CD REVIEW
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Natalie Cole's Still Unforgettable
In Stores Now!!!
For more information on
Natalie Cole visit
www.nataliecole.com
In Stores Now!!!
For more information on
Natalie Cole visit
www.nataliecole.com
Natalie Cole: Resilient and Still Unforgettable
Before the Obama family drew comparisons to Jackie-O and JFK’s brood, Natalie
Cole and her family were called the black Kennedy’s. Natalie, the daughter of a jazz
songstress Maria Ellington (no relation to Sir Duke) and the great pop singer Nat
King Cole has not lived in the White House, but her great legacy is alive in Still
Unforgettable, her latest CD.
She continues her foray into pop and jazz standards as a follow-up to the 6-time
Grammy Award-winning album Unforgettable released 17 years ago. While she
has released albums between this time, not until now has she released a cover
album. Nominated for three Grammy Awards, Still Unforgettable is garnering lofty
accolades: not only for Natalie’s voice with a nod for Best Pop Vocal Album, but also
for Natalie’s producing prowess. Not bad for a first time producer as Cole is on the
album. On the lead single Walkin’ My Baby Back Home, Cole pairs with her father,
– a supple big-band backed standard released by Nat King Cole in 1952. The
frolicking interplay of Cole and her father’s voices on the tune reminds of Singin’ in
the Rain, the song made famous by tap dancer Gene Kelly’s appearance in the
movie of the same name. On Ray Charles’ staple Busted, Cole is at her best
evoking the emotion of the Blues-inspired song effortlessly. Yet another highlight
on the album is It’s All Right With Me, a song shared on Nat King Cole’s TV show
with the First Lady of Song Ella Fitzgerald when Natalie was only 7 years old. The
remainder of the album is full of unforgettable songs including, You Go To My Head,
and The Best Is Yet to Come. Complete with 14 memorable standards carried by a
big-band that maintains the nuances of the classic jazz behind Cole’s flawless
vocals.
As Cole reaches to the past for musical inspiration, her future is on shaky ground.
As she approaches her 59th birthday the star has been diagnosed with Hepatitis C
and has also endured regular dialysis treatments for a condition discovered while
on her promotional tour for this album. In a sense, the resiliency of her voice, and
the positive messages in her music are a testament to her sense of will to live life
happily in spite of adversity. In an interview wit Entertainment Tonight during the first
week of the album release, Cole was upbeat about her prognosis, "I feel really
good. I'm a trooper. I'm one of those crazy 'the show must go on' people. I'm a
survivor. I don't believe in giving up until the fat lady sings." As Still Unforgettable
continues to remain in the top 10 of the jazz album charts months after its initial
release, Natalie is STILL singing. She recently performed on the Tonight Show with
Jay Leno and has plans for tour dates worldwide in 2009.
____ Adriohn Richardson
Before the Obama family drew comparisons to Jackie-O and JFK’s brood, Natalie
Cole and her family were called the black Kennedy’s. Natalie, the daughter of a jazz
songstress Maria Ellington (no relation to Sir Duke) and the great pop singer Nat
King Cole has not lived in the White House, but her great legacy is alive in Still
Unforgettable, her latest CD.
She continues her foray into pop and jazz standards as a follow-up to the 6-time
Grammy Award-winning album Unforgettable released 17 years ago. While she
has released albums between this time, not until now has she released a cover
album. Nominated for three Grammy Awards, Still Unforgettable is garnering lofty
accolades: not only for Natalie’s voice with a nod for Best Pop Vocal Album, but also
for Natalie’s producing prowess. Not bad for a first time producer as Cole is on the
album. On the lead single Walkin’ My Baby Back Home, Cole pairs with her father,
– a supple big-band backed standard released by Nat King Cole in 1952. The
frolicking interplay of Cole and her father’s voices on the tune reminds of Singin’ in
the Rain, the song made famous by tap dancer Gene Kelly’s appearance in the
movie of the same name. On Ray Charles’ staple Busted, Cole is at her best
evoking the emotion of the Blues-inspired song effortlessly. Yet another highlight
on the album is It’s All Right With Me, a song shared on Nat King Cole’s TV show
with the First Lady of Song Ella Fitzgerald when Natalie was only 7 years old. The
remainder of the album is full of unforgettable songs including, You Go To My Head,
and The Best Is Yet to Come. Complete with 14 memorable standards carried by a
big-band that maintains the nuances of the classic jazz behind Cole’s flawless
vocals.
As Cole reaches to the past for musical inspiration, her future is on shaky ground.
As she approaches her 59th birthday the star has been diagnosed with Hepatitis C
and has also endured regular dialysis treatments for a condition discovered while
on her promotional tour for this album. In a sense, the resiliency of her voice, and
the positive messages in her music are a testament to her sense of will to live life
happily in spite of adversity. In an interview wit Entertainment Tonight during the first
week of the album release, Cole was upbeat about her prognosis, "I feel really
good. I'm a trooper. I'm one of those crazy 'the show must go on' people. I'm a
survivor. I don't believe in giving up until the fat lady sings." As Still Unforgettable
continues to remain in the top 10 of the jazz album charts months after its initial
release, Natalie is STILL singing. She recently performed on the Tonight Show with
Jay Leno and has plans for tour dates worldwide in 2009.
____ Adriohn Richardson
