JAZZ REVIEW : Freddy Cole at Nucleus Nuance

Freddy Cole seemed to realize from the opening chords of his program Thursday night that he was in for a rough evening. The pianist-singer, whose appearances in the Los Angeles area are far too rare, had the bad luck to face one of Nucleus Nuance’s formidably noisy audiences.

Cole made the best of a less-than-appealing performing environment. The younger brother of Nat (King) Cole, he sings with a similarly soft rhythmic inflection. But he is by no means an imitator.

On standards like “Little Girl,” “You Leave Me Breathless” and “My Romance,” Cole’s variations began with the classic, laid-back style of his older sibling, then quickly moved into a contemporary jazz cabaret expression that was very much his own.

His piano playing was crisp and serviceable, but most of the solo space was allocated to Ed Zad on guitar and Eddie Edwards on bass. Zad’s blues-drenched lines were particularly impressive on “Why Did I Choose You” and surging romp through “The Continental.” And Edwards managed to cut through the room’s high decibel conversational level with a stirring solo on “Love Letters.”

Still, it was a tough gig. And it’s to Cole’s credit that--despite the unrewarding circumstances--he played a set as musically joyous as it was determinedly professional. But he deserved a better hearing.

Cole will also appear tonight at Marla’s Memory Lane, hopefully before an audience that will provide a more receptive welcome for his relaxed and appealing music.