Five years in the room with a jazz legend
I photographed and filmed Richie in the studio, at home, on stage and in long, improvised interviews, from 2015 until his death in 2020.
Out of that came the campaigns for his albums Latin Lover and Cannonball, the Richie Cole for Mayor bit, his stories of the songs he wrote, and more than fifty films of a jazz legend at work.
Six to start with
Full Concert with the Alto Madness Orchestra
Richie and the Pittsburgh Alto Madness Orchestra, filmed live for the Westmoreland Jazz Society on 15 October 2015.
WATCH ON YOUTUBE ↗Six to start with
Cannonball, Album Trailer
The trailer for his 2018 album Cannonball.
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Playing “Girl from Carnegie”
Richie in the studio with one of the songs from his album Latin Lover.
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On Buddy Rich’s 100th Birthday
Richie wishes his old bandleader Buddy Rich a happy 100th birthday.
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Richie Cole for Mayor 1
A funny bit we did: Richie running for mayor of Carnegie, PA, with free beer for everyone.
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Thank You Phil Woods
Richie and the Pittsburgh Alto Madness Orchestra pay tribute to the alto saxophonist Phil Woods.
WATCH ON YOUTUBE ↗Studio, stage and story
Studio, stage and story
Studio, stage and story
Studio, stage and story
All films, by series
52 FILMS · 7 SERIES · EACH OPENS ON YOUTUBEIn concert and live
Richie and the Pittsburgh Alto Madness Orchestra: the Westmoreland Jazz Society concert, James Street Gastropub, and his tributes to Phil Woods and Tina.
Latin Lover
The album Latin Lover, recorded at Heid Studios: Richie playing the songs in the studio, the stories behind them, and the release.
+ SHOW 14 MORE
Cannonball
Films for the release of the album Cannonball. “I don’t play the sax, I sing the sax.”
Ballads & Love Songs
Richie tells the stories behind “Emily” and “Alfie”, from Richie Cole Plays Ballads & Love Songs.
Real Jazz Talk
Richie talking jazz, songwriting and the people he played with, from Buddy Rich at 100 to how he writes a chart.
At the local bar
Down the street at the local bar: Richie and company, playing for whoever walked in.
Richie Cole for Mayor
A funny bit we did: Richie “running” for mayor of Carnegie, PA, promising free beer for everyone.
1948–2020
Richie Cole was born in Trenton, New Jersey, in 1948. He came up in the Buddy Rich Big Band in the 1970s, then led his own Alto Madness Orchestra, made Hollywood Madness with the singer Eddie Jefferson, and kept touring and recording for decades, with albums like Keeper of the Flame. He played bebop fast, funny and warm.
In 2014 he moved to Pittsburgh, started working with the producer Mark Perna, and kept recording: Alto Madness, and ballads and love songs too. I worked with Richie and Mark from 2015 until Richie died in 2020, in the studio, on stage, at the bar down the street, and on his mock campaign for mayor of Carnegie.
Long-term photo and film for musicians, labels and estates, from the first session to the release plan.