“King Cole at the Piano” – Nat King Cole

Album: King Cole at the Piano

Artist: Nat King Cole

Year: 1950

Genre: Jazz

Grade: A-

Originally released as a 10″ LP in 1950, King Cole at the Piano is a smooth, relaxing slice of easy listening instrumental jazz. It’s a nice showcase for Nat King Cole’s underrated piano chops, and the trio interplay — which includes Oscar Moore on electric guitar and Johnny Miller on bass — operates as a highly cohesive and efficient unit.

There are uptempo bops (“Cole Capers”) and sentimental ballads (“These Foolish Things”), rocking 12-bar blues (“Blues in My Shower”) and virtuoso workouts (“How High the Moon”). And in a subversively cruel joke, there is only one song to feature Cole’s immaculate singing: the throwaway “Three Blind Mice,” which actually works within the album’s sequencing as a sly and sardonic closing track.

King Cole at the Piano isn’t one of the great jazz singer’s most memorable works — the lack of singing probably has something to do with that. Still, devoted fans will enjoy Nat King Cole’s extended instrumental spotlight. His piano playing is fantastic throughout the album, and I love how his solos never take large steps between notes, placing an emphasis on melody, keeping the listener in total tonal comfort. I can easily see Oscar Peterson being inspired by Cole’s elegant style. Jazz for any time or type of day.

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