Celebrating Nat King Cole's Centennial with Alumnus Freddy Cole

The NEC Jazz Orchestra celebrated the 100th anniversary of Nat King Cole's birth with special guest Freddy Cole ’56, hon. DM ’12, Nat King Cole’s brother and an NEC alumnus.

President Andrea Kalyn and jazz chair Ken Schaphorst warmly welcomed Freddy Cole to the Jordan Hall stage to play a set with his quartet.

Student performers, including the NEC Jazz Orchestra, members of the NEC Philharmonia, and an array of jazz vocalists, presented renditions of many of Nat King Cole's biggest hits, among them “Lush Life,” “Mona Lisa,” “Nature Boy,” “St. Louis Blues,” and “Walking My Baby Back Home.”