Live Concerts

Nat Cole (v, p), Oscar Moore (g), Johnny Miller (b)

Dates

The date for this live broadcast (Mutual Broadcasting System) from the 331 club is approximate. The King Cole Trio played two lengthy engagements at the club during 1942-43. First, from June 1942 to sometime in early March of 1943, then again from May 1943 to April 1944. Teubig lists this as being from ca. 1942-43, while Holmes says it's from January 1943. As there is no hard evidence for any sort of specific date, this discography will use the very broad date of late to early 1942-43.

Nat Cole (v, p), Carolyn Richards (v), Illinois Jacquet, Jack McVea (ts), Shorty Sherock (t), J. J. Johnson (tb), Les Paul (g), Red Callender, Johnny Miller (b), Lee Young (d)

Nat Cole (v) on e; Carolyn Richards (v) on f; Illinois Jacquet (ts) on a-d, f-i; Jack McVea (ts) on a-d, f-i; Shorty Sherock (t) on f-i; J. J. Johnson (tb) on a-d; Red Callender (b) on g, i; Johnny Miller (b) on a-e, g-i.

Illinois Jacquet (ts), Nat Cole (p), Red Callender (b), Lee Young (d)

Nat Cole (v, p), Johnny Miller (v, b), Oscar Moore (v, g)

Nat Cole (v) on a-b, d-e; Johnny Miller (v) on d; Oscar Moore (v) on d.

Songs

Teubig places "The Man On The Little White Keys" from this date. According to the liners of the 1979 LP The Forgotten Years, however, that performance comes from an earlier AFRS broadcast.

Neither "I'm Through With Love" nor "Nice Work If You Can Get It" can be dated definitively. The former is almost certainly from this run at the Trocadero, while the latter may or may not be from the Trocadero, but is generally believed to be from this time period.

Composers

Most discographies credit Pinky Tomlin and Charles Tobias with composing "The Trouble With Me Is You". That is a different tune, however, than what was performed here.

Nat Cole (v, p), Johnny Miller (v, b), Oscar Moore (v, g)

Nat Cole (v) on a, c-d; Johnny Miller (v) on a, d; Oscar Moore (v) on a, d.

Date

The Trio played Casa Mañana for two weeks beginning July 20th.

Nat Cole (v, p), Oscar Moore (g), Johnny Miller (b), Orson Welles (mc)

Nat Cole (v) on b.

Nat Cole (v, p), Oscar Moore (g), Johnny Miller (b)

Nat Cole (v) on b.

Broadcast on the Mutual Network.

Nat Cole (v, p), Oscar Moore (g), Johnny Miller (b)

Nat Cole (v) on a, c, f, h-j.

Nat Cole (v, p), Oscar Moore (g), Charlie Harris (b)

Nat Cole (v) on a, c.

Nat Cole (v, p), Johnny Miller (v, b), Oscar Moore (v, g)

Nat Cole (v) on b-c, e; Johnny Miller (v) on b; Oscar Moore (v) on b.

Nat Cole (v, p), Oscar Moore (g), Johnny Miller (b)

Nat Cole (v) on a, c-d.

Nat Cole (v, p), Oscar Moore (g), Johnny Miller (b)

Nat Cole (v) on a, c.

Nat Cole (v, p), Johnny Miller (v, b), Oscar Moore (v, g)

Nat Cole (v) on b-d; Johnny Miller (v) on c; Oscar Moore (v) on c.

Nat Cole (v, p), Oscar Moore (g), Johnny Miller (b)

These recordings may originate from the Brown Derby where the trio was playing at the time. Part of the Willis Conover Collection at The University of North Texas, these performances can be heard here.

Nat Cole (v, p), Willie Smith (as), Stan Getz (ts), Charlie Shavers (t), Red Norvo (vib), Barney Kessel, Oscar Moore (g), Johnny Miller (b), Louie Bellson (d)

Nat Cole (v) on a, c-g; Willie Smith (as) on h-k; Stan Getz (ts) on h-k; Charlie Shavers (t) on h-k; Red Norvo (vib) on h-k; Barney Kessel (g) on h-k; Louie Bellson (d) on h-k.

