Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Nicolas Bearde: I Remember You: The Music Of Nat King Cole

Nicolas Bearde: I Remember You: The Music Of Nat King Cole

By Dan Bilawsky
August 20, 2019
View read count

Nicolas Bearde: I Remember You: The Music Of Nat King Cole

In 2019, Cole is king. Feted on record by

John Pizzarelli

guitar
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">John Pizzarelli, celebrated with a new seven CD set of his early work from Resonance Records, and praised and reappraised from numerous journalistic angles, Nathaniel Adams Coles—better known as

Nat King Cole

piano and vocals
1919 - 1965

" data-original-title="" title="">Nat King Cole—is receiving the posthumous plaudits he so richly deserves in this, his centennial year. Now, adding to the chorus, comes this easy-going charmer of a tribute from one of the West Coast's most underrated vocal talents.

Completely avoiding kitschy Cole and seriously upbeat avenues, veteran vocalist

Nicolas Bearde

vocals
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Nicolas Bearde settles comfortably into relaxed surroundings for the first leg of I Remember You: The Music Of Nat King Cole. Nothing on the early end pushes much, nor does it need to. From the opening title track over to the

Eric Alexander

saxophone, tenor
b.1968

" data-original-title="" title="">Eric Alexander-graced "That Sunday, That Summer" and "Funny (Not Much)," and on to the immortal "Sweet Lorraine" and "L-O-V-E," everything is fine and mellow. It's not until the start of the second half, with "Thou Swell," that things cook. A swing thing with strong solos from Alexander and pianist Josh Nelson, that performance proves to be a standout, and the only number bordering on burning in the mix.

The four remaining tracks, as with all that precede them, cement Bearde's place as an inheritor of Cole's cool. With "The Rules Of The Road," "Tenderly" and "I Wish You Love," he soothes and seduces. And with "Straighten Up And Fly Right," featuring some notable contributions from Nelson, bassist

Alex Boneham

bass
b.1987

" data-original-title="" title="">Alex Boneham and, above all, drummer

Lorca Hart

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Lorca Hart, Bearde is a soulful sensation.

It's not easy to consistently present with a sense of sophisticated ease, but such is one of Nicolas Bearde's many gifts. This one pleases by largely going down easy.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

I Remember You; That Sunday, That Summer; Funny (Not Much); Sweet Lorraine; L-O-V-E; Thou Swell; The Rules Of The Road; Straighten Up And Fly Right; Tenderly; I Wish You Love.

Personnel

Nicolas Bearde

vocals

Nicolas Bearde: vocals; Josh Nelson: piano (2-4, 6-10); Peter Horvath: piano (1, 5); Eric Alexander: tenor saxophone (2, 3, 6); Alex Boneham: bass (2-4, 6-10); Dan Feiszli: bass (1, 5); Dan Schnelle: drums (2, 3, 6, 9); Lorca Hart: drums (7, 8, 10); Jason Lewis: drums (1, 5).

Album information

Title: I Remember You: The Music Of Nat King Cole | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: Right Groove Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Canadian Jazz: Remembering Maynard F...
< Previous

Invisible Horizon
Next >

Nicolas Bearde Concerts

Oct 11 Sat

Nicolas Bearde and the Charles Brown Band

The Sound Room
Oakland, CA

Oct 18 Sat

Nicolas Bearde and Bryan Dyer - Ballads and Blues

Rhythmix Cultural Works
Alameda, CA

Nov 2 Sun

Nicolas Bearde Quartet - Jarreau and Beyond

Sebastiani Theatre
Sonoma, CA

Nov 8 Sat

Nicolas Bearde Quartet - Jarreau and Beyond

SFJAZZ Center
San Francisco, CA

Nov 9 Sun

Nicolas Bearde Quartet - Jarreau And Beyond

SFJAZZ Center
San Francisco, CA

Dec 6 Sat

Nicolas Bearde 18th Annual Holiday Show

Piedmont Piano Company
Oakland, CA

Dec 13 Sat

Nicolas Bearde Quartet - Swinging into the Holidays

Piedmont Piano Company
Oakland, CA

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.