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Richie Cole

Richie Cole fans continue to praise the jazz/bebop artist who is recognized worldwide for the sweet sounds of his alto sax and the creativity behind his Alto Madness Orchestra.

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," explained Richie with pride. "Not only does this have the big band ensemble sound, it also allows us plenty of room for improvisation as if we were in a quartet setting," he added enthusiastically.

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. He also finds time to arrange for full big bands and Symphony Orchestras. Jazz Festivals book Cole months in advance and his appearances in clubs assure large audiences.

Richie’s musical mind is always working, and it’s not unusual for him to write five to ten original compositions a day including all the parts for his seven piece band.

Cole and his saxophone, one of three Selmer Paris saxes he uses, travel the world captivating his fans. When he started on the road he used a customized van, now Risë laughed and said, "We travel by all modes, train, plane, automobile, bus, donkey" displaying her hearty sense of humor.

When Cole was touring Siberia he premiered his Jazz Suite, "A Night in Siberia", which was performed by the Red Army Big Band. The mayor of Tomsk, Siberia and the concert promoter are hoping to arrange a state department tour of their Orient Express route.

Cole’s knowledge is revered in Master Classes at Universities and Colleges and the Alto Madness Orchestra course has entered its sixth year at the University of Madrid in Spain.

"Music is such an important part of life and its appreciation should start in the young. Musical education is vital and that’s why I organized the Alto Madness Junior Orchestra. It allows me a chance to work with children 10 to 16 years-old. It teaches them to perform music especially written for their capability. That way they can understand it, feel it, and have the sense of musical accomplishment. That’s when the love of music, jazz or otherwise, is developed", said Richie, who then added, "There’s nothing to replace music that comes from the heart and soul". Cole’s students respond to his informality and conversational personal experiences during his forty years in the industry. "Everyone has the opportunity to play...and listen", he said.

Cole also recorded with singer/songwriter and prominent children's artist Miss Amy during 2007, adding his style to music that spans to an even younger audience, 0 to 10. "Playing jazz for the next generation is a real thrill", said this notable jazz legend.

Richie Cole’s own love for the music that has become his life began when he was 10 in home town of Trenton, New Jersey. "I played in a lot of different school bands and orchestras until I graduated", he recalled with a smile. His obvious talent and dedication won him a full scholarship from Downbeat Magazine to the Berklee School of Music in Boston, Mass.

His serious professional career began in 1969 when he joined the Buddy Rich Big Band followed by becoming a part of the Lionel Hampton Big Band, then he joined the Doc Severinsen Big Band. In 1975 Richie teamed with the great Eddie Jefferson and worked with him until Jefferson’s death four years later.

Cole has performed with the Manhattan Transfer, Bobby Enriquez, Freddy Hubbard, Sonny Stitt, Boots Randolph, and Nancy Wilson, to name just a few of his musical collaborations.

"I started developing and perfecting my Alto Madness concept when I started touring on my own", he said. Those tours included performing in Australia, Japan, Africa, Finland, Russia and throughout Europe. He was appointed to the Board of the National Jazz Service Organization , and the Board for the National Endowment for the Arts where he served as chairman for one year. He is also a long time member of the International Association of Jazz Educators and has performed at their annual convention and in 2005 was awarded the State of California Congressional Certificate of Lifetime Achievement in Jazz on behalf of the Temecula Jazz Society.

Cole has recorded over 50 albums and CD’s, his newest, Back On Top, is on Jazz Excursion Records and is the first record made specifically for jazz internet radio.

Over forty years in the industry and he still gets critical raves, such as, "Richie Cole constantly shows that there is life, humor and creativity still to be found in classic bebop", and "Cole is at the height of his creative powers, and he sure wasn’t a slouch before."

The beauty of jazz bepop is listening to Richie Cole who produces its sound the way it must be to fully interpret its depth. Show less

Jorge Garcia: Dedicated to You

Read "Dedicated to You" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
February 26, 2022

Gigi Gryce's turbo-charged “Minority," which opens Cuban-born guitarist Jorge Garcia's Dedicated to You, serves as a reminder of how much talent the world lost when alto saxophonist Richie Cole died in May 2020. And if that weren't enough to persuade any doubters, the vibrant “This One's for Richie" (based, appropriately, on the standard “There Will Never Be Another You") readily affirms that opinion. While, alas, those are the only tracks on which Cole performs, they alone make the album well ...

