This past Saturday, September 13th, Stella Cole’s “It’s Magic” Tour enveloped City Winery on a beautiful evening in Atlanta.
Cole, who is under record label Decca Records US, released her third album, “It’s Magic,” on August 22. Her schedule this year is booked and busy, and after this amazing 2-hour night, I’m sure this will be her new norm.
Joining Cole in bringing classics to life on stage were Michael Kanan on piano, Henry-Allen Barfield on drums, and Neal Miner on double bass.
The Stella Cole story is truly magical, especially in the aftermath of the pandemic. A tale of resilience, determination, and following your own unique path opened the doors to splendid benefits. Her beautiful jazz-inspired voice, combined with classic and timeless music, results in only success. Her music pays tributes to the legacies of vocalists like Judy Garland and Nat “King” Cole.
In 2020, her rendition of “Over the Rainbow” made her a viral sensation and earned her millions of followers across social media (Instagram, TikTok). All of this after years of being told nobody was interested in her voice or genre of music anymore. These are just some of the challenges that many artists experience and must overcome to get their “Magic” rewards.
The concert really created the atmosphere Cole talked about in a recent interview on her album:
“My goal for the album is for it to uplift people and give them a sense of comfort and escape. I wanted the whole project – from the cover art to the string orchestrations – to feel dreamy, like you’ve stumbled into an old Disney movie or an impressionist painting of a sunset. I don’t know if I believe in magic, but I definitely believe in romance. Love and hope are so important right now, and sort of in short supply. I want these songs to bring magic to my listeners, because this music certainly provides that for me.”
You can find Stella Cole’s tour schedule on her website. She’ll continue touring in the U.S. through Oct. 3, and after that, she’ll kick off the European leg of her itinerary. She’ll return to the States on Dec. 9.
-Desmond McLennon
Editing: Jon Jones