Alexis Cole

Alexis Cole
Born (1976-01-28) January 28, 1976
Queens, New York, U.S.
Genres Jazz, swing
Occupation(s) Singer
Years active 1999–present
Labels Motéma, Venus, Chesky
Website www.alexiscole.com

Alexis Cole is an American jazz singer.

Career

Cole was born in Queens, New York. Her father and grandmother were both jazz singers and pianists. Her family moved to Florida, where she became a member of an award-winning high school choir. In 1994, she graduated from the New World School of the Arts in Miami. While in her teens, she began her professional career performing at a hotel in South Beach. In 1996, she graduated from William Paterson University.[1]

Her debut album, Very Early (1999), was recorded with Harry Pickens and independently released, and her second album, Nearer the Sun (2005) was recorded with Ben Stivers. In 2006, she received a graduate degree from Queens College. She taught at several schools: University of San Francisco, University of North Carolina, Queens College, and at a program in Quito, Ecuador, run by the Berklee College of Music.[1]

Cole spent most of the next two years singing in Japan. In 2009 she enlisted and sang with the U.S. Army until 2015. After leaving the Army she taught at the State University of New York at Purchase.[2][3]

In 2016 she released a tribute to Paul Simon entitled Dazzling Blue[4], which debuted at No. 24 on the Billboard jazz chart.[5]

Discography

  • Very Early (self-release, 1999)
  • Nearer the Sun (Canopy Jazz, 2005)
  • Zingaro (Canopy Jazz, 2007)
  • The Greatest Gift: Songs of the Season (Motéma, 2009)
  • Someday My Prince Will Come (Venus, 2010) with Fred Hersch
  • Turning Points (USMA, 2010) with The Jazz Knights
  • You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To (Venus, 2011; re-released 2015) with One for All
  • I Carry Your Heart: Alexis Cole Sings Pepper Adams (Motéma, 2012)
  • Close Your Eyes: The Sultry Sound of Jazz (Venus, 2013)
  • A Kiss in the Dark (Chesky, 2014)
  • A Beautiful Friendship (Venus, 2015) with Bucky Pizzarelli
  • Dazzling Blue: The Music of Paul Simon (Chesky, 2016)[6]

References

  1. 1 2 Nastos, Michael G. "Alexis Cole". AllMusic. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  2. ↑ Lorge, Suzanne (19 October 2017). "The Dazzling Alexis Cole". All About Jazz. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  3. ↑ Kolb, Elzy (6 February 2015). "Peekskill's Alexis Cole Wanted A Career In Music. So She Joined The Army". Westchester magazine. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  4. ↑ Harris, George W. (28 March 2016). "Alexis Cole: Dazzling Blue". Jazz Weekly. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  5. ↑ "Jazz Music: Top Jazz Albums & Songs Chart". Billboard.com. 7 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  6. ↑ "Alexis Cole | Album Discography | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
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