Talking 2 Musicians

Jazz Musicians Up Against A Virus

by Rob Rosenblum
June 17, 2020

In the last year or so Good Times became the first jazz club in years to operate in Savannah, Forte Jazz Lounge sprouted up in Charleston and Middle C arrived in Charlotte. The Charleston Jazz Orchestra became a hub renamed to Charleston Jazz, providing both big band and small group concerts with unprecedented success. And, of course, the Spoleto festival showcased some of the most experimental and adventurous jazz concerts every Spring. Then came the Corona virus and all our ...

Radio & Podcasts

Remembering Richie Cole

by Leo Sidran
May 18, 2020

Saxophonist Richie Cole died on May 2, 2020. He lived a jazz life all the way. His playing, his demeanor and his philosophy were all contained in his catchphrase / modus operandi: Alto Madness. This episode revisits conversations with him over the years, as well as recent chats with Janis Siegel and Ben Sidran about their friendships with him, and some newly unearthed live performance recordings of Richie with singer Eddie Jefferson, captured just days before Jefferson was killed. ...

Multiple Reviews

Landing in Pittsburgh and Loving It Madly

by Nicholas F. Mondello
October 8, 2019

Now that his early mentor, Phil Woods as left the room, Richie Cole is arguably the most genuine acolyte of classic alto Bop tradition on the jazz scene today. With four albums released over the last four years, Cole is certainly letting it all fly. Always a player of terrific technical skills, Cole's work delivers consistent swing and a flair for the serendipitous. Stepping back a step and up to date, two fine albums are explored. Richie Cole ...

Album Review

Richie Cole: Cannonball

Read "Cannonball" reviewed by Nicholas F. Mondello

by Nicholas F. Mondello
July 5, 2019

With Cannonball, Richie Cole and his crew deliver fourteen selections, each of which is associated with the album's namesake, Julian Cannonball Adderley. Cole has admired Adderley since their meeting when Cole was a student at Berklee School of Music. The album is a terrific salute and it once more confirms Cole as a leading flamekeeper of the straight-ahead tradition of bop alto sax. Across the session, Cole is animated and energized and delivers his tributes with a ...

Album Review

Richie Cole: Cannonball

Read "Cannonball" reviewed by Rob Rosenblum

by Rob Rosenblum
February 19, 2019

Richie Cole and Julian Cannonball" Adderley. It's as natural as soap and water. In an interview on this site, Cole proclaimed that the famed jazz musician was his favorite altoist. Like Adderley, Cole can cover a wide range of music--from the hardest of hard bop to commercial ditties. And also like Adderley, for Cole the audience comes first. The two Charlie Parker influenced altoists never recorded together, although Cole did get to know Adderley casually. Meeting him and ...

Album Review

Richie Cole: Latin Lover

Read "Latin Lover" reviewed by Rob Rosenblum

by Rob Rosenblum
November 18, 2017

Last year alto saxophonist/arranger Richie Cole released an album called the Many Minds of Richie Cole. Latin Lover could easily have carried the same title. There are indeed many minds in Cole's head-- often seemingly incompatible with each other. Several of them are in this CD. Cole was grabbed out of Berklee School of Music by Buddy Rich, who needed a replacement for Art Pepper in his big band in 1969 and after being featured with Rich and ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Richie Cole

Source: Michael Ricci
February 29, 2020

All About Jazz is celebrating Richie Cole's birthday today!

