Holly Cole – born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on November 25, 1963 – is a jazz and pop vocalist. Although known primarily as a jazz performer, she is not afraid to cross genres and her on-stage repertoire is just as likely to include a selection of rock and pop songs, show tunes from the world of stage and cinema and country hits. Her distinctive voice and willingness to explore other musical avenues has won her a wide and loyal fan base, particularly in her native Canada and also in Japan. The daughter of well-known broadcaster Leon Cole, who worked for a network that concentrated on classical music and jazz, it was not surprising that she moved to Toronto, Canada in 1983 to pursue a career in music. Shortly after her arrival, she formed a trio with American bass player David Piltch (formerly of Blood, Sweat and Tears) and pianist Aaron Davis. Operating under the name the Holly Cole Trio, their first release was the holiday-themed EP Christmas Blues (1989). They followed that with the critically acclaimed album Girl Talk (1990), Blame It on My Youth (1991), and Don’t Smoke in Bed (1993), which won the Juno Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album the following year. Before the recording of her next album, Temptation (1995), she had split her trio and began a career as a solo artist.
