The Incomparable Nat “King” Cole

Forty-seven complete songs in 100 minutes? You do the math: at an average of little more than two minutes per tune, the hits (and non-hits too) come fast and furious in this black and white compilation drawn from Nat “King” Cole's 1957 NBC-TV series. There's precious little in the way of stage patter or any other incidental material here, just song after song after song, as buttery-smooth distinctive pop vocalist Cole draws from a wide-ranging repertoire, including many of his best known numbers: “Unforgettable,” “Mona Lisa,” “The Christmas Song” and so on, presented here in both Dolby Digital 5.1 and stereo. Sure, he occasionally veers toward the middle of the road (hey, even Louis Armstrong, arguably the greatest musician of the 20th century, recorded his share of schlock), but what's often overlooked is that Cole started out as a jazzman himself, and by far the best moments here come when he returns to those roots. What a pleasure it is to hear him sing and/or play (he was a fine pianist) with the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, the Mills Brothers, trumpeter Roy Eldridge, pianist Oscar Peterson, saxophonists Stan Getz and the remarkable Coleman Hawkins, bassist Ray Brown, and others. If tunes like “Stompin' at the Savoy,” “It's Only a Paper Moon,” and “Sweet Lorraine” don't get you swingin', then you better check your pulse to see if you're still alive. Definitely recommended. Aud: P. (S. Graham)