June Christy (v), Nat Cole (v, p), Milt Jackson (vib), Irving Ashby (g), Joe Comfort (b), Jack Costanzo (bgo, cga), Machito And His Orchestra (acc)

June Christy (v) on h; Nat Cole (v) on a-b, d-e, h; Milt Jackson (vib) on h; Machito And His Orchestra (acc) on h.

Dates

The Fortune LP dates "Nat Meets June" as being from May 15. All other sources, however, place it here.

Nat Cole (v, p), Woody Herman (v, cl), Sam Marowitz (as), Jimmy Giuffre, Buddy Savitt (ts), Serge Chaloff (bar), Stan Fishelson, Al Porcino, Shorty Rogers, Ernie Royal, Charlie Walp (t), Bill Harris, Earl Swope, Ollie Wilson (tb), Bart Varsalona (btb), Terry Gibbs (vib), Lou Levy (p), Irving Ashby (g), Joe Comfort, Joe Mondragon (b), Shelly Manne (d), Jack Costanzo (bgo, cga), Woody Herman Orchestra (acc)

Nat Cole (v) on b; Woody Herman (v) on b, (cl) on c; Sam Marowitz (as) on c; Jimmy Giuffre (ts) on c; Buddy Savitt (ts) on c; Serge Chaloff (bar) on c; Stan Fishelson (t) on c; Al Porcino (t) on c; Shorty Rogers (t) on c; Ernie Royal (t) on c; Charlie Walp (t) on c; Bill Harris (tb) on c; Earl Swope (tb) on c; Ollie Wilson (tb) on c; Bart Varsalona (btb) on c; Terry Gibbs (vib) on a, c; Lou Levy (p) on c; Joe Mondragon (b) on c; Shelly Manne (d) on c; Woody Herman Orchestra (acc) on c.

This was broadcast on the Mutual Network.

Nat Cole (v, p), Woody Herman (cl), Sam Marowitz (as), Gene Ammons, Jimmy Giuffre, Buddy Savitt (ts), Serge Chaloff (bar), Stan Fishelson, Al Porcino, Shorty Rogers, Ernie Royal, Charlie Walp (t), Bill Harris, Earl Swope, Ollie Wilson (tb), Bart Varsalona (btb), Terry Gibbs (vib), Lou Levy (p), Irving Ashby (g), Joe Comfort, Joe Mondragon (b), Shelly Manne (d), Jack Costanzo (bgo, cga), Woody Herman Orchestra (acc)

Nat Cole (v) on b, d, f, h-k; Woody Herman (cl) on m; Sam Marowitz (as) on m; Gene Ammons (ts) on m; Jimmy Giuffre (ts) on m; Buddy Savitt (ts) on m; Serge Chaloff (bar) on m; Stan Fishelson (t) on m; Al Porcino (t) on m; Shorty Rogers (t) on m; Ernie Royal (t) on m; Charlie Walp (t) on m; Bill Harris (tb) on m; Earl Swope (tb) on m; Ollie Wilson (tb) on m; Bart Varsalona (btb) on m; Terry Gibbs (vib) on m; Lou Levy (p) on m; Joe Mondragon (b) on m; Shelly Manne (d) on m; Jack Costanzo (cga) on a-f, h-m; Woody Herman Orchestra (acc) on m.

Songs

Cole and company play a chorus of "How High The Moon" and are then joined by the entire Herman ensemble for a bit of "More Moon". Unfortunately, this performance is incomplete on the surviving AFRS transcription.

