Steve Cole Interview Page 4

Smitty:  (Laughs.)  Yeah.

SC:  But we’ve got a bunch of stuff coming up.  We’re gonna be in Washington, D.C. on January 11th, we’ve got a great show in Chicago, actually, on February 14th, and we’re filling up the calendar and covering a lot of the country this year, so I’m really, really looking forward to it.

Smitty:  So and all of these dates, as they become solid, will of course be on your Web site.

SC:  Yes, absolutely, and if I could also mention that I update my Web site, which is www.stevecole.net. I update it regularly, so if you wanna come by and check out what’s going on, come to the Web site.  There’s updated tour info, but the cool thing is I have a blog on my Web site that I really almost update like every other day, sometimes a couple of times a day.

Smitty:  Oh, wow, yeah.

SC:  And on there there’s like some video clips and audio clips, unreleased songs, things that I’ve been working on, things that I’ve been thinking about, pictures, and just kind of commentary, so it’s a bunch of stuff you’re not gonna be able to find in the record store, and a lot of the music is kinda there for a limited time, but I’m also gonna have kind of a little bit of a New Year’s Eve present for people that stop by, but that’s a secret.  You have to stop by before New Year’s Day to get that.

Smitty:  Well, that’s cool, man.  Yeah, I’ve been to your site and I like the NY/LA video.  That’s cool.

SC:  Uh-huh, right.

Smitty:  Yeah, that’s really cool.  And so, yeah, you’ve got a very colorful site and I think it’s important, too, there again, another form of access and interaction with the fans, which is a beautiful tool that we have available now, the Internet.

SC:  Right, absolutely.

Smitty:  So it’s great.

SC:  And believe it or not, even though this site has just been revamped, it’s getting a complete overhaul, so after the first of the year it’s gonna be a completely new site with even more content and even more opportunities for interaction with everybody, so be looking for that as well.

Smitty:  Wow, so you’re just a busy cat out there now.

SC:  Man, I’m telling you, I’m trying to figure out when I’m gonna have time to go Christmas shopping.  Oh, wait a minute.

Smitty:  Yeah, we’re a little late.

SC:  I’m late.  (Both laugh.)

Smitty:  Although you will probably find some people out there joining you, that’s for sure.  Well, talk about the Sax Pack thing.  Now, you’re gonna work this as well in 2007?

SC:  Absolutely.

Smitty:  Whoo!

SC:  I mean, absolutely.  The Sax Pack is probably the most fun I’ve had playing music in a long time.  I mean, getting up on stage with Kim Waters and Jeff Kashiwa is a blast.

Smitty:  Yeah, I can imagine. (Laugh)

SC:  I mean, I’m telling you.  First of all, they’re great musicians, really, really inspiring players.  Second of all, crazy guys!

Smitty:  Yeah, I was gonna say after the show is probably pretty cool too.  (Laughs.)

SC:  Yeah, after, before, during.  (Both laugh.)  It’s truly….it’s a lot of fun and, again, it all comes out in the music.  The really cool thing about the Sax Pack is that we joke around, we have a lot of fun, but when it comes down to the music, we get down to business and it is serious.

Smitty:  Yeah.

SC:  Kim Waters and Jeff Kashiwa are serious players.

Smitty:  Yes. I’m a fan. Great musicians!

SC:  And the music is downright profound, so I love it, and any opportunity we have to put Sax Pack dates in our schedules along with our own solo dates, we take the opportunity because it’s just so much fun.

Smitty:  That’s very cool, man.  And you guys are gonna be at Berks, right?

SC:  Yup.

Smitty:  All right.

SC:  Berks Jazz Festival (March 24, 2007).  We’re looking forward to getting back there.  It’s a great place and it’s one of those festivals where everybody gets to kinda catch up with their old friends ‘cause you run into a lot of players and different artists there that you don’t get to see very often, so I’m really looking forward to that.

Smitty:  Very cool, man.  Well, I must tip my cap to you, my friend, because I must say this new record is by far the most positive change that I have seen in your career to date.

SC:  Oh, man, that’s a compliment of the highest order.  Thank you very much.

Smitty:  You’re so welcome.  And I highly recommend this record for music lovers, not just jazz or Smooth Jazz.  I think this is a beautiful book of music, period, and you’re to be congratulated, my friend.

SC:  Well, thank you, thank you.  I really appreciate that.

Smitty:  All right, and this one is available in stores across the country and across the water and everywhere, right?

SC:  Yeah, everywhere you can possibly imagine you can find it.

Smitty:  Absolutely.

SC:  Open up your mail box. (Both laugh.)

Smitty:  It’s there, very cool.

SC:  Yeah, yeah, you can get it in all the stores, on Amazon, on iTunes, on MSN, on this and that, whatever, it’s there.

Smitty:  Oh, very cool.  Well, Steve, I’m looking forward to seeing some of this new music live, I’m looking forward to seeing the Sax Pack again in 2007, and best of everything, man, with this record, and look forward to seeing you at Berks as well.

SC:  Yeah, absolutely, thanks so much.

Smitty:  All right, we have been talking with the fantastic Mr. Steve Cole.  He has a wonderful new record out.  It’s called True and it is true through and through.  Please check out this record.  I highly recommend it.  Steve, thanks again, my friend, and all the best to you and yours in 2007.

SC:  Same to you.  Thanks.

Baldwin “Smitty” Smith

For More Information Visit www.stevecole.net and www.stevecolemusic.com and www.naradajazz.com