I am gobsmacked. I never thought Nat King Cole did a duet with Patti Page! And what a duet! A counterpoint of two amazing songs! What a moment! Praise Jesus hahaha!
Love Nat King Cole forever and always. Such a class act and we mustn't forget his tremendous talent on the keys. I do have to say however that I think we perhaps never saw the full extent of Patti Page's vocal talent. She swings wonderfully here. The best selling female vocalist of the 1950s.
The pianist with Patti Page is Rocky Cole (Coluccio), a very talented pianist in his own right. His solo on Alvino Rey's 1946 "The Sheik of Araby" is awesome.
Absolutely Brilliant... Wow Nat King Cole performing this fabulous Al Jolson Classic from "The Jazz Singer" I LOVE to hear Nat's voice. Love this! Although rather just hear Nat sing♥️ Patti Page voice Beautiful too Thank you
My great great uncle played with Nat King Cole: Willie Smith. His niece is my Aunt Simona Allen. My aunt had Willie over to their house in year? . I loved Nat King Cole BEFORE, I knew that was my great great uncle Willie. My favorite album of course is After Midnight. : Nate last as a combi of any kind. Nats the one. Remember he BUILT CAPITOL records with all those trip hits from the 40's. When he had Oscar Moore on guitar. Oscar was BAAAAD! Abner took over but he wasn't Oscar Moore. Nat was the winner of the Esquire awards many times on PIANO. I never met my GG uncle or Willie and I never met Nat, but they were doing it. Superstars. RIP Aunt Simona and Uncle Harvey. I Iove you! NKC!!!!!
But ... howso virtuoso, Gene Krupa's hipster drumming after King Cole's intro lighthearted mellow sing is more apt for hail~ "Stormy Weather" than amid a ballad on balmy "Blue Skies."
It's an awesome clip. But it would be nice if the page owner corrected the description to include the names of the other great performers here: namely, Gene Krupa and Ben Webster in addition to Page and Cole. Also, as noted, it's a medley of more songs than what's been noted: "Blue Skies," "Lullaby of Birdland" and "Love Me or Leave Me."
Darn. Now I must look up the Route 66 tv episode of Ethel Waters to see what blues and jazz players were in it. I know they mixed things up some by pretending to play instruments they normally didn't.
Ever seen Ben Webster without his hat? That's the marvelous Illinois Jacquet playing that sweet improvisation of Blue Skies. Maybe his brother Robert on trumpet? I'm not certain. Absolutely not Ben Webster - who also had that big tenor sound...but a completely different approach to the instrument. Anyone know who the bass player is? That's Rocky Cole on the piano with Patti Page. Give a lot of credit to Patti Page and her producers. Putting jazz on teevee in the 1950s was a daring venture...not to mention blacks and whites together. We should remember that Nat King Cole, one of the best selling recording stars of all time, could not find a national sponsor for his television show. In any case...what a terrific romp. Too bad Gene Krupa was hidden behind the dancers.
Magic! Nat Cole, Gene Krupa, Ben Webster and Patti Paige (all sorely missed) together on one TV show! Please, someone, tell me when this show aired. I believe we never saw it over here in UK.
Who says blacks have no class? (Many do). Nat was the best. So, so talented. Better musician than a singer - if you can believe that. Wonder what he would say about the RAP CRAP "music" of today.
Just note: The tenor player is NOT Ben Webster. I don't know who he is- which is surprising as he is so good. Sounds a bit early Getzy, bit of Ben, bit of Hawk but not Ben. Thanks for the post
Warren Rand ...That's not the Vice-Pres. That's Illinois Jacquet aka "The Kid." Chubby Jackson, bass and Sweets Edison, trumpet. Gene Krupa on the drums.
