Freddy Cole - He Was The King (2016)

When Freddy Cole is asked why he is finally releasing a tribute to his legendary older brother, who left this world 50 years ago, his answer is hardly surprising. "Because I felt the time was right." Anytime is the right time for a new Freddy Cole CD but this one is particularly welcome. The first thing you notice is the way that Freddy and friends, especially tenor titan Houston Person, address the entire breadth and scope of the Cole Songbook. Freddy sings everything from jazz standards to luminescent ballads. He reinterprets songs from his brother's early jazz period as well his more mature years as a chart-topping pop headliner. His selections range from the most famous Nat King Cole songs, like "Sweet Lorraine," to the relatively obscure, such as the hard-swinging and rhythmically righteous "That's My Girl." So here is what is sure to be the definitive Nat King Cole tribute album. It was certainly worth the wait.