Richie Cole fans continue to praise the jazz/bebop artist who is recognized worldwide for the sweet sounds of his alto sax and the creativity behind his Alto Madness Orchestra. 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 ...
read more

Recording

Alto Saxophonist Richie Cole Pays Tribute To A Lifelong Hero On "Cannonball," Set For Oct. 26 Release

Source: Terri Hinte Publicity
October 3, 2018

The alto madness of Richie Cole celebrates one of its chief inspirations with the October 26 release of Cannonball (Richie Cole Presents). An inveterate bebop stalwart, Cole leads the Pittsburgh Alto Madness Orchestra and several special guests in paying tribute to his hero, the legendary alto saxophonist Julian “Cannonball” Adderley. The album comprises a dozen tunes closely associated with Adderley (including his own “Sack o’ Woe”), as well as a brand-new Cole original (“Bell of the Ball”). While Cole often ...
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Recording

Alto Saxophonist Richie Cole To Release New CD, "Latin Lover," October 20

Source: Terri Hinte Publicity
October 5, 2017

Alto saxophonist Richie Cole has covered a lot of stylistic ground since he left the Berklee School of Music in 1969 to join the Buddy Rich Band at age 21. Long known as a torchbearer for bebop, Cole started referring to his style of playing as “Alto Madness” in the 1970s, and that has been his motto ever since. In the course of a prolific career fast approaching the half-century mark, Cole has included Latin jazz tunes on many recordings, ...
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Video / DVD

Video: Many Faces of Bird

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
July 7, 2017

Recording

"Richie Cole Plays Ballads & Love Songs," Cole's First Ballad Album In His 45-year Career, To Be Released Oct. 21

Source: Terri Hinte Publicity
October 5, 2016

Setting down roots in Pittsburgh two years ago has borne fruit for alto saxophonist Richie Cole in the form of his beautiful new album, Richie Cole Plays Ballads & Love Songs. The CD, his first all-ballads album, will be released on his Richie Cole Presents imprint on October 21. “I don’t play the saxophone, I sing the saxophone,” Cole says. “It’s all about telling a story. If you don’t know the melody or the words—which is true of a lot ...
read more

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Richie Cole

Source: Michael Ricci
February 29, 2016

All About Jazz is celebrating Richie Cole's birthday today!

Richie Cole fans continue to praise the jazz/bebop artist who is recognized worldwide for the sweet sounds of his alto sax and the creativity behind his Alto Madness Orchestra. 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 ...
read more

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Richie Cole

Source:
February 29, 2012

All About Jazz is celebrating Richie Cole's birthday today!

Richie Cole fans continue to praise the jazz/bebop artist who is recognized worldwide for the sweet sounds of his alto sax and the creativity behind his Alto Madness Orchestra. 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 ...
read more

142

Performance / Tour

Richie Cole & the Larry McKenna Organ Trio @ Philadelphia's Chris' Jazz Cafe on February 2, 2007.

Source: All About Jazz
February 1, 2007

Tenor saxophonist Larry McKenna and his Organ Trio are joined by Richie Cole on alto at Chris' Jazz Cafe

RICHIE COLE & THE LARRY MCKENNA ORGAN TRIO Richie Cole - alto Larry Mckenna - tenor Bill Schillings - organ Jim Schade - drums February 2, 2007 Sets @ 8 & 10 Chris' Jazz Cafe 1421 Sansom St Philadelphia PA Info: ...
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170

Technology

Four Free Richie Cole Downloads at AAJ!

Source: All About Jazz
July 27, 2006

You can now download four free MP3 tracks by saxophonist Richie Cole.

Remembering Oliver Nelson Richie Cole & The Alto Madness Orchestra From Back on Top 5:23 Art's Opus #2 (alternate take) Richie Cole / Art Pepper From A Piece of Jazz History 02:08 What a Wonderful World Richie Cole ...
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217

Performance / Tour

Richie Cole Plays Dazzle Restaurant and Lounge, Saturday July 1, 2006 at 7pm and 9pm

Source: All About Jazz
June 5, 2006

Denver, CO--Alto saxophone great Richie Cole will be performing at Dazzle Jazz Club on Saturday July 1, 2006. Shows are scheduled for 7pm and 9pm with a $15 cover charge. Reservations are highly suggested by management at Dazzle. Coming off eight sold out sets in New York City at The Jazz Standard and two highly successful critically acclaimed Releases Back on Top with the Alto Madness Orchestra and Richie Cole Meets Art Pepper, A Piece of Jazz History, Richie is ...
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