Richie Cole
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http://www.altomadnessmusic.com Alto Madness Music / Richie Cole, Jazz Bebop Master richie cole, alto madness music, alto madness, alto, sax, jazz, music, cd, radio, tv, bebop, saxophone Biography Richie Cole fans continue to praise the jazz/bebop artist who was listed in the 2006 edition of Marquis Who's Who in America. Cole 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 Liftime 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. Richie Cole is Alto Madness.
Born: February 29, 1948
Home
Trenton, NJ
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Back on Top
Biography
Jazz bebop-master Richie Cole, a Berklee graduate, began his serious professional career in 1969 when he joined the Buddy Rich Big Band as lead saxophone. Later, Cole toured with the Lionel Hampton Big Band and went on to join the Doc Severinsen Big Band, which appeared regularly on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. In 1975 Richie teamed with the great Eddie Jefferson and worked with him until Jefferson's death four years later. Cole has performed with Manhattan Transfer, Bobby Enriquez, Freddie Hubbard, Sonny Stitt, Art Pepper, Boots Randolph, and Nancy Wilson, to name just a few of his musical collaborations, and has toured all over the world. 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. Not only does this have the big band ensemble sound, it also allows plenty of room for improvisation as if in a quartet setting. 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. With over 50 CD recordings (see below) and more on the way, he also finds time to arrange for full big bands and Symphony Orchestras, and he provides jazz workshops to students at the high-school, graduate and post-graduate levels. The Alto Madness Orchestra and Cole's Quartet/Quintet are available for special Sonicbids bookings, so put your request in today!! Instrumentation Richie Cole-Alto Sax, Billy Ross-Tenor Sax, Nathan Eklund-Trumpet, Rick Stepton-Trombone, Andrei Riabov-Guitar, Rick Crane-Bass, Wayne Dunton-Drums
* Richie works with many regional artists, so band members may vary
Discography
Year Title Label
2007 The Man with the Horn - Jazz Excursion Records
2006 Risë's Rose Garden - Jazz Excursion Records
2006 A Piece of Jazz History - Jazz Excursion Records
2005 Back on Top - Jazz Excursion Records
2004 Tribute to Our Buddies - Fresh Sounds
2003 A Tribute to Buddy Rich - Fresh Sounds
2003 It's the Same Thing Everywhere - DJAZ Records
2002 Bebop Express - Alto Madness Records
2000 Just in Case You Forgot How Bad He Really Was w/ Sonny Stitt - 32 Jazz
2000 The Hep Squad-Cartoon Series Soundtrack - Alto Mandess Records
2000 Trenton Style Introducing the Alto Madness Orchestra - Alto Madness Records
2000 Pure Madness - 32 Jazz
1998 Come Sunday - Alto Madness Records
1998 Live at Douglas Beach House 1978 - Culture Press
1998 Richie & Phil & Richie - 32 Jazz
1996 West Side Story - Music Masters
1994 The Kush: Music of Dizzy Gillespie - Heads Up
1993 Profile - Heads Up
1990 Richie Cole With His South African Brothers - Johanessberg, SA
1989 Richie Cole in Leningrad - ME Records
1989 The Many faces of Bird - Polygram Records
1988 Back to Birdland w/ Freddie Hubbard
1988 Signature - Milestone
1987 Pop Bop - Milestone
1987 Bossa International - Milestone
1986 Pure Imagination - Concord Jazz
1985 Bossa Nova Eyes - Palo Alto
1984 Richie Cole Meets Sonny Stitt in Australia featuring Jack Wilson - Au
1984 Vocalese w/ Manhatten Transfer - Atlantic Records
1984 Satisfaction Guaranteed w/ Mark Murphy - Muse
1982 Mecca for Modern w/ Manhatten Transfer - Atlantic Records
1982 Stolen Moments w/ Mark Murphy Muse
1982 Return to Alto Acres - Palo Alto
1982 Alto Annie's Theme - Palo Alto
1982 Yakety Madness! w/ Boots Randolph - Palo Alto
1982 Yakety Sax - Palo Alto
1981 The Wildman Meets the Mad Man w/ Bobby Enriquez - GNP Records
1981 Selena Jones w/ Richie Cole Alto Madness in Japan - JVC Records
1981 Crime and Punishment - Alto Madness Music
1981 Tokyo Madness Live in Tokyo - Seven Seas
1981 Some Things Speak for Themselves - Muse
1981 Cool "C" - Muse
1981 Alive! at the Village Vanguard - Muse
1980 Side by Side w/ Phil Woods and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis - Muse
1979 Hollywood Madness w/ Manhatten Transfer, Tom Waits and Eddie Jefferson - Muse
1978 Red Rodney Rides Again w/ Red Rodney - Muse
1978 Keeper of the Flame - Muse
1978 Richie Cole Live at Half Moon Bay w/ Eddie Jefferson - Pete Douglas
1977 Battle of the Saxes w/ Eric Kloss - Muse
1977 The Main man w/ Eddie Jefferson - Inner City
1977 Alto Madness w/ Eddie Jefferson - Muse
1976 The Liveliest w/ Eddie Jefferson - Muse
1976 Still on the Planet with Eddie Jefferson - Muse
1976 Starburst - Adelphi Records
1976 Battle of Saxes, Vol. 1 - Muse
1976 New York Afternoon: Alto Madness - Muse
1975 Trenton Makes, the World Takes - Progressive
1970 Keep the Customer Satisfied w/ The Buddy Rich Big Band - Liberty Records
1969 Buddy and Soul w/ The Buddy Rich Big Band - World Pacific Jazz
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