Jazz Great Freddy Cole to Perform at the OC Pavilion on August 29

Award-winning jazz vocalist and brother of Nat King Cole to perform one night only at the OC Pavilion in Santa Ana, near the artist district

Santa Ana, CA (PRWEB) August 5, 2008 -- The OC Pavilion is pleased to welcome jazz great Freddy Cole on August 29 at 8 p.m. Doors to the OC Pavilion and Ambrosia Restaurant open at 6 p.m. for pre-show dinner and cocktails.

Lionel Frederick Cole was born on October 15, 1931, the youngest of Edward and Paulina Nancy Cole's five children. His three elder brothers, Eddie, Ike and Nat (twelve years Freddy's senior) were all musicians.

"I started playing piano at five or six," Freddy remembers. "Music was all around me." In the Chicago home of his youth, visitors included Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Lionel Hampton. He also credits Billy Eckstine as a major influence.

Freddy moved to New York in 1951, where he studied at the Juilliard School of Music and found himself profoundly influenced by John Lewis, Oscar Peterson and Teddy Wilson. He got a Master's degree at the New England Conservatory of Music and then spent several months on the road as a member of an Earl Bostic band that also included Johnny Coles and Benny Golson.

It was back in New York that Freddy successfully laid the groundwork for a career that continues to flourish to this day. He developed a vast repertoire of songs in Manhattan bistros and concurrently began to supplement his live performances with television and radio commercial jingle work.

A resident of Atlanta since 1972, he currently leads a trio made up of himself, guitarist Randy Napoleon, drummer Curtis Boyd and bassist Elias Bailey that regularly tours the US, Europe, the Far East and South America. Freddy has been a recording artist since 1952, when his first single, "The Joke's on Me", was released on an obscure Chicago-based label.

Freddy recorded several albums for European and English companies during the 1970s that helped him develop a loyal overseas following. Cole believes that becoming an international favorite made him "widen my scope a little bit." He developed a stand-up act, a better rapport with audiences, and learned to sing in other languages. "It made me much more of a performer."

Cole doesn't apologize for sounding like his brother, Nat "King" Cole. There are certain unmistakable similarities. He plays piano and sings and performs live with guitar and upright bass, just like Nat. Yet his voice is raspier, smokier, jazzier even. But he has emerged from the awesome shadow cast by his elder brother. In truth, his phrasing is far closer to that of Frank Sinatra or Billie Holiday than that of his brother and his timing swings a little more. His vocals -- suave, elegant, formidable, and articulate -- are among the most respected in jazz. Cole's career continues to ascend as he has moved into the front ranks of America's homegrown art form with a style and musical sophistication all his own.

Tickets for the concert are $25-45 with orchestra, balcony and theatre seats available. Tickets can be purchased at http://www.ocpavilion.com. The concert begins at 8:00 PM and doors to the OC Pavilion and Ambrosia Restaurant open at 6:00 PM. Dinner reservations are highly recommended. The Vault VIP Lounge is open immediately after the performance, offering drinks and desserts.

About the OC Pavilion - http://www.ocpavilion.com
From chandeliers to exquisite hand painted murals, the OC Pavilion, designed and built by Michael F. Harrah, is the most intimate and exclusive performing arts theater and restaurant complex in Orange County, California. Located in historic downtown Santa Ana "the Golden City", the beautifully appointed theater with a capacity of only 528 seats assures you of an exceptional close up view of any event. The OC Pavilion box office is open Monday thru Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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