It was 1998.  I was a just beginning to really explore the world of smooth jazz.  We were all just beginning to here little bits from a guy named Steve Cole.  In June of 1999, he captured the hearts of 20,000 people at Capital Jazz Festival.  I was one of them.  First, he blew us all away on stage with Brian Culbertson, then he took the stage himself.  A lot of us went back home that weekend and promptly bought a copy of Stay Awhile, Cole’s debut CD.  I was one of them, too.  And nine years later, it still makes the rotation in my CD player and has a home on my iPod.

Stay Awhile is eleven tracks written mostly by Cole and Culbertson, and produced by Culbertson.  You can definitely hear the Culbertson touch on it.  It even has a “shades of things to come” funk, complete with Culbertson’s trombone, first in the very short “Interlude,” and then again on a 4.5 minute long bonus track after the blissful closer, “Devotion.”  But most of the album is smooth, mellow and romantic.  And if you pulled the loops and programming – which were a little too prevalent in the late ‘90s – these songs would be at home in 2008. 

Backed by some of the best sidemen in the business – Lenny Castro, Paul Jackson, Jr., Richard Patterson, Oscar Seaton) – and Brian Culbertson on Keyboards, most tracks feature Cole on the tenor sax, but we’re treated to some sweet soprano sax on the title track, “Intimacy,” and “Where the Night Begins.” 

Every CD has its stand-out tract.  “Our Love” is that track on this CD.  Culbertson wrote this one for his wife.  It was played during their first dance at their wedding.  Brian’s take on it is featured on Brian’s CD, Come On Up.  But with apologies to Mr. Culbertson, Steve’s version is absolute perfection.  I’ve never been able to listen to the CD without hitting replay – more than once – at the end of this track.  But when I do relinquish and let the CD proceed, there is “Devotion” – which is a perfect follow-up.

Steve Cole is one of those guys who is always pushing the envelope and putting out good, innovative music.  If you haven’t explored his beginnings, take some time and do so.  Buy the CD or download it to your iPod, hit play, and Stay Awhile.