The single is No. 2 as the “Turn It Up” album hits Friday and the concert tour takes off.
When saxman Steve Cole takes the stage Friday night at the Norfolk Waterfront Jazz Festival in Norfolk, Virginia, he will celebrate the release of his eighth album, “Turn It Up,” while on the precipice of adding another No. 1 Billboard single to his burgeoning catalogue of hits. The Artistry Music release produced by long-time Cole collaborator David Mann arrives Friday as the first single, the riveting aural oeuvre “Mirage,” holds the second spot ready to claim the peak position from Cole’s Sax Pack colleague Marcus Anderson.
“Mirage” casts a transcendent spell with a futuristic foray that projects Cole’s improvisational jazz horn onto a screen of ambient tones and throbbing club beats. The single, along with the exuberant Chicago house music salute “Workhouse,” is a divergent excursion from the ten-track collection brimful of frothy pop melodies and voluminous horns over soul-powered R&B undercurrents. Recorded in three booming metropolises - New York City, Chicago and Minneapolis – that helped shape the eight compositions authored or co-authored by Cole, “Turn It Up” includes contributions from Nicholas Cole (“Turn It Up!”), Pieces of a Dream’s James Lloyd (“Bright Side”) and Ricky Peterson (“Workhouse”). Of note is a vintage take of Bobby Womack’s seductive “Woman’s Gotta Have It.”
Cole’s “Turn It Up” concert trek has dates to keep the Chicago-bred, Minneapolis-based artist playing festivals, theaters and clubs across the nation in support of the disc through November.
Cole was recently interviewed for a feature segment on the nationally-syndicated “Dave Koz Radio Show.” Below is a smattering of the initial “Turn It Up” album reviews:
“On the money throughout, this is the cure for anyone suffering with a severe sax deficiency that needs smoothing out post haste. Well done stuff that fans will immediately recognize as the real deal.” – Midwest Record Recap
“Make no mistake ‘Turn It Up’ is the real contemporary jazz deal and with musical contributions from Mann, Bernd Schoenhart on guitar, Ricky Peterson with Hammond B3 and Cole’s fellow Chicago cats bass-man Lamar Jones and drummer Khari Parker this one comes hugely recommended.” – Smooth Jazz Therapy
“Cole is one of those true standout artists who really intrigue me with their deep expression of love for this music via their respective instruments. In Cole’s case, the sax really does become an extension of him, and he brings that through loud and clear on this and all of his previous recordings.” – The Smooth Jazz Ride
“On Turn It Up there is tried and tested, but also pioneering music. Steve Cole has understood that one must not stop, but has to evolve conceptually to remain viable for the future.” – Smooth Jazz Daily
“You'll want to get your hands on a copy of his latest release, "Turn It Up"...His signature sax harmonies and up-beat melodies take over and has just the right snap and sauciness to have you craving more.” – Smooth Jazz Magazine
“An album with energizing smooth jazz melodies and hooky harmonies in a sauce of soulful R&B!” – Keys & Chords
“Really rather delightful, and perfect for summer new album.” – Exclusive Magazine
“A perfect summation of what contemporary smooth jazz is all about.” – Soul and Jazz and Funk
Catch Cole in concert on the following dates:
July 15 Norfolk, VA Norfolk Waterfront Jazz Festival
July 16 Mableton, GA Wade Ford Concert Series – Mable House
July 21 Houston, TX Martini Blu
August 6 Honolulu, HI Liliu Theater at Hawaii Convention Center
August 14 Long Beach, CA Long Beach Jazz Festival
August 17 Dearborn, MI Jazz on the Ave
August 18 Philadelphia, PA South Jazz Club
August 20 San Antonio, TX The Big Bib Too
September 3 Pensacola, FL Community Maritime Park
September 16 Denver, CO Soiled Dove Underground
September 24 Melbourne, FL Studio Theatre at the Maxwell C. King Center
October 15-16 Rehoboth Beach, DE Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival
November 26 Rancho Mirage, CA Westin Mission Hills
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