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Celebrating 40 Years of Alto Madness

Richie Cole... master of the sax, a brilliant arranger and composer, an educator, and founder/director of The Alto Madness Orchestra. He was awarded a scholarship to Berklee College of Music in 1966 and went on to become lead sax with Buddy Rich, Lionel Hampton and Doc Severinsen over several years. In 1975 Richie teamed up with the jazz great Eddie Jefferson and together they toured world wide. With more than 3,000 compositions and arrangements to his credit today, Richie Cole created The Alto Madness Orchestra in the early 1990's to feature seven instruments a rhythm section with four horns - Cole has built his arrangements with this group in mind to allow more room for improvisation than in a traditional eighteen- piece big band (as if in a quartet setting), yet it achieves “that BIG BAND sound”.

Cole has performed with The Manhattan Transfer, Bobby Enriquez, Freddie Hubbard, Sonny Stitt, Boots Randolph and Nancy Wilson to name just a few. Cole’s knowledge is revered in Master Classes at Universities and Colleges, and The Alto Madness Orchestra course has entered is sixth year at the University of Madrid in Spain. Richie Cole has performed all over the world and recorded more than 50 albums. He is heralded by critics and fans wherever he goes, and draws a crowd whenever he performs.

RICHIE COLE

APRIL 15 (7:00 & 9:30 PM)
RICHIE COLE AND FIVE BY DESIGN

Dakota Jazz Club, 1010 Nicollet Avenue
Minneapolis MN