[SYN-035]
If you're like most people, chances are you associate Nat "King" Cole first and foremost with lushly orchestrated pop ballads like "Mona Lisa" and "Unforgettable." But that stuff's only part of the story. Before Cole turned to full-blown pop in the 1950s, he led a remarkable series of small jazz groups that showcased his bubbly piano playing and ever-suave singing. And it's music from that earlier era, captured on both studio recordings and radio transcriptions, that makes up the track list of this disc. Of all the music he made in his short life - he died of lung cancer in February 1965 - it's the trio work that stands out, boasting a joie de vivre that's… well, unforgettable. — Mac Randall