Linter notes written by Bill Cole: "This is the second CD in a series called "Still Breathing," a project I started in 2016 in response to the murder of Eric Garner in New York City. Over the years in America unarmed African American men and boys have been killed by the police for no reason except that they are African Americans. My grandfather, George Cole, was the first African American detective in the history of the police force of the city of Pittsburgh. He was in this position for 28 years. In his time as detective he made over two hundred arrests, all of which resulted in convictions - but he NEVER ONCE even pulled his gun out of its holster, let alone shot anyone. He was injured several times making arrests, sometimes seriously. When he retired from the force he was praised by his superiors for his detective work, and once received a commendation from President Theodore Roosevelt for catching a forger and bringing him into custody from Canada. I never met my grandfather; he died before I was born. From the stories about him told to me by members of my family and from the African American community in Pittsburgh, and from newspaper reports and other records, I learned what an excellent policeman he was.

I know that the police have the authority to kill people even when they’re unarmed. But African Americans are viewed in our society as being “inferior,” and when there is a group in a society that is viewed as "inferior" it is tragically easy for the police to kill persons from the "inferior" group, even when they’re unarmed.

In spite of having a target on our backs, we are "Still Breathing."

- Peace, Bill Cole"

Still Breathing is the second installment of the series and features original compositions performed by Bill Cole (didgeridoo, voice) and Gerald Veasly (acoustic bass, voice and percussion) live on January 9, 2017 at the Zulcher Gallery in New York City. It was recorded by Sarah Sully. Post production by Charles Eller at Lane Gibson Recording and Mastering Studio. Art and Graphic design by Minji Reem. Layout production and administration by Scott Friedlander.

Kate Smith on the Still Breathing series: "I really admire Bill Cole’s work, the seriousness, complexity, and the relentless way he pursues a vision and the way his response to contemporary events informs his personal and an historical truth through music. I find his music always intriguing, surprising, provocative, and enjoyable, even when difficult, in all it’s many manifestations, including the playfulness in much of it even while being deeply, deeply serious. I like this project as I have all of his that I’m aware of.  Breath on, deeply and musically, Bill!"

You can order the CD via e-mail: just send your request to billcole@billcole.org. 

Liner notes written by Bill Cole: "When I watched the video incident involving Eric Garner and the New York City Police, I first saw several policemen agitating Mr. Garner by touching him. All of a sudden a policeman attacked Mr. Garner from behind with a chokehold, and choked him until he was dead. This occured on July 17, 2014. While he was being choked you can hear Mr. Garner saying “I can’t breathe” several times. It was clear to me that he had been murdered. Then the Grand Jury of Staten Island, a borough of New York City, cleared the policeman of any wrongdoing. When I heard of this decision by the Staten Island Grand Jury my mind flashed back to all the killings of unarmed African American men by the police over the years in America - not only the killings by the police, but the fact that the killers were exonerated.

This is the same process that began during the time African American people were enslaved in this country. This Process of killing us by agents of the government or even private citizens has never ended. That is why I wanted to create a musical work to say that we’re STILL BREATHING."

Still Breathing is the first installment of the series and features original compositions performed by Bill Cole (didgeridoo) and Gerald Veasley (bass guitar) live on October 3, 2016 at the Brooklyn Commons in Brooklyn, New York. It was recorded by Sarah Sully, edited and mastered by Charles Eller at Lane Gibson Recording and MAstering Studio. Art and Graphic design by Minji Reem. Layout production and administration by Scott Friedlander. Artists' portraits inspired by R.I. Sutherland-Cohen's photography.

Kate Smith on the Still Breathing series: "I really admire Bill Cole’s work, the seriousness, complexity, and the relentless way he pursues a vision and the way his response to contemporary events informs his personal and an historical truth through music. I find his music always intriguing, surprising, provocative, and enjoyable, even when difficult, in all it’s many manifestations, including the playfulness in much of it even while being deeply, deeply serious. I like this project as I have all of his that I’m aware of.  Breath on, deeply and musically, Bill!"

You can order the CD via e-mail: just send your request to billcole@billcole.org. 

On February 27, 2012 while returning from an evening passage to the store Trayon Martin was illegally targeted and followed. He was doing nothing wrong. The unjustified pursuit of this young man led to a nightmarish scene where the unarmed seventeen year old was shot and killed despite the fact that he had the legal right to stand his ground. This single act ended his life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. Surely; this must be viewed as a crime against humanity. Similar crimes were committed against Amadau Diallo, Renisha McBride, Jordan Davis, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Ousmane Zongo, Timothy Stansbury, Akai Gurley and countless other African American men, woman and children, and yet justice has yet to be delivered to their memories, loved ones and communities.

The "Trayvon Martin Suite," Bill Cole's latest