Los Angeles-based jazz vocalist Liz Cole makes a striking entrance into the jazz world with the release of her debut album, I Want to Be Happy. A collection of timeless swing standards, intimate South American gems, and a poignant take on Tom Waits’ “I’m Still Here,” the album highlights Cole’s expressive, warm vocal style and impeccable phrasing.
With a dream lineup of some of L.A.’s finest jazz musicians, including guitarist Larry Koonse, pianists Otmaro Ruiz and Jacob Mann, bassists Darek Oles, Edwin Livingston, and Jonathan Richards, drummer Aarón Serfaty, and vibraphonist Jackson Irvine, I Want to Be Happy blends vibrant energy with deep musical sensitivity.
The album opens with a swinging, high-energy take on Vincent Youmans and Irving Caesar’s “I Want to Be Happy”, immediately showcasing Cole’s ability to both honor and reinvigorate the jazz tradition. She brings an effortless cool to Fred E. Ahlert and Roy Turk’s “Mean to Me”, while Cole Porter’s “You’re Sensational”—originally sung by Frank Sinatra in High Society—shines with a gorgeous vibraphone feature by Jackson Irvine.
Liz Cole's expressive phrasing takes center stage in Eubie Blake’s “I’d Give a Dollar for a Dime”, drawing out the ballad’s rich emotional depth, followed by a stirring take on “Love” (from Disney’s Robin Hood), set against a textured Afro-Latin groove by drummer Aarón Serfaty.
Moving beyond the Great American Songbook, Cole delivers a stunning duet in Spanish on Jorge Drexler’s “Tú”, accompanied by Larry Koonse’s sensitive guitar work, followed by the playful Brazilian rhythms of Carlos Lyra’s “Lobo Bobo.” She also offers a fresh, original vocal interpretation of an Erroll Garner composition, “Passing Through” (retitled “Things to Do”), bringing new life to an overlooked gem.
The album closes with a breezy take on Hoagy Carmichael’s “Lazy River” before concluding with a hushed, introspective performance of Tom Waits’ “I’m Still Here”, a fittingly poignant farewell that lingers long after the last note fades.
Liz Cole’s musical journey began in California, where she was raised on a mix of jazz, classical, and popular music. Initially a trumpet player, she later found her calling as a jazz vocalist, honing her skills under the guidance of Cathy Segal-Garcia, Madeline Eastman, Kathleen Grace, and Kate McGarry. In addition to her work as a singer, she is known for directing and editing the first Hans Groiner video, displaying her artistic versatility.
With I Want to Be Happy, Liz Cole takes a bold step forward, offering an album that is both timeless and personal—rooted in tradition yet brimming with originality.
Now available on all streaming platforms.
For more information, visit www.lizzycolemusic.com.
