Whatever reason that stalled the ascent of Canadian vocalist Holly Cole to the pinnacle of the jazz/pop pantheon inhabited by Diana Krall and Norah Jones wasn't caused by a lack of talent. Cole is a far better vocalist than either of them; as a stylist and an interpreter, Cole's readings of Cole Porter, Rodgers & Hart, Oscar Hammerstein, Lerner & Loewe, Johnny Mercer, Brian Wilson, Irving Berlin, Tom Waits, and so forth are intensely original, full of emotion, su   [ read more ]

CD $23.73

On her third American album, Holly Cole turned in a set of Tom Waits songs recorded with an augmented version of her trio; in addition to piano and bass, there are drums and guitar, as well as the occasional contribution from The Canadian Brass and harmonica player Howard Levy. The result puts a welcome twist on the songs, which include numbers from each stage of Waits's career, and reasserts Cole's talent as an interpreter. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

CD $11.38

Holly Cole's debut recording is a delight. Although she infuses a variety of standards with sensuality (including "If I Were a Bell," "On the Street Where You Live," "Honeysuckle Rose" and "I'll Be Seeing You"), she is also clearly laughing at her image at the same time. Joined by pianist Aaron Davis and bassist David Piltch with guest appearances by violinist Johnny Frigo (on two songs) and bass clarinetist Robert Stevenson (for one), Cole's interpretations of the mostly veteran materi   [ read more ]

CD $11.38

Although a few songs on Dark Dear Heart are ill-suited for Holly Cole's style -- nothing Sheryl Crow has written could translate to a cocktail jazz setting -- the album remains another solid entry in her catalog, illustrating that she is one of the best interpretative singers of the '90s. ~ Leo Stanley, All Music Guide

CD $11.38

As leader of the Holly Cole Trio, the smoky-voiced jazz chanteuse has created an impressive catalog over the last decade with her longtime cohorts Aaron Davis (piano) and David Piltch (string bass), seamlessly mixing blues, pop, and jazz. This collection gathers tunes which allow the sultry singer to stand out above sparse yet often playful arrangements. The first three tracks epitomize the diversity of her approach. On "Trust in Me," she plays it subtle and sly, asking her lover to "trust in me   [ read more ]

CD $16.13

Holly Cole explores a number of styles on her second album, Don't Smoke in Bed, without overreaching her grasp. Adding pop, blues, country, and a French ballad to her standard, low-key jazz, Cole demonstrates that not only does she have impeccable taste, but she has the talent to make all of the material sound convincing. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

CD $11.38

CD $23.73

Whatever reason that stalled the ascent of Canadian vocalist Holly Cole to the pinnacle of the jazz/pop pantheon inhabited by Diana Krall and Norah Jones wasn't caused by a lack of talent. Cole is a far better vocalist than either of them; as a stylist and an interpreter, Cole's readings of Cole Porter, Rodgers & Hart, Oscar Hammerstein, Lerner & Loewe, Johnny Mercer, Brian Wilson, Irving Berlin, Tom Waits, and so forth are intensely original, full of emotion, su   [ read more ]

CD $44.63

Girl Talk was recorded live to two-track using a single microphone. The liner notes state that Holly Cole's intention in doing so was to preserve the "quintessence of her live performances," and the result is dazzlingly successful. The air of intimacy between artist and listener is so great that, if anything, the feeling of being present in the moment is greater here than on the 1996 live album It Happened One Night. On an album recorded "live in concert," the ambient noises that occur when a large   [ read more ]

CD $19.93

CD $20.88

Holly Cole has always been a difficult vocalist to categorize because of her eclectic taste in music. But this self-titled CD, first issued by Alert in 2007 and reissued in early 2008 by Koch, finds her accompanied by various configurations of small bands, mostly with brass and reeds supplied by a number of top New York session players, with a host of arrangers involved, including Cole herself, pianist Gil Goldstein, saxophonist Marty Ehrlich, and other musicians who took part in the sessi   [ read more ]

CD $17.08

CD $20.88