Nat Cole (v, p), Woody Herman (cl), Sam Marowitz (as), Jimmy Giuffre, Don Lanphere, Buddy Savitt (ts), Serge Chaloff (bar), Ed Badgley, Buddy Childers, Stan Fishelson, Shorty Rogers, Charlie Walp (t), Bill Harris, Earl Swope, Ollie Wilson (tb), Milt Jackson (vib), Irving Ashby (g), Joe Comfort (b), Shelly Manne (d), Jack Costanzo (bgo, cga), Woody Herman Orchestra (acc)

g, h  performed as medley

Nat Cole (v) on a-b, d, f-h, l; Woody Herman (cl) on o; Sam Marowitz (as) on o; Jimmy Giuffre (ts) on o; Don Lanphere (ts) on o; Buddy Savitt (ts) on o; Serge Chaloff (bar) on o; Ed Badgley (t) on o; Buddy Childers (t) on o; Stan Fishelson (t) on o; Shorty Rogers (t) on o; Charlie Walp (t) on o; Bill Harris (tb) on o; Earl Swope (tb) on o; Ollie Wilson (tb) on o; Milt Jackson (vib) on o; Shelly Manne (d) on o; Woody Herman Orchestra (acc) on o.

AFRS Pressings

This concert was originally pressed by the AFRS, but the series number for those discs remains unknown at this time.

Walter Alfred Wettler (eng), Nat Cole (v, p), Irving Ashby (g), Joe Comfort (b), Jack Costanzo (bgo)

f, g;   k, l  performed as medleys

Nat Cole (v) on b-d, l, n-p.

Song Order

This session is presented with the performance order used for the CD issue. The ordering differs from the original LP and contains additional material. It is unlikely, though, that the show started with "Nothing To Fret About".

Songs

Teubig calls "Bluesology" a 'St. Louis Blues' riff repeat.

1950 European Tour

This concert was recorded for Radio Switzerland and is the only extant recording from the group's 1950 tour of Europe. Both Holmes and Teubig list an earlier concert recorded in Stockholm by Radio Sweden on October 16, but no releases are indicated. The songs listed are:

Nothing To Fret About
Too Marvelous For Words
Poor Butterfly
My Foolish Heart
Tiny's Exercise
Lillette
Home

Further, Holmes list a radio show by the BBC of September 22, 1950, but none of these performances have yet to surface either. These include:

Sweet Lorraine
Little Girl
Portrait of Jennie
Old King Cole
Frosty The Snowman
Mona Lisa
C'est Si Bon
Home
It's Only A Paper Moon
The Christmas Song

Nat Cole, Sarah Vaughan (v), Jimmy Hamilton (cl, ts), Russell Procope (cl, as), Willie Smith (as), Paul Gonsalves (ts), Harry Carney (bar), Harold 'Shorty' Baker, Willie Cook, Ray Nance, Clark Terry (t), Quentin 'Butter' Jackson, Britt Woodman (tb), Juan Tizol (vtb), Duke Ellington (p, spk), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris, Wendell Marshall (b), Louie Bellson (d), Jack Costanzo (bgo, cga)

Nat Cole (v), unknown (acc)

Nat Cole (v, p), Les Spann (f), Jerome Richardson (ww, ts), Porter Kilbert, Phil Woods (as), Budd Johnson (ts), Sahib Shihab (bar), Benny Bailey, Irv Bush, Roger Guérin, Lennie Johnson, Floyd Standifer (t), Julius Watkins (frh), Jimmy Cleveland, Quentin 'Butter' Jackson, Melba Liston, Åke Persson (tb), Patti Brown (p), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d), others unknown (acc), Quincy Jones (con)

Les Spann (f) on b; Jerome Richardson (ww) on a-c, g-h, (ts) on a-c, g-h; Porter Kilbert (as) on a-c, g-h; Phil Woods (as) on a-c, g-h; Budd Johnson (ts) on a-c, g-h; Sahib Shihab (bar) on a-c, g-h; Benny Bailey (t) on a-c, g-h; Irv Bush (t) on a-c, g-h; Roger Guérin (t) on a-c, g-h; Lennie Johnson (t) on a-c, g-h; Floyd Standifer (t) on a-c, g-h; Julius Watkins (frh) on a-c, g-h; Jimmy Cleveland (tb) on a-c, g-h; Quentin 'Butter' Jackson (tb) on a-c, g-h; Melba Liston (tb) on a-c, g-h; Åke Persson (tb) on a-c, g-h; Patti Brown (p) on a-c, g-h; Nat Cole (p) on a, d-f; others unknown (acc) on b-c; Quincy Jones (con) on a-c, g-h.

