Alexis Cole with One For All – You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To (2010) [Japan 2015] [SACD / Venus Records – VHGD-114]
Title: Alexis Cole with One For All – You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To (2010) [Japan 2015]
Genre: Jazz
Format: SACD ISO + DSF DSD64 + Hi-Res FLAC
Alexis Cole’s You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To pairs her versatile vocals with the hard bop sextet One For All. The album reimagines classics like “Golden Earrings” with bright swing and solos from Jim Rotondi, Steve Davis, Eric Alexander, and David Hazeltine. Cole’s sly “I Will Wait For You” and a reenergized “Moon River” avoid clichés, while “Cry Me A River” shines with her worldly delivery. Each track is uniquely shaped, making them memorable yet seamlessly followed by equally compelling songs. “Alone Together,” driven by Joe Farnsworth’s drums, leads to the rhythmic “A Beautiful Friendship” and a Latin-tinged “All The Things You Are.” Cole’s Someday My Prince Will Come evokes childhood dreams through show-tune ballads referencing Peter Pan and Cinderella. Her clear enunciation and lush voice, reminiscent of Chris Connor and Carol Sloane, are supported by Fred Hersch, Steve LaSpina, and Matt Wilson. Seductive tracks like “Let Me Be Good to You” and whimsical “Love” feature Don Braden’s sax and Gregoire Maret’s harmonica. Cole’s storytelling shines in “If I Never Knew You” and “La La Lu,” evoking a nostalgic, romantic mood. Both albums leave listeners satisfied yet craving more, marking Cole’s mastery in jazz vocal artistry.