What I liked
I love how through and through, Duane’s voice and style are still so inviting and welcoming for the audience, despite the upscale environments jazz is often associated with nowadays. The seamless interweaving reflections on the hardships of Cole’s career with some of his own brushes with racism is a stroke of genius that adds genuine gravitas to the show and add an incredible emotional layer to this work.
What I didn't like
I don’t really have a note for this section, so I’ll just share this for the audience: He’s going to encourage you to sing along with the songs you know—and you should!—but with such a silky tenor leading the way, no one will blame you for just wanting to hear him instead.
My overall impression
This show is WONDERFUL! Duane’s voice is a rich, warm presence that, together with nothing else but his guitar, would be worth the price of admission alone. But then, in his storytelling sections, Duane skillfully blends Nat King Cole’s story and circumstances with those of his own, illustrating the hardships Cole had to face on the road… and the work we still have to do as a society today. This is a gorgeous, reflective journey through the life of Black jazz musicians, featuring a slew of well-loved classics.
