Straighten Up and Fly Right: The Nat King Cole Tribute

Nat King Cole broke the pop barrier in 1943 when his “Straighten Up and Fly Right” soared up the charts. His smooth, smoky vocals continued to rack up pop hit after hit, but his piano technique, vocal phrasings, and on-the-mark orchestration always hinted to his early roots in jazz. Pianist Ramsey Lewis and guitarist/vocalist John Pizzarelli have tailored a tribute to the titan of ‘50s vocal pop that includes Cole’s hits as well as his singular tracks of sophisticated cool jazz that have influenced their own.