TEA FOR TWO (1957) by Nat King Cole - two different versions

This is a video of Nat King Cole doing two different piano versions of 'Tea for Two' in 1957 on his ground breaking television show. People forget that as well as a great singer, Nat was a pretty hot piano player.

While both treatments appear similar, the solos in the middle appear to be different . Nat being a jazz musician, I guess they were probably improvisations played differently each time. I would be interested in hearing any views from jazz pianists or others comparing the two.

See also my slideshow videos for 'When I Take My Sugar To Tea' by the King Cole Trio and for 'Somebody Loves Me' by Nat King Cole, Lester Young and Buddy Rich.

Comments are invited.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Nat King Cole
• Tea For Two
• piano
• jazz
• Nat King Cole Show
• fifties
• improvisation

[GatorGirl04]

AMAZING footage of a musical GENIUS. While I adore absolutely everything about "King" Cole is piano playing is probably the best demonstration of sheer brilliance. He's like a weaver at a loom crafting a masterpiece like's he's making breakfast. Effortless. I LOVE this man.

Thanks so much for posting.

[PolarSkua]

@GatorGirl04 I couldn't agree with you more, with regard to the piano playing. I love your idea about the loom and breakfast!

[amy0077]

Genius

[retrogamerdave]

@aerofredywr probably bc singing is more personal in general than playing jazz piano solos. If you look at what peopel listen to in general, it's songs-stuff that's sung.

[aerofredywr]

@KJShackx His singing (above all the "sweet" songs) sold beter than his piano solos or the trio so he sang and leave the piano. A real pity.

[AstroAnt]

"Don't be kiddin yourself that cat could play, o my yes" -Ray Charles

[KJShackx]

the solos in the middle, while improvised are more or less based on the same ideas... but yes, Nat Cole was considered one of the greatest piano players of his time, and his influence on the generation of piano players after him (such as Oscar Peterson, Red Garland, Wynton Kelly, Ahmad Jamal, Bill Evans, and many others) makes him one of the most important jazz pianists of all time. Most people don't even know he played!

[dnettles]

He was a first rate artist! The Great One! God bless you Nat.

[djrbfm]

good one.

j.