King of Cool – The Life and Music of Nat King Cole
Produced by MetroStage
A particularly gifted singer, Jimi Ray works with phrasing like the old school performers—Billy Eckstein, Joe Williams, even good ‘ole blue-eyes Frank Sinatra took phrasing to a whole new level. It’s an art form that you don’t hear today in this digital era of McSongs, and easily identifiable in an evening filled with such artistry. “Oh, so That’s what a gorgeously turned phrase sounds like.” Malary also has a good time connecting to the audience with a twinkle in his eye and that radiant smile, exploring the heart of a song, and filling in the short background sketches between numbers. Admittedly, the sing-song cadence of the poetry wears thin in spots, but the insider tips are a treasure—such as how he became Nat “King” Cole from his given name Nathaniel Adams Coles, his transition from instrumentalist to vocalist, juicy tidbits about his wives, including Natalie’s mom, his mastery of both luck and style, and the context of history and social realities, including civil rights.
Along with his unique vocal gifts, Nat Cole had a smooth and effortless gracefulness that he was able to parlay into his own TV show, and movie appearances—such feats were unparalleled, especially for a black performer who was denied his share of front door entrances. Malary relates all of this and more with easygoing charm and appeal.