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Steve Cole

Saxophonist Steve Cole is one of the most celebrated players in contemporary jazz.

The Chicago native exploded onto the scene in 1998 with the album “Stay Awhile” that was produced by fellow Chicagoan Brian Culbertson. The disc scored two #1 hits and earned Cole the Oasis Smooth Jazz Award for best new artist shortly before his sophomore set, “Between Us,” was released in 2000. His catchy singles made him an instant radio favorite and he cranked them out with regularity on subsequent albums “NY LA” (2003), “Spin” (2005, “True” (2006), "Moonlight" (2009), and "True" (2013).

In addition to his work as solo artist, Steve has performed/recorded, with Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, Boz Scaggs, Larry Carlton, Jeff Lorber, Jim Peterik, Freddie Cole, Cyrus Chestnut, and KMFDM, and has been a featured soloist with the City of Prague Orchestra, and The Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Steve is also a founding member of The Sax Pack, a stellar sax trio completed by Marcus Anderson and Jeff Kashiwa.

Known for consistently cranking out chart-topping singles that deploy big vibrant pop hooks, contemporary jazz saxophonist Steve Cole conjures a sonic escapade with the hypnotic “Mirage,” the first single from his forthcoming eighth album, “Turn It Up,” which will be released July 15 by Artistry Music. Radio programmers were instantly spellbound, making the track from the David Mann-produced set of R&B grooves and soul-powered sojourns the No. 1 most added single on the Billboard BDS chart.

The entrancing single on which electronic beats bombard the senses before chill tenor and soprano sax leads and a soothing trumpet undercurrent take command of the illusion is one of nine new songs on the session, eight of which were composed or co-composed by Cole. The tune reflects his hometown roots and ardor for Chicago’s dance music scene. It’s one of three major cities that helped shape the collection.

“I embarked on ‘Turn It Up’ with the goal of making music with great musicians and great friends in great cities. This time around I wrote much of the music with Dave Mann in New York City. We recorded horns, guitars and vocals there as well. The energy in that great city was truly inspiring and it really is reflected in the music. Next stop was Minneapolis, where I worked with the great keyboardist and producer Ricky Peterson. Ricky and I wrote the song ‘Workhouse’ together, a track influenced by our love of Chicago house music. Dave joined us later in Minneapolis to record Ricky on the Hammond B3 organ as well as to record my Chicago pals, bassist Lamar Jones and drummer Khari Parker. I decided to track all of the saxophone parts in Minneapolis as well,” explained Cole, who has a slate of festival and club dates running into mid-October to help support the album release.

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Album Review

Steve Cole: True

Read "True" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


Let's face it, the music genre(s) known as “Smooth Jazz or “Adult Contemporary Jazz or “Nu-Jazz (if, in fact, they are different genres) demonstrate little critical appeal among those who consider themselves “serious jazz enthusiasts. Elevator Music, Muzak, Weather Channel Music, whatever, Smooth Jazz gets precious little respect...as well it deserves. As a branch of jazz, Smooth Jazz is the music for listeners who can't tolerate the real thing without something sweet. You know, listeners who would mix Knob Hill ...

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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Steve Coleman

Jazz Musician of the Day: Steve Coleman

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Steve Coleman's birthday today!

Steve began playing music just days before his 14th birthday as a freshman at South Shore High School on the south side of Chicago. His first instrument was violin but later that year he switched to the alto saxophone. For three years Steve studied the basics of music and saxophone technique, then he decided that he wanted to learn how to improvise. Looking for the best improvising musicians to listen to ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Steve Coleman

Jazz Musician of the Day: Steve Coleman

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Steve Coleman's birthday today!

Steve began playing music just days before his 14th birthday as a freshman at South Shore High School on the south side of Chicago. His first instrument was violin but later that year he switched to the alto saxophone. For three years Steve studied the basics of music and saxophone technique, then he decided that he wanted to learn how to improvise. Looking for the best improvising musicians to listen to ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Steve Coleman

Jazz Musician of the Day: Steve Coleman

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Steve Coleman's birthday today!

Steve began playing music just days before his 14th birthday as a freshman at South Shore High School on the south side of Chicago. His first instrument was violin but later that year he switched to the alto saxophone. For three years Steve studied the basics of music and saxophone technique, then he decided that he wanted to learn how to improvise... Read more.

Place our Musician of the Day widget ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Steve Coleman

Jazz Musician of the Day: Steve Coleman

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Steve Coleman's birthday today!

Steve began playing music just days before his 14th birthday as a freshman at South Shore High School on the south side of Chicago. His first instrument was violin but later that year he switched to the alto saxophone. For three years Steve studied the basics of music and saxophone technique, then he decided that he wanted to learn how to improvise... Read more.

Place our Musician of the Day widget ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Steve Coleman

Jazz Musician of the Day: Steve Coleman

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Steve Coleman's birthday today!

Steve began playing music just days before his 14th birthday as a freshman at South Shore High School on the south side of Chicago. His first instrument was violin but later that year he switched to the alto saxophone. For three years Steve studied the basics of music and saxophone technique, then he decided that he wanted to learn how to improvise... Read more.

Place our Musician of the Day widget ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Steve Coleman

Jazz Musician of the Day: Steve Coleman

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Steve Coleman's birthday today!

Steve began playing music just days before his 14th birthday as a freshman at South Shore High School on the south side of Chicago. His first instrument was violin but later that year he switched to the alto saxophone. For three years Steve studied the basics of music and saxophone technique, then he decided that he wanted to learn how to improvise... Read more.

Place our Musician of the Day widget ...

1

Education

Music Education Monday: Workshops with saxophonist Steve Coleman

Music Education Monday: Workshops with saxophonist Steve Coleman

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

Though he doesn't categorize his music as “jazz," Steve Coleman has been a significant player on the contemporary improvised music scene since the 1980s as a saxophonist, composer, bandleader, and educator. A 2014 recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship (aka “the genius grant"), Coleman (pictured) is a 59-year-old Chicago native who's been called “one of the most rigorously conceptual thinkers in improvised music" by the New York Times. He's noted particularly as one of the originators and chief promulgator of M-BASE, ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Steve Coleman

Jazz Musician of the Day: Steve Coleman

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Steve Coleman's birthday today! Steve began playing music just days before his 14th birthday as a freshman at South Shore High School on the south side of Chicago. His first instrument was violin but later that year he switched to the alto saxophone. For three years Steve studied the basics of music and saxophone technique, then he decided that he wanted to learn how to improvise... Read more. Place our Musician of the Day widget ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Steve Coleman

Jazz Musician of the Day: Steve Coleman

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Steve Coleman's birthday today! Steve began playing music just days before his 14th birthday as a freshman at South Shore High School on the south side of Chicago. His first instrument was violin but later that year he switched to the alto saxophone. For three years Steve studied the basics of music and saxophone technique, then he decided that he wanted to learn how to improvise... Read more. Place our Musician of the Day widget ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Steve Coleman

Jazz Musician of the Day: Steve Coleman

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Steve Coleman's birthday today!

Steve began playing music just days before his 14th birthday as a freshman at South Shore High School on the south side of Chicago. His first instrument was violin but later that year he switched to the alto saxophone. For three years Steve studied the basics of music and saxophone technique, then he decided that he wanted to learn how to improvise... Read more.

Place our Musician of the Day widget ...

Concerts

Jun 27 Thu

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

True

Narada Jazz
2007

buy

True

hat ART
2006

buy

Spin

hat ART
2005

buy

Between Us

hat ART
2000

buy

Stay Awhile

hat ART
1998

buy

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