Bill Cole

Having mastered Eastern double-reed instruments across many years, jazz composer and author Bill Cole first entered the scene during the 1960s. Alongside his acclaimed volumes on Miles Davis and John Coltrane, Cole secured his earliest notable album appearance as a member of Jayne Cortez's band in the late 1970s. Sporadic recording sessions filled the periods when he was not touring or composing, yet by the late 1990s the desire to form his own ensemble grew irresistible, resulting in the creation of Bill Cole's Untempered Ensemble. Founded on improvisation and the range of instruments Cole employs, the group began documenting its singular live improvisations in 1999 with the release of Live in Greenfield, Massachusetts, November 20, 1999. Several further live albums followed, among them collections of duets as well as additional ensemble performances.