Stella Cole is a name not many jazz and musical theater fans would recognize, but she rose to fame in recent years by posting videos performing music from Barbra Streisand and Judy Garland on Instagram and TikTok.
Cole and her jazz ensemble have been touring the country for seven weeks, and their latest stop was the Jorgensen Centre for the Performing Arts right here at the University of Connecticut’s campus. Along with her incredible timeless jazz vocals, Cole brings the talented trumpeter and vocalist Benny Benack III, tap dancer Jabu Graybeal, pianist Liya Grigoryan, bassist Russell Hall, drummer Joe Peri and saxophonist, clarinetist and piccolo player Jarien Jamanila. The ensemble performed numbers from many Broadway musicals spanning the last century, some jazz favorites and a few pieces from the “Great American Songbook,” which is a collection of standard and well-known American jazz and theater music.
The set featured many recognizable songs from Broadway musicals and jazz performers, including a little from “The Phantom of the Opera.” There was something for everyone, and they put on an entertaining and creative show. Perhaps the most unexpected part of the show was Graybeal, who accompanied multiple pieces, adding a touch of percussion with his tap dance. Most wouldn’t expect to see a tap dancer at a jazz concert, but it was truly a unique experience that made the night memorable. They even handed him a microphone during “My Shot” from Hamilton to lead some audience participation!
The energy was high and the love for the music was contagious. During the set, Cole talked about how she has loved old movies and old music since she was young. That adoration was clear throughout her performance. Each piece was sung with incredible care and emotion, and she introduced every song with immense love and adoration for its composer. Some highlights of the night included Benack and Hall’s rendition of “Food, Glorious Food” from Lionel Bart’s 1960 musical “Oliver!” and Cole’s truly heartfelt performance of “Over the Rainbow.” The latter included the opening verse, which is not usually performed with the rest of the song.
Cole and her band closed out the evening with the title song from the 1969 musical “Hello, Dolly!” By the end of the song, most of the audience was on their feet clapping and singing along, a fitting end to an incredible performance. The show’s combination of jazz with traditional musical theater was a genius decision, tying two of the most well-known genres of music together in a celebration of music and the “Great American Songbook.”
Stella Cole’s debut album was recently released and features many songs performed on this tour including “Moon River” from “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” “Over the Rainbow” written for “The Wizard of Oz” and “On the Street Where You Live” from the Broadway musical “My Fair Lady.” I thoroughly enjoyed this performance and getting the opportunity to meet Cole and her band after the show! Cole is an incredible vocalist and exceptionally kind person, and I recommend listening to her debut record and checking out her TikTok.