Review: King For A Day: The Nat King Cole Story at York Theatre Royal

“…stunning skill and absolute affection…”

Nat King Cole Story, York Theatre Royal

By Sean Sable

I’m a history nerd—there, I said it. So, you can imagine that I was pretty excited by the idea of a musical performance that hangs fantastic music on a simple historical frame and King for a Day: The Nat King Cole Story does exactly that. I went in hoping for a night that would showcase familiar songs while also filling in some of the gaps in my knowledge and I was not disappointed. Although Nat King Cole is one of those ever-present artists whose music exists as part of the modern soundtrack of life, I knew surprisingly little about his early Trio years or his route to Capitol Records and I was eager to learn more.

The on-stage setup was straightforward with Atila taking centre stage on vocals and backed by a four-piece jazz ensemble: Gabriel Latchin on piano, Colin Oxley on rhythm guitar, Tom Farmer on double bass and Steve Brown on drums. A small bistro table and a “recording studio” sign sat on opposite sides of the stage as images and film clips were projected on the wall behind them. It was simple, but set the perfect mood—a dimly-lit nightclub reconstructed on a grand scale.

The story of Cole’s career unfolded through projected images and short bits of narration that punctuated the songs. Album covers, studio stills and the occasional archive clip gave us the context behind the music. We followed Cole’s journey from busy working pianist to international star to icon. From an early “music video” of him singing in a café, to stills of him in the Capitol Records recording studio, Cole’s personality really shone through the carefully curated imagery.

Atila’s baritone had the perfect soulful crooning quality that somehow makes your foot start tapping on its own. His banter and narration threaded the songs and narrative together with a light hand. He shared a few stories about Cole’s time at Capitol, including the often-told tale of the persistent club patron who pushed him to sing when he still thought of himself as “just” a pianist. Narrative research and production design were provided by Tom Farmer who even transcribed lyrics from rare recordings where no clean sheet music existed. We weren’t just being treated to the hits, we were seeing the preservation of songs and stories that might otherwise be lost to time.

Musically, the evening moved from Trio-style arrangements through to the later, more famous ballads. Hearing songs like Straighten Up and Fly Right and Walking My Baby Back Home was like catching up with old friends. But there were plenty of surprises for me as well. The Frim Fram Sauce was a highlight, featuring a bass solo that ambled along in a way that perfectly reflected the slightly silly energy of the number.

As is often the case, what made the evening was the chemistry between Atila and the band. Each musician had a chance to take a solo, and every time the spotlight shifted, you could see the others listening and responding. I often caught myself watching Farmer groove along to Brown’s drum solo or clocking the quick smiles between players. It looked like a group of people who genuinely enjoy sharing a stage and that’s always infectious.

My only niggle about the evening was that such a lively performance of some of the world’s catchiest tunes made me want to move. Being stuck in a fixed seat, knowing I’d block the view of those behind me, meant I had to be on my best behaviour. But trust me, I didn’t want to be. I wanted to move and sway and dance along.

For anyone with a soft spot for Nat King Cole, or for those who simply like their jazz played with stunning skill and absolute affection, it is a performance well worth catching.

King For A Day: The Nat King Cole Story plays at York Theatre Royal on Monday November 17.

Sean Sable is a Yorkshire-based freelance writer and editor specialising in Young Adult and Horror fiction, frequently at the same time. When she isn’t buried under a pile of books and manuscripts, she is looking for her keys and having extensive one-sided conversations, in Swedish, with her deaf cat. You can find her online at: www.seansable.co.uk