Nat King Cole is known as one of the most influential male vocalists of the 20th Century. However, he was also an amazingly talented and versatile jazz pianist in the 1930’s, 40’s and early 50’s. And while the Nat King Cole Jazz Trio was slowly making its way into white radio in the 1940’s – something no other black artist was able to accomplish at that time – young Ray Charles had already taken notice and was certainly inspired by Nat’s novel interpretations of the classic standards of the day. Ray’s early recordings clearly capture some of the essence of this easy, laid back jazz style while at the same time integrating the „blues“ and what would later become known as „soul“. (Joey Green)