Where's Anthony Cole?

[sgabor]

Does anyone know what "happened" to Anthony Cole? I haven't heared his name since he quit(?) the Sam Rivers trio. I love his work, but couldn't find any albums w. him except for those of Rivers' ensembles. Did he record anything before/after those?
Thanks,
Gábor

[Pete C]

A search reveals that he works with several bands in central Florida, not all jazz.

[bigtiny]

Originally Posted by sgabor

Does anyone know what "happened" to Anthony Cole? I haven't heared his name since he quit(?) the Sam Rivers trio. I love his work, but couldn't find any albums w. him except for those of Rivers' ensembles. Did he record anything before/after those?
Thanks,
Gábor

anthony's what you call a 'free spirit'...he plays several instruments...quite well. His mother is a well regarded blues singer in Florida whose name escapes me at the moment.

We used to play shows with Sam's trio every now and then...I remember at the time that Anthony didn't even own a set of drums, and was sleeping on friends' couches. I don't think this was purely a financial requirement....I remember one night, after the concert he was heading to Tampa to play another instrument (I think it might have been electric bass) with a funk band....

bigtiny

[bigtiny]

Originally Posted by bigtiny

anthony's what you call a 'free spirit'...he plays several instruments...quite well. His mother is a well regarded blues singer in Florida whose name escapes me at the moment.

We used to play shows with Sam's trio every now and then...I remember at the time that Anthony didn't even own a set of drums, and was sleeping on friends' couches. I don't think this was purely a financial requirement....I remember one night, after the concert he was heading to Tampa to play another instrument (I think it might have been electric bass) with a funk band....

bigtiny

Oh...and for anyone who hasn't heard him...he's a BEAST of a drummer. A friend of mine told me that a few years ago the trio went to NY to play a gig and then there were also some recording sessions and gigs with a big band made up of NY based guys.

My friend told me that by the end of the week Anthony had several offers to play with the who's who of NY jazz/avante players...but I guess he likes the Sunshine state! =:-)

bigtiny

[me wag]

He pretty much knocked me out when he played at the University of North Texas a couple of years back with the Sam Rivers Trio. In the first part he played with one of the UNT student ensembles and I could tell the student drummer was practically embarrassed to play after seeing what Cole had just displayed on his drumset.

[Pete C]

Originally Posted by bigtiny

A friend of mine told me that a few years ago the trio went to NY to play a gig and then there were also some recording sessions and gigs with a big band made up of NY based guys.

Those big band recordings are pretty limp compared to the performances by the Florida big band. I think they didn't have adequate rehearsal time for what are some pretty demanding charts.

[sgabor]

"he's a BEAST of a drummer" - exactly!
thanks.
gábor

[bigtiny]

Originally Posted by Pete C

Those big band recordings are pretty limp compared to the performances by the Florida big band. I think they didn't have adequate rehearsal time for what are some pretty demanding charts.

Yeah well, you're probably right. Sam's Orlando band used to (I don't know what's going on these days) practice every week when he was in town. It's one of my great near misses with fame that I almost got asked at the last minute to make a 2 hour drive to play with the band once. I never knew until I was talking to Sam's assistant about it after a gig several months later...ha ha....=:-) I DID have eyes to play in that band though....

bigtiny

[Call Me Carl]

I suppose ya'll know that Anthony hooked up with JJ Grey & MOFRO back in April. He's been touring with them, and is the drummer on their upcoming new album "Orange Blossoms" due out end of August. People who've attended their shows are saying AC is grooving and having a great time on the road as part of the band. There's a fansite with what's happening with MOFRO at www.mofrofans.com.