There's a good reason why
Freddy Cole, despite his 50-year-long career as a jazz vocalist, isn't the household word his brother
Nat King Cole was -- his voice is appealing and casually soulful, but hardly as emotional, compelling, or distinctive. But that's a bit like saying
Jermaine Jackson isn't as great as
Michael Jackson. How could anyone truly measure up? Family connections aside,
Cole's low, gruff tone has an easygoing charm that is perfectly suited to the gentle arrangements of classics and new material. The old stuff includes soft pop gems popularized by
Boz Scaggs,
Smokey Robinson,
Bonnie Raitt, and the perennially lovable
Van Morrison chestnut "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You." Producer
Jason Miles first worked with
Cole on
A Love Affair: The Music of Ivan Lins, and goes the Brazilian route again on
Lins' easy samba-flavored "Remember Me," a likeable romantic duet with
Jane Monheit. Now that
Cole is back in the mainstream recording world, could a duet with niece
Natalie be far off? ~ Jonathan Widran