Personnel

Quincy Jones's rhythm section of Les Spann (g), Buddy Catlett (b), Joe Harris (d), and Patti Brown (p), were all substituted out during Cole's portion of the concert. Brown was the only exception, remaining on to play piano on those numbers where Cole did not accompany himself.

While it is reasonable to assume that Jerome Richardson doubled and Les Spann played flute on a few numbers, it's not known if other members of the sax section also doubled.

Performances b-c. feature a small string section, probably five pieces, that augmented the Jones band.

Nat Cole (v, p), Les Spann (f), Jerome Richardson (ww, ts), Porter Kilbert, Phil Woods (as), Budd Johnson (ts), Sahib Shihab (bar), Benny Bailey, Irv Bush, Roger Guérin, Lennie Johnson, Floyd Standifer (t), Julius Watkins (frh), Jimmy Cleveland, Quentin 'Butter' Jackson, Melba Liston, Åke Persson (tb), Patti Brown (p), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d), others unknown (acc), Quincy Jones (con)

Les Spann (f) on b; Jerome Richardson (ww) on a-c, g-i, (ts) on a-c, g-i; Porter Kilbert (as) on a-c, g-i; Phil Woods (as) on a-c, g-i; Budd Johnson (ts) on a-c, g-i; Sahib Shihab (bar) on a-c, g-i; Benny Bailey (t) on a-c, g-i; Irv Bush (t) on a-c, g-i; Roger Guérin (t) on a-c, g-i; Lennie Johnson (t) on a-c, g-i; Floyd Standifer (t) on a-c, g-i; Julius Watkins (frh) on a-c, g-i; Jimmy Cleveland (tb) on a-c, g-i; Quentin 'Butter' Jackson (tb) on a-c, g-i; Melba Liston (tb) on a-c, g-i; Åke Persson (tb) on a-c, g-i; Patti Brown (p) on a-c, g-i; Nat Cole (p) on a-f; others unknown (acc) on b-c; Quincy Jones (con) on a-c, g-i.

Personnel

See note from previous session.

Song Order

It's unlikely Cole would close the concert with "Thou Swell" unless it was performed as an encore.

Eddie Brunner (eng), Nat Cole (v, p), Les Spann (f), Jerome Richardson (ww, ts), Porter Kilbert, Phil Woods (as), Budd Johnson (ts), Sahib Shihab (bar), Benny Bailey, Irv Bush, Roger Guérin, Lennie Johnson, Floyd Standifer (t), Julius Watkins (frh), Jimmy Cleveland, Quentin 'Butter' Jackson, Melba Liston, Åke Persson (tb), Patti Brown (p), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d), others unknown (acc), Quincy Jones (con)

Nat Cole (v) on a-b, f-g, i-j, (p) on c-e, g-i; Les Spann (f) on a, f; Jerome Richardson (ww) on a-b, f, j, (ts) on a-b, f, i; Porter Kilbert (as) on a-b, f, j; Phil Woods (as) on a-b, f, j; Budd Johnson (ts) on a-b, f, j; Sahib Shihab (bar) on a-b, f, j; Benny Bailey (t) on a-b, f, j; Irv Bush (t) on a-b, f, j; Roger Guérin (t) on a-b, f, j; Lennie Johnson (t) on a-b, f, j; Floyd Standifer (t) on a-b, f, j; Julius Watkins (frh) on a-b, f, j; Jimmy Cleveland (tb) on a-b, f, j; Quentin 'Butter' Jackson (tb) on a-b, f, j; Melba Liston (tb) on a-b, f, j; Åke Persson (tb) on a-b, f, j; Patti Brown (p) on a-b, f, j; John Collins (g) on a-c, e-j; Charlie Harris (b) on a-c, e-j; Lee Young (d) on a-c, e-j; others unknown (acc) on a.

