Freddy Cole
Younger brother of the late Nat King Cole, Freddy Cole has been hailed as one of the best male jazz singers of his generation. He performs with his quartet at Spoleto Festival USA.
Pianist and vocalist Freddy Cole is one of the great lyrical storytellers of our time. The New York Times has praised his impeccable sense of swing and said that “he is, overall, the most maturely expressive male jazz singer of his generation, if not the best alive.” Cole was born in Chicago, the youngest in a family of musicians, including his brother Nat King Cole. He was influenced by pianists such as Teddy Wilson and John Lewis and developed his sound as a vocalist with guidance from his friend and mentor Billy Eckstine. Cole performs and tours regularly, leading a quartet with guitarist Randy Napoleon, bassist Elias Bailey, and drummer Quentin Baxter. The Freddy Cole Quartet performs Wednesday June 8 through Saturday June 11 at 5 and 7 pm at the Simons Center Recital Hall at the College of Charleston.