Nat "King" Cole - Welcome To The Club (1959) [2013 Audio Fidelity SACD AFZ 153]
EAC Secure Rip | FLAC (Image + Cue + Log) - 187 MB |
Vocal Jazz, Big Band Jazz | Audio Fidelity | AFZ 153 | 31:17 minutes | 5% WinRar Recovery |
CONTAINS CD LAYER ONLY
| As the 1950s came to a close, Nat King Cole (vocals/piano) continued creating stylish renditions of pop and jazz flavored standards. On Welcome to the Club (1959) the artist teams up with Dave Cavanaugh and the Count Basie combo -- minus the maestro himself due to contractual restraints -- for one of Cole's most powerful collections supported by a big band. In fact, it is Cole's unmistakable ultra-cool intonations that flawlessly reign in the fiery -- and at times overbearing -- ensemble arrangements. Right from the start, the vocalist proves that he can swing on the refined and syncopated opening title track "Welcome to the Club." Cole effortlessly bops with a beat so catchy that toe-tappin' and finger-snappin' feel practically obligatory. The bluesy "Anytime, Anyday, Anywhere" adopts a slightly melancholy torch feel that Cole ably milks with his unblemished and supple delivery. The same holds true for the definitive take of Duke Ellington's "Mood Indigo." The number is swaddled with a suitably subdued score that Cole dutifully conveys to tremendous effect, making it one of the unmitigated zeniths of his association with Cavanaugh. While on the subject, "Wee Baby Blues" follows a bit later revealing another spot-on example of his expressive technique. The tempo picks back up on the rousing, well-heeled "Late, Late Show" that again re-establishes Nat King Cole as one of the premiere voices of mid-20th century jazz. His ability to reel off lyrics as if they were conversational is nowhere as evident as it is here. The pace picks up steam with the full-speed-ahead frenzy of "Avalon" and again, Cole exudes nothing but soul throughout this compact, yet unhurried rendition. In 2007, Collectors' Choice Music reissued Welcome to the Club with the closer "Madrid." Early pressings did not include the song, which is a high flying interpretation of Bizet's "Carmen." It has been restored and the entire LP is coupled with Tell Me All About Yourself (1960) onto a single CD.
Track Listing: 01. Welcome To The Club 02. Anytime, Anyday, Anywhere 03. The Blues Don't Care (Who's Got 'Em) 04. Mood Indigo 05. Baby, Won't You Please Come Home 06. The Late, Late Show 07. Avalon 08. She's Funny That Way 09. I Want A Little Girl 10. Wee Baby Blues 11. Look Out For Love 12. Madrid (Bonus Track) Album Released: 1959 Audio Fidelity SACD Released: April 16, 2013 Mastered for this SACD by: Steve Hoffman at Stephan Marsh Mastering Download Link : Rapidgator | Uploaded | FreakShare |