player; one who can hit,
hit with power, field, run and throw. On this night at Catalina’s, Ms
Kole displayed impressive charm and talent on singing, arranging,
instrumentation and delivery. She already shows such impressive mastery
at this early stage of her career; why if she takes up composing, and
can cook Greek food, she can marry my nephew!!