Polyrhythms Presents Nat King Cole: The Trio Years at the Redstone Room -- December 17.

Sunday, December 17, 6 p.m.

The Redstone Room, 129 Main Street, Davenport IA

With the 100-year anniversary of Nat King Cole's birth less than two years away, Polyrhythms' Third Sunday Jazz Series and the Redstone Room will celebrate the legendary artist's life in a December 17 tribute featuring Tony Sconyers & the Ron Tegeler Quartet – the second in a trio of Polyrhythms performances dedicated to the jazz and swing legend.

An American jazz pianist and singer who made over 100 recordings that became hits on the pop charts, Cole employed his rich and mellifluous vocals on some of the most beloved songs of all time, among them “When I Fall in Love,” “Mona Lisa,” “It's Only a Paper Moon,” and “Unforgettable,” the latter of which, after Cole's passing, was also recorded as a Grammy-winning, chart-topping duet with his daughter Natalie. Among Cole's myriad credits, he also acted in films (including Citizen Kane) and on television and Broadway, and in 1956, became the first black man to host an American television series with the artist's The Nat King Cole Show.

Because Cole's body of work is so broad, Polyrhythms director Nate Lawrence's decided last year that in order to do justice to such an artist, a trilogy was in order. Consequently, last December, Tony Sconyers presented the Third Sunday Jazz program “Cole: Le Debut,” styled as an opening snapshot of the life and musical legacy of Nat King Cole. Polyrhythms' new concert presentation, “The Trio Years,” will focus on the early half of Cole's professional career by looking at the progression of the Nat King Cole Trio, with touring vocalist Sconyers performing with Ron Tegeler on guitar, Glennda Currence on keyboards, Mickey Wilner on bass, and Kirk Prebyl on drums. A third Cole tribute featuring Sconyers is in the works for next year, just in time for the 100-year celebration.

Polyrhythms' 6 p.m. concert will be preceded by a 3 p.m. “Jazz Demystifying” workshop; tickets are $10-15 for the evening performance, with the workshop $5 for adults and free for students. For tickets and information, contact Polyrhythms at (309)373-0790 or Polyrhythms.org, or the Redstone Room at (563)326-1333 or RiverMusicExperience.org.

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