Kevin Cole

It all started when a seven-year-old from Michigan watched the film Rhapsody in Blue and was never quite the same. From that childhood discovery at Interlochen’s National Music Camp, Kevin Cole’s devotion to George Gershwin grew into a lifelong calling. Today, Cole is regarded as the foremost interpreter of Gershwin’s work; the Chicago Tribune declared that when Cole sits down at the piano, “you would swear Gershwin himself was at work,” calling him the best Gershwin pianist in America.

What makes a Kevin Cole show truly special is the world he invites audiences into between the notes. Cole doesn’t just perform; he shares personal anecdotes from a life lived at the center of American music. Having collaborated with Marvin Hamlisch, opened for Doc Severinsen, and toured with Sylvia McNair, Cole’s performances are punctuated by stories from his time swapping notes with the greats. He has received personal praise from Irving Berlin, Stephen Sondheim, and the Gershwin family, and was even invited to improvise for Emily Paley, a lifelong friend of Gershwin himself.

His musical mastery is equally storied. Cole has performed with over 100 orchestras worldwide, including sold-out appearances at the Hollywood Bowl, Royal Albert Hall, and Carnegie Hall. He made history as the first pianist to perform all four of Gershwin’s piano and orchestra works in a single concert. Whether playing from his recent recordings of newly restored original Gershwin editions or his own deeply personal improvisations, Cole stays true to the composer’s spirit while bringing his own unique arrangements to life.

A Steinway Artist and Interlochen graduate, Cole brings a lifetime of scholarship, passion, and irreplaceable personal history to every performance.

Join us on Tuesday, May 5th for behind-the-scenes stories and breathtaking music. 

Article written by Middle C Jazz Marketing Support, Kaela Mason.