Thankfully, music lovers have been gifted with a wide variety of talented musicians to rattle our eardrums. We're so fortunate, aren't we? And, from time to time, a few of those musicians are exceptionally gifted. That makes us doubly fortunate. How do we know we're in the presence of one of those? Because their passion flows through their skills like electricity through water and zaps you right in the ear and heart. Cole Marcus will do this to you.

His trio is remarkable as well. Cole Riddle on keys and Max Rohde on bass are both amazingly apt. All three tightly present a welcome selection of jazz classics punctuated by funk and originals. "Stratus," a funk piece bordering on Rock (reminiscent of Ted Nugent's Mega hit "Cat Scratch Fever") has an infectious groove that gets under your skin and will not allow you to stop tapping your foot and rooster-cocking your head. As Cole's keys had been a little under the mix on the previous few tunes, twas very nice to hear his Moog rip wide open above the lockstep groove of the bass and drums.

That said, I also greatly appreciated the piece prior to "Spain". It had a funny name: "Do you think you're funny?" or "Did you say something?" My apologies, I'm a bit clumsier with titles than Cole himself who confused "matinee" and "manatee" in a title to which he "denigrated" to a late great drummer. Whatever its title -- that song will rock you. Cole's drums fill the room like Taiko drums and occasionally, like thunder. You're likely familiar with jazz drummers who keep a swinging, but modest snare/ride steady beat - that is not Cole Marcus. Cole plays the drums like a lead instrument -- and keeps the beat to boot.

I spoke with Cole at break and asked him how he and the drums found each other. Allow me to paraphrase, "My parents were both musicians, and they were sort of hoping to shield me from the industry. But somewhere around when I was 10 months old, my dad broke down and let me take a crack at his drum kit."

Cole's mother was also at this performance. While she did acknowledge that she and Cole's dad were both musicians, she attributes Cole's particular talent as a "gift from God."

The trio closed (one encore piece followed) the show with "Freddy Fat Cat," a tune that engulfs the audience as it builds like a skyscraper. It's a powerhouse of music that you just don't want to end.

What a pleasure! Seeing/hearing/feeling this kind of ability developed and shared so freely in a fellow human prompts one to consider one's own magical purpose. There's little doubt Cole Marcus was sent down here among us to play the drums like nobody's business. But, what about the rest of us? What on Earth were we put here to do? What on Earth is your magical purpose? If you haven't found it yet … why aren't you still looking? And if you have found it, why so shy? Thanks Cole, more could be said, but, at the moment, I'm going to go tend to my magical purpose.

Based on the Jan 10th, 2015 performance at Alvas Showroom, a small cozy venue in San Pedro, California with good sound and a great view from every seat. 1/10

-- Click here to see Books by Ross Anthony, Author --