Personnel

As was done in Paris, Quincy Jones's rhythm section were substituted out during Cole's portion of the concert. Patti Brown was the only exception, remaining on to play piano for the numbers where Cole did not accompany himself.

While it is reasonable to assume that Jerome Richardson doubled and Les Spann played flute on a few numbers, it isn't known if other members of the sax section also doubled.

The 'others unknown' accompaniment on "Unforgettable" refers to a small string section, probably five pieces, that augmented the Jones band.

Nat Cole (v), others unknown (acc), Nelson Riddle (con)

Nat Cole (v), Reunald Jones (t), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d), others unknown (acc)

Date

Cole performed in Manila from May 24-27, 1961. This performance comes from one of those four nights. In his introduction to the song, which he sings in Tagalog, Cole says 'I didn't have time to learn the words completely, so I hope you don't mind if I sorta read the words off the music'. The performance recently surfaced on YouTube, although no other recordings from Manila are known to be circulating.

Nat Cole (v)

This performance is a parody of Lerner & Loewe's "I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face", with special lyrics by Sammy Cahn.

Nat Cole (v, cla, p), Reunald Jones (t), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), others unknown (acc), Antonio Morelli, Lee Young (con)

Nat Cole (cla) on f, (p) on b, h.

Although noteworthy for the Cole catalogue, this live set is not complete. Noticeably absent, at minimum, are two Jimmy Van Heusen songs Cole is known to have performed during his January 1962 run at the Sands: "Where Did Everyone Go?" and "I Won't Twist".

Nat Cole (v, cla, p), Reunald Jones (t), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Leon Petties (d), others unknown (acc), Joe Zito (con)

d, e, f, g;   k, l, m, n, o  performed as medleys

Nat Cole (v) on a-g, j-q, (cla) on c-d, (p) on h-i, m.

Dates

Cole played the Hacienda from January 4–13, 1963.

Venue

The 2000 Ovation CD erroneously reports the venue to be the Riverside Inn.

Nat Cole (v, cla, p), Reunald Jones (t), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Leon Petties (d), Nobua Hara And His Sharps And Flats, others unknown (acc), Joe Zito (con)

Nat Cole (v) on a-m, o-q, (cla) on f, (p) on m-n.

Nat Cole (v), Reunald Jones (t), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Leon Petties (d), others unknown (acc), Joe Zito (con)

Dates

Cole played Seoul from March 1–3, so these recordings stem from one or more of these shows.

Nat Cole (v, cla, p), The Merry Young Souls (bkv), Reunald Jones (t), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Leon Petties (d), others unknown (acc), Joe Zito (con)

e, f, g, h  performed as medley

Nat Cole (v) on a-i, l-q, (cla) on d-e, (p) on i-k; The Merry Young Souls (bkv) on n, q.

This recording, which has circulated privately for years, captures one half of a concert Cole gave as part of his Sights & Sounds '63 tour. Unfortunately, the first act was not captured, nor was the second song of the final act, "And The Angels Sing".

Nat Cole (v, cla), Jack Sperling (d), others unknown (acc), Henry Mancini (con), Milton Berle (mc)

Nat Cole (cla) on d.

Personnel

The arrangement of "Get Me To The Church On Time" is a slightly scaled down club arrangement of Ralph Carmichael's score for the My Fair Lady album. The arrangement exists at the Schomburg Library in New York, but the finding aid does not list who produced the club arrangement, although it may have been Carmichael himself.

Similarly, Cole's live arrangement of "When I Fall In Love" is heavily indebted to Gordon Jenkins' 1956 chart, though it isn't known with any certainty who is responsible for adapting the earlier arrangement.