Merry-Go-Round
Freddy Cole is a songwriter's dream, able to impart his own distinct personality to a song while remaining faithful to its lyric and melody. He surrounds a song with the warm presence of his voice, but within that breathy glow, he's capable of the subtlest inflection, from irony to wary satisfaction and the most wistful sense of loss. He's also able to swing masterfully at medium tempos, as he does on "I Remember You" and the relaxed rendition of "It's Impossible." While Cole can stamp his own identity on a familiar tune, he can also bring out the best in an unexpected song. "Merry-Go-Round," by the team of Bobby Scott and Herb Martin, stands out here, as does a medley of lesser-known songs recorded by Cole's brother Nat, "I Realize Now" and "I Miss You So." The settings are always apt, whether it's Cole's own piano and rhythm section contributing to the intimacy of "Forgive My Heart" and the ebullient swing ofCole Porter's "You're Sensational," or Cole's ceding the piano chair toCedar Walton, adding a horn section, and sharing several songs with distinguished soloists. Trombonist Steve Davis adds a crisp solo to "Watching You, Watching Me," aBill Witherssong that readily adapts itself to the light-bop groove, and tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander complements Cole's voice with some thoughtful fills on "It's Impossible."Stuart Broomer