RICHIE COLE... master of the sax, a brilliant arranger and composer, an educator, founder and director of The Alto Madness Orchestra. He was awarded a scholarship to Berklee College of Music in 1966 and went on to become lead sax with Buddy Rich, Lionel Hampton and Doc Severinsen.
In 1975, Richie teamed up his hard-driving bebop alto sax jazz with vocalese jazz great Eddie Jefferson and they enjoyed a highly successful worldwide tour. With more than 3,000 compositions and arrangements to his credit today, Richie Cole created The Alto Madness Orchestra in the early 1990's to feature seven instruments, and rhythm section with four horns. Cole has built his arrangements with the group in mind to allow more room for improvisation than in a traditional eighteen-piece big band, yet it achieves “that BIG BAND sound”.
Cole has performed with The Manhattan Transfer, Bobby Enriquez, Freddie Hubbard, Sonny Stitt, Boots Randolph and Nancy Wilson. Cole’s knowledge is revered in Master Classes at universities and colleges throughout the world. Richie Cole has performed all over the world and recorded more than 50 albums. He is heralded by critics and fans wherever he goes, and draws a crowd whenever he performs.
“Richie Cole is the last of a breed— A fast and competitive musical gunslinger acquiring legendary status for his willingness to demonstrate his command of Charlie Parker's bebop language by taking on all comers at any speed…
—All About Jazz
Photography by Candace J. Wilkinson
What a thrill! Richie Cole with Sonny Rollins backstage with his hero at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Orange County, California. —September 25, 2011.
Richie Cole plays Selmer saxophones