Jazz bebop-master Richie Cole, a Berklee graduate, began his serious professional career in 1969 when he joined the Buddy Rich Big Band as lead saxophone. Later, Cole toured with the Lionel Hampton Big Band and went on to join the Doc Severinsen Big Band, which appeared regularly on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. In 1975 Richie teamed with the great Eddie Jefferson and worked with him until Jefferson’s death four years later.
Cole has performed with Manhattan Transfer, Bobby Enriquez, Freddie Hubbard, Sonny Stitt, Art Pepper, Boots Randolph, and Nancy Wilson, to name just a few of his musical collaborations, and has toured all over the world.
The Alto Madness Orchestra was developed by Richie in the early 90's and its continuing popularity is proof of its uniqueness. The idea of the Orchestra is the concept and sound of an eighteen-piece big band using only seven instruments, four of which are horns. Not only does this have the big band ensemble sound, it also allows plenty of room for improvisation as if in a quartet setting.
Cole’s ability goes far beyond mesmerizing the audience with his saxophone because he does all the composing and arranging, having amassed over five thousand of the latter. With over 50 CD recordings (see below) and more on the way, he also finds time to arrange for full big bands and Symphony Orchestras, and he provides jazz workshops to students at the high-school, graduate and post-graduate levels.
|
|
