Track Listing

1. Answer Me, My Love
2. Embraceable You
3. Unforgettable
4. Too Young
5. Mona Lisa
6. It's Only A Paper Moon
7. Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You
8. Cole After Midnight
9. I Concentrate On You
10. What Is This Thing Called Love
11. It's De Lovely
12. I've Got You Under My Skin
13. Ace In The Hole
14. You're The Top
15. It's All Right With Me
16. Answer Me, My Love

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #200860 in Music
• Released on: 2001-06-26
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
In an interesting partnering in elegance, Marcus Roberts continues his intellectual exploration of the piano trio in Cole After Midnight--a collection of arrangements honoring the music of Nat "King" Cole and Cole Porter. Roberts is a glimmer of hope amidst the current deluge of artists paying tribute to Nat "King" Cole, having built a career on clever, modern interpretations of conservative standards. However, he handles this tribute with a bit too much reverence. The pianist has the extraordinary ability to cohesively cite the whole of jazz history within a single composition, but his scholarly appreciation fails to reference the brightness of Mr. Cole's trio work. Roberts has recorded Gershwin's "Embraceable You" before (on 1992's If I Could Be with You)--a sweet, deceptive interpretation far more successful than what he's offering here. Despite the witty hand-drum treatment of "Mona Lisa" and the wonderful bass exchange of Roland Guerin and Thaddeus Expose on "Paper Moon," this album doesn't start to breathe until Roberts's own energetic original, "Cole After Midnight." Once free of honoring the master of piano trios, this group sets off on a number of smartly arranged Cole Porter tunes. The sultriness of "I Concentrate on You" sidles smoothly into the funky "What Is This Thing Called Love," which showcases the sharpness of drummer Jason Marsalis. Roland Guerin hands over a rare delicacy of a slap bass solo on "It's DeLovely." Roberts takes it alone on "You're the Top," playing with a postmodern meld of a Morton-on-Monk style that is all his own. While not the best showcase of Roberts's talent and insight, this album contains many satisfying moments. --Susan Lewandowski

Customer Reviews

solid, but not outstanding
mr. roberts returns to the format he used on his previous album, "gershwin for lovers" for this set of cole porter standards with a couple of originals thrown in for good measure. the results are a fine reading of the porter songbook with each tune easily recognizable and downright hummable. but therein lies a problem. in the best standards collections, the tunes are revealed in the first couple of bars, but then the artist gives their own interpretation illuminating their own personal spin and relationship with each song--a fine example being any of the keith jarrett "standards" sessions, or even mr. roberts' gershwin set. mr. roberts offers very little new or extraordinary in his solos, and with eleven of the tracks weighing in four minutes or less, there really isn't much room for exploration. oh, well... if you love cole porter, this is a great set. if you love cole porter and jazz exploration of mr. porter's songbook, go with oscar peterson or mr. jarrett.

Well Planned
Roberts attacks this project to honor Porter and Cole with analytical skill, and succeeds in educating, if not thrilling the listener.

The liner notes were among the best I have seen, as Roberts lays out his project, goals, and tactics on every song. Very informative.

He also seems committed to letting the trio flex its muscles, so that we get a lot of variety in drumming styles, a lot of work for the bass, including duets and interesting solos.

There is also care taken to blend the music, with interesting bookend versions of "Answer Me, My Love," some great interludes, and the very good original bridge "Cole After Midnight."

Structurally, this is a very sound album, leaving only personal taste to judge between a 3-star and 5-star effort. I come down in the middle.

"latin to jazz...and back again"
Before I really get into this review...would like to point out the highlight of this CD..."WHAT IS THIS THING CALLED LOVE", Marcus gives this standard tune his all, great arrangement and outstanding performance...Sinatra put this tune on the charts with his signature style, but there is something about Roberts rendition, grabs you and doesn't let go.

There is a lot of Ella on many of the tracks...being one of my favorites, think this might be the case with our pianist...Marcus backup is truly terrific ~ Roland Guerin (bass), Thaddeus Expose' (bass), Jason Marsalis (drums), Leon Anderson (drums), listen as this group mix the perfect ingredients for a Jazz trip down the avenue known as "Cole!"

Total Time: 65:21 on 16 Tracks ~ Sony/Columbia CK-69781 ~ (2001)