Cozy Cole
Source:
Ecstatic Presentation
Born on 17 October 1909 in New Jersey, drummer Cozy Cole began his professional career in 1928 by joining the Wilbur Sweatman band. In 1930 he joined Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers, with whom he recorded for the first time that year on March 5 in NYC: 'Each Day' (two takes: Victor 23351 and Gannet 5552), 'If Someone Would Only Love Me' (Victor 23321), 'That Will Never Do' (Victor 23019) and 'I'm Looking for a Little Bluebird' (Victor 23004). His next session with Morton on June 2 yielded Cole's drum solos on two takes of 'Load of Coal' (Victor 23429) among others.
'Each Day' Cozy Cole w Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers
Cole's first-known recording
5 March 1930 in NYC Matrix 59504-1 Victor 23351
Trumpet: Ward Pinkett Trombone: Wilbur DeParis
Clarinet / bass clarinet: Ernie Bullock or Jerry Blake
Piano: Jelly Roll Morton Guitar: Bernard Addison
Tuba: Billy Taylor Sr. Drums: Cozy Cole
Composition: Morton
'Load of Coal' Cozy Cole w Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers
2 June 1930 in NYC Matrix 62183-1 Victor 23429
Trumpet: Ward Pinkett Trombone: Geechie Fields
Clarinet: Happy Caldwell / Walter "Foots" Thomas (baritone sax)
Alto sax: Joe Thomas Piano: Jelly Roll Morton Banjo: Lee Blair
Tuba: Billy Taylor Sr. Drums: Cozy Cole
Composition: Morton
'These Foolish Things' Cozy Cole w Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra
30 June 1936 in NYC Matrix B19496-2 Brunswick 7699 / Columbia C3L21
Trumpet: Jonah Jones
Alto sax: Johnny Hodges Baritone sax: Harry Carney
Piano: Teddy Wilson Guitar: Lawrence "Larry" Lucie
Bass: John Kirby Drums: Cozy Cole Vocal: Billie Holiday
Music: Jack Strachey Lyrics: Holt Marvell (Eric Maschwitz)
'Here Comes the Man with the Jive' Cozy Cole w Stuff Smith and his Onyx Club Boys
21 Aug 1936 in NYC Matrix 19733-1 Vocalion 3316
Trumpet: Jonah Jones
Piano: James Sherman Violin: Stuff Smith (vocal) Guitar: Bobby Bennett
Bass: Mack Walker Drums: Cozy Cole Vocal: Billie Holiday
Composition: Stuff Smith / Jack Palmer
'The Ghost of Smokey Joe' Cozy Cole w Cab Calloway
28 March 1939 in NYC Matrix WM-1011-1 Vocalion 4807 / Bandstand BS7125
Trumpet: Shad Collins / Irving Randolph / Lammar Wright / Doc Cheatham
Trombone: Claude Jones / Keg Johnson / De Priest Wheeler
Clarinet / alto sax: Chauncey Haughton / Andrew Brown
Tenor sax: Walter Thomas / Chu Berry
Piano: Bennie Payne Guitar: Danny Barker
Bass: Milton Hinton Drums: Cozy Cole Vocal: Cab Calloway
Music: Rube Bloom Lyrics: Ted Koehler
'One Sweet Letter from You' Cozy Cole w Lionel Hampton and his Orchestra
11 Sep 1939 in NYC Matrix 041407-1 Victor 26393
Trumpet: Dizzy Gillespie Alto sax: Benny Carter (arrangement)
Tenor sax: Coleman Hawkins / Chu Berry / Ben Webster
Piano: Clyde Hart Vibes: Lionel Hampton (vocal) Guitar: Charlie Christian
Bass: Milton Hinton Drums: Cozy Cole
Composition: Lew Brown / Sidney Clare / Harry Warren
'Are You Hep to the Jive?' Cozy Cole w Cab Calloway
28 Aug 1940 in NYC Matrix 28515-1 Okeh 5804
Trumpet: Mario Bauza / Dizzy Gillespie / Lamar Wright
Trombone: Quentin Jackson / Keg Johnson / Tyree Glenn (vibes)
Reeds: Jerry Blake / Hilton Jefferson / Andrew Brown / Chu Berry / Walter Thomas
Piano: Bennie Payne Guitar: Danny Barker
Bass: Milton Hinton Drums: Cozy Cole Vocal: Cab Calloway
Music: Rube Bloom Lyrics: Ted Koehler
Cole's first known name recordings as a band leader were on February 22, 1944, in NYC with his All Stars: 'Blue Moon', 'Father Co-operates', 'Just One More Chance' and 'Thru' for the Night'. He later recorded with Benny Goodman and Ella Fitzgerald before joining Louis Armstrong's All-Stars in 1949.
