A "virtuosic marvel," (SJ Mercury) gypsy guitarist, vocalist, and Bay Area native George Cole and his orchestra perform the timeless songs from the 1960 holiday classic The Magic of Christmas by singer and pianist Nat "King" Cole. These "Cole Plays Cole" concerts have become an SFJAZZ tradition, this year expanded from a trio format to large ensemble.
Deeply versed in the "jazz manouche" style pioneered by guitar legend Django Reinhardt in the 1930s, Cole is the curator and director of violin and guitar for the annual Esprit de Django et Stéphane Festival at The Freight and Salvage in Berkeley, though his versatility and musicality have led to collaboration with iconic singer Keely Smith, bluegrass giant David Grisman, and rock mainstays Joe Walsh and Chris Isaak.
For this evening, the guitarist explores Nat "King" Cole's beloved Christmas masterpiece -- the best-selling holiday album of the 1960s -- and its signature arrangements of "O Tannenbaum," "A Cradle in Bethlehem," "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen," and "The First Noël," infusing them with his masterful style.
~~~
"George Cole is a major guitar talent who plays everything from gypsy jazz to rhythm & blues. It's been a great experience playing my music with him and he's helped me take Dawg music in many new and wonderful directions. He can sing too!" - David Grisman
"George Cole was more than a guitar teacher to me. He was a mentor that talked about great music, great songs, good taste, and everything in between. I feel grateful and lucky that he showed me how to express myself with a guitar" - Billie Joe Armstrong
"George Cole has a sound that incorporates some of the finest elements of '30s/'40s-era European and American music. Cole's excellent Django-style guitar work and his band's enticing instrumental and vocal harmonies make them a must-see for any fan of vintage jazz." - Art Thompson, Senior Editor, Guitar Player Magazine
"... Cole's guitar playing is a marvel to see up close, his fingers leaping all over the fret board, his pick churning out the notes with a velocity and verve that would make Django Reinhardt proud. This night was all about musicianship, of the highest order." - Joe Sweeney, The Buffalo News
show less
Deeply versed in the "jazz manouche" style pioneered by guitar legend Django Reinhardt in the 1930s, Cole is the curator and director of violin and guitar for the annual Esprit de Django et Stéphane Festival at The Freight and Salvage in Berkeley, though his versatility and musicality have led to collaboration with iconic singer Keely Smith, bluegrass giant David Grisman, and rock mainstays Joe Walsh and Chris Isaak.
For this evening, the guitarist explores Nat "King" Cole's beloved Christmas masterpiece -- the best-selling holiday album of the 1960s -- and its signature arrangements of "O Tannenbaum," "A Cradle in Bethlehem," "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen," and "The First Noël," infusing them with his masterful style.
~~~
"George Cole is a major guitar talent who plays everything from gypsy jazz to rhythm & blues. It's been a great experience playing my music with him and he's helped me take Dawg music in many new and wonderful directions. He can sing too!" - David Grisman
"George Cole was more than a guitar teacher to me. He was a mentor that talked about great music, great songs, good taste, and everything in between. I feel grateful and lucky that he showed me how to express myself with a guitar" - Billie Joe Armstrong
"George Cole has a sound that incorporates some of the finest elements of '30s/'40s-era European and American music. Cole's excellent Django-style guitar work and his band's enticing instrumental and vocal harmonies make them a must-see for any fan of vintage jazz." - Art Thompson, Senior Editor, Guitar Player Magazine
"... Cole's guitar playing is a marvel to see up close, his fingers leaping all over the fret board, his pick churning out the notes with a velocity and verve that would make Django Reinhardt proud. This night was all about musicianship, of the highest order." - Joe Sweeney, The Buffalo News
A "virtuosic marvel," (SJ Mercury) gypsy guitarist, vocalist, and Bay Area native George Cole and his orchestra perform the timeless songs from the 1960 holiday classic The Magic of Christmas by singer and pianist Nat "King" Cole. These "Cole Plays Cole" concerts have become an SFJAZZ tradition, this year expanded from a trio format to large ensemble.
Deeply versed in the "jazz manouche" style pioneered by guitar legend Django Reinhardt in the 1930s, Cole is the curator and director of violin and guitar for the annual Esprit de Django et Stéphane Festival at The Freight and Salvage in Berkeley, though his versatility and musicality have led to collaboration with iconic singer Keely Smith, bluegrass giant David Grisman, and rock mainstays Joe Walsh and Chris Isaak.
For this evening, the guitarist explores Nat "King" Cole's beloved Christmas masterpiece -- the best-selling holiday album of the 1960s -- and its signature arrangements of "O Tannenbaum," "A Cradle in Bethlehem," "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen," and "The First Noël," infusing them with his masterful style.
~~~
"George Cole is a major guitar talent who plays everything from gypsy jazz to rhythm & blues. It's been a great experience playing my music with him and he's helped me take Dawg music in many new and wonderful directions. He can sing too!" - David Grisman
"George Cole was more than a guitar teacher to me. He was a mentor that talked about great music, great songs, good taste, and everything in between. I feel grateful and lucky that he showed me how to express myself with a guitar" - Billie Joe Armstrong
"George Cole has a sound that incorporates some of the finest elements of '30s/'40s-era European and American music. Cole's excellent Django-style guitar work and his band's enticing instrumental and vocal harmonies make them a must-see for any fan of vintage jazz." - Art Thompson, Senior Editor, Guitar Player Magazine
"... Cole's guitar playing is a marvel to see up close, his fingers leaping all over the fret board, his pick churning out the notes with a velocity and verve that would make Django Reinhardt proud. This night was all about musicianship, of the highest order." - Joe Sweeney, The Buffalo News
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Deeply versed in the "jazz manouche" style pioneered by guitar legend Django Reinhardt in the 1930s, Cole is the curator and director of violin and guitar for the annual Esprit de Django et Stéphane Festival at The Freight and Salvage in Berkeley, though his versatility and musicality have led to collaboration with iconic singer Keely Smith, bluegrass giant David Grisman, and rock mainstays Joe Walsh and Chris Isaak.
For this evening, the guitarist explores Nat "King" Cole's beloved Christmas masterpiece -- the best-selling holiday album of the 1960s -- and its signature arrangements of "O Tannenbaum," "A Cradle in Bethlehem," "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen," and "The First Noël," infusing them with his masterful style.
~~~
"George Cole is a major guitar talent who plays everything from gypsy jazz to rhythm & blues. It's been a great experience playing my music with him and he's helped me take Dawg music in many new and wonderful directions. He can sing too!" - David Grisman
"George Cole was more than a guitar teacher to me. He was a mentor that talked about great music, great songs, good taste, and everything in between. I feel grateful and lucky that he showed me how to express myself with a guitar" - Billie Joe Armstrong
"George Cole has a sound that incorporates some of the finest elements of '30s/'40s-era European and American music. Cole's excellent Django-style guitar work and his band's enticing instrumental and vocal harmonies make them a must-see for any fan of vintage jazz." - Art Thompson, Senior Editor, Guitar Player Magazine
"... Cole's guitar playing is a marvel to see up close, his fingers leaping all over the fret board, his pick churning out the notes with a velocity and verve that would make Django Reinhardt proud. This night was all about musicianship, of the highest order." - Joe Sweeney, The Buffalo News
show less
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