Steve Cole | Moonlight

Steve Cole | Moonlight By Brian Soergel

Windy City saxophonist Steve Cole, who released his debut CD in 1998, has been a steady force on the smooth jazz charts and touring scene for more than a decade. He’s also a member of the Sax Pack, an in-the-pocket trio with fellow saxophonists Jeff Kashiwa and Kim Waters. His early music got me through some long, long drives on the West Coast. For that, I thank him. Now, it seemed about time for Cole to attempt something different, and he’s done it here with a rich collection of old and new American standards backed by the lush sounds of the Millennium Chamber Players of Chicago.

Mixing traditional standards like “Moonlight” and the close-your-eyes beautiful “(I’m Afraid) The Masquerade Is Over” with new versions of the Guess Who’s “Undun” and James Taylor’s “You Can Close Your Eyes” was the right move. The latter features Cole’s soprano and a folksy guitar arrangement. There’s yet another arrangement of “The Look of Love,” hmm, but listening to Sarah McLachlan’s “Angel” and the Beatles “Long and Winding Road” in fresh ways is pretty cool.

In addition to the strings, the arrangements on this compelling CD include harp, woodwinds and tempered brass. The supporting rhythm section is comprised of Mike Logan on keyboards, Russell Ferrante on piano and Steve Rodby on bass. The string arrangements are provided by Michael Cunningham.

Brian Soergel
The Urban Music Scene