'Just One More Chance' Cozy Cole and his All Stars
22 Feb 1944 in NYC Matrix HLK19-2 Keynote 1300 Billboard R&B: #10
Trumpet: Joe Thomas Trombone: Trummy Young
Tenor sax: Coleman Hawkins Piano: Earl Hines
Guitar: Teddy Walters Bass: Billy Taylor Drums: Cozy Cole
Composition: Sam Coslow / Arthur Johnston
'A Song Was Born' Cozy Cole w Louis Armstrong and his All Stars
WCAU radio broadcast of 2 Aug 1949 Philadelphia PA
Trumpet: Louis Armstrong (vocal) Trombone: Jack Teagarden (vocal)
Clarinet: Barney Bigard Piano: Earl Hines
Guitar: Teddy Walters Bass: Arvell Shaw Drums: Cozy Cole
Composition: Don Raye / Gene DePaul
Cole made a cameo appearance in the 'The Glenn Miller Story' premiering on 4 January 1954 in Japan (10 Feb 1954 in the States), Gene Krupa and Ben Pollack also in cameo. In March of 1954 Cole opened a drumming school with Krupa, remaining in business until Krupa's death in 1973.
In 1957 Cole toured Europe with Earl Hines and Jack Teagarden, visiting England and France. The latter sixties and early seventies saw albums made with trumpeter, Jonah Jones. Tom Lord traces Cole to as late as 5 October 1977 recording the album, 'Lionel Hampton Presents Cozy Cole & Marty Napoleon'.
'Stars Fell on Alabama' Cozy Cole w Jack Teagarden-Earl Hines All Stars
5 Oct 1957 at Free Trade Hall in Manchester Jazz Crusade JCCD-3131 (CD)
Trumpet: Max Kaminsky Trombone: Jack Teagarden (vocal)
Clarinet: Peanuts Hucko Piano: Earl Hines
Bass: Jack Lesberg Drums: Cozy Cole
Music: Frank Perkins Lyrics: Mitchell Parish 1934
'Topsy II' Cozy Cole and His Orchestra
1958 Matrix SAL5004 Love 5004 Billboard R&B: #1
Trumpet: Bernie Privin Trombone: Urbie Green
Clarinet / tenor sax: Peanuts Hucko Piano: Burton "Burt" Farber
Guitar: Al Caiola Bass: Jack Lesberg Drums: Cozy Cole
Composition: Edgar Battle / Eddie Durham
'A Cozy Conception of Carmen' Cozy Cole and His Orchestra
Album recorded 1961 Charlie Parker PLP403
Trumpet: George Holt Trombone: Bernie Privin (flugelhorn)
Clarinet / sax: Jerome Richardson / Al Klink (bass) Tenor sax: Al Klink / John Hafer
Piano / organ: Bob Hammer Organ / arrangement: Dick Hyman
Bass: Milt Hinton / Jack Lesberg Drums: Cozy Cole
Percussion: Phil Kraus / Douglas Allen
'Cozy's Drums' Cozy Cole
From the film 'L'Aventure Du Jazz' recorded June 1970
See 'Drums Odyssey' by various on Jazz Odyssey JO 010
Musicians in this film include:
Trumpet: Pat Jenkins Trombone: Eli Robinson
Clarinet / sax: Ben Richardson / Buddy Tate
Guitar: George Baker
Electric bass: Ted Sturgis Drums: Cozy Cole
Library of Congress Library of Congress
'Cabaret' Cozy Cole w Lionel Hampton Last-known recordings
From the album 'Lionel Hampton Presents Cozy Cole & Marty Napoleon' recorded 5 Oct 1977
Trumpet: Johnny Letman Trombone: "Big Chief" Russell Moore
Clarinet / soprano sax: Joe Muranyi
Piano: Marty Napoleon Vibes: Lionel Hampton
Bass: Arvell Shaw Drums: Cozy Cole
Composition: Fred Ebb / John Kander
Cole was awarded an honorary degree from Capital University in Columbus in 1983, where he often lectured as well. He died of cancer on 9 January 1981 in Columbus, Ohio.
Sources & References for Cozy Cole:
arwulf arwulf (All Music)
VF History (notes)
Audio of Cole: Internet Archive
Billboard Charts: Music VF
Cole in Film: IMDb
Interviews: April 1980 (Bill Kirchner / audio / text)
Recordings: Catalogs: 45 Worlds Discogs RYM SHS
Recordings: Compilations:
Chronological Classics 1944 (1995 / audio)
Chronological Classics 1944-1945 (1996 / audio)
Recordings: Sessionographies:
DAHR (1930-1964)
Tom Lord: leading 30 of 338 sessions 1930-1977
Further Reading:
Cozy Cole in Memorium (Scott K. Fish / Modern Drummer / 1981)
Bibliography:
The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz (Leonard Feather / Ira Gitler / Oxford University Press / 2007)
Authority Search: VIAF
Other Profiles: Drummer World
Classical Main Menu Modern Recording
hmrproject (at) aol (dot) com