Alto sax giant Richie Cole passed away in his sleep on May 2. His hard driving alto made him one of the more outstanding players in what could perhaps be described as the third wave of bebop.
He dropped out of Berklee to join the Buddy Rich Band taking over the alto chair vacated by Art Pepper. Cole and Pepper would later record an album together: Return to Alto Acres. On that occasion Cole played alto, tenor and baritone. He frequently recorded with other sax players Sonny Stitt being one and I have an album in which he jousts with Boots Randolph of Yakety Sax fame. Cole held his own on all of these sessions.
I never got to hear him live although I remember seeing a video of him playing at a Californian vineyard and I was impressed.
A great player who will be sadly missed.
He died of natural causes aged 72.
Rest In Peace.
Lance
3 comments :
Sad news. I have a DVD of a live concert with his quintet Alto Madness at the Village Vanguard. With an exciting pianist Bobby Enriquez and the great bop style guitarist Bruce Foreman. Marshall Hawkins bass and Scott Morris drums complete the line up. They are all really going for it and it's great. I see it's now up on YouTube. Here's the link below.
Roly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIlbAYfr5eA
Groovin on a New York Afternoon was massive on the Acid/Jazz/Dance scene. What you might call a feelgood record.
Saw him live in Nice and North Sea Festival. Always a big hit with the crowd.Sad loss- a real bop legend.
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