The latest press for Jazz Republic: Taiwan, the United States and the Freedom of Swing

DIPLOMACY - VOXNEWS by Suzanne Lorge in the NYC Jazz Record

It’s hard to keep up with singer Alexis Cole. based in New York, she is almost constantly on the road or in the air: her formidable career has found her studying voice in India, busking throughout europe, teaching jazz in ecuador, gigging solo in Japan and fronting West point’s touring big band, the Jazz Knights, for six years. Clichés about jazz ambassadorships aside, Cole’s captivating musicality would go a long way to bridge international divides—she’s a winning representative of our uniquely American art form.

In 2021 she released Sky Blossom: Songs from My Tour of Duty (ZOHO), a dozen classic tunes arranged for big band by Jazz Knights music director Scott Arcangel. On the record, Cole’s vocals sail expertly over the large ensemble’s sweeping sound—no easy undertaking. even so, she repeats this stellar display—maybe even ratcheting it up a notch—on Jazz Republic: Taiwan, The United States, and The Freedom Of Swing (tiger turn), her new release featuring the taipei Jazz Orchestra (with string arrangements by Arcangel and additional arrangements by big band leaders rich Derosa and Chris Walden).

These two albums make for happy companion pieces. Where the first benefits from the seamless execution of the familiar, the second bristles with electricity from the new. To this end, the latter’s opener, “Common Ground”, establishes the beneficent theme of unity that threads throughout the remaining tracks— like a version of “begin the beguine” that focuses on a dancing partnership; a moderate-tempo “moon river” that taps into the lyrics’ implicit excitement; and an utterly charming “beyond the Sea” that hints at cross- border collegiality. It’s a refreshing listen.

In another pan-oceanic collaboration, the peripatetic Cole recently announced the digital re-release of her 2010 album, Someday My Prince Will Come (originally recorded for and released by Japan’s Venus label). the album, boasting a spectacular lineup of players, deserves a revisit: Cole is at her interpretive best on some of Disney’s most cherished love songs, such as “So this Is Love”, “When You Wish Upon a Star” and the title track. She also finds surprising colors in some lesser- known tunes from this venerable archive, including “Let me be Good to You” and “For Now, For Always”. Notably, each selection stands as a prime example of jazz vocalism, so rock-solid are the bones of the tunes and Cole’s understanding of the emotional truths at their center. Not surprisingly, Cole names this the favorite of all her releases.

Cole came in a praiseworthy second at the very first Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Jazz Competition (2012). By then her career was already in full motion, with several albums and many accolades to her credit. Her indisputable talent no doubt set a high bar for the Sassys out of the gate, and in subsequent years the competition has proved a launching pad for a number of bright careers.

JW Vibe by Jonathan Widran

“Jazz Republic, her joint production with the Taipei Jazz Orchestra, is an impactful work on many levels, both musically and geopolitically. A listener unaware of the project’s unique cross-cultural background and dynamics could simply enjoy the deeply intimate yet always hoppin’ collection on its artistic merits - dynamic, brassy swing arrangements, eclectic song selections from the realms of contemporary pop, Songbook, Broadway and Brazilian music and Cole’s trademark exquisite phrasing and rangy, intimate to soaring vocals and freewheeling scats.”

“More than simply a wonderful swing-oriented jazz extravaganza, Jazz Republic is a meticulously conceived, wonderfully performed set designed to get us thinking about the possibilities of a peaceful world where music is our common language.”

“Jazz Republic stands as a testament to the enduring connection between two countries that were historically in conflict but are now the strongest of allies.”

Making a Scene by Dee Dee McNeil

“Alexis Cole holds the entire package together with her outstanding vocals. On “Common Ground,” Alexis Cole shows her gymnastic vocal abilities as she scat-sings with the orchestra, letting her notes tumble freely and harmonically over each other during a spontaneous improvisation. I hear pure emotion when she sings.”

L.A. Jazz Scene by Scott Yanow