Steve Cole: Gratitude

Smooth schooled tenor saxist Steve Cole sails glassy seas on this collection of R&B flavored originals with a team of Trevor Neumann/tp, Dan Levine/tb, David Mann/woodwinds, Ricky Peterson/key, Bernd Schoenhart/g, Kari Parker/dr and Lamar Jones/b in a cut and paste matching of artists. Coles tone is rich and warm, working well with the wah-wahing guitars on the funk festive “Good News Day” and “Starting Over.” The disco ball glitters on “ Let’s Go!” and Jones gives the listener a rubber neck on the hip “Toronto.” Peppy soul from the 70s is revisited on the warm “Neo Sol” and peppy “Soho” with John James giving lush vocals to the romantic “Love Ballad.” As with all things tenor, Cole glistens on the ballads with a palpable title track that oozes with thick smoke. Easy on the ears.

www.mackavenue.com

 

Leave a Reply