Nicholas Cole

A soulful keyboardist, Nicholas Cole blends jazz with his love of gospel and R&B. Influenced by artists like Kirk Whalum, Jonathan Butler, and Brian Culbertson, Cole emerged in the 2010s and landed a number one Smooth Jazz Songs chart single with "Snap" off 2012's Endless Possibilities. In 2019, he scored a second number one smooth jazz song with "Soulmate" featuring guitarist Chieli Minucci. A native of Goldsboro, North Carolina, Cole was raised in a musical family and grew up playing piano and organ in church from the age of four. Along with performing, he also studied privately with noted Goldsboro-area pianist Jimmy Aycock. He developed quickly, drawing inspiration from crossover jazz artists like Brian Culbertson, Peter White, and Brian Simpson, as well as gospel luminaries like Fred Hammond, Kirk Franklin, Yolanda Adams, and others. In 2010, he released his debut album, A Journey of One. He then signed with Trippin 'N' Rhythm Records and issued his sophomore album, Endless Possibilities. Included on the album was the number one smooth jazz-charting "Snap." Cole's third album, Night Sessions, followed in 2015 and included the number five-charting smooth jazz song "The Kickback. In 2019, he released his fourth album, The Weekend, which found him teaming with guitarist Chieli Minucci for the number one Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs hit "Soulmate." ~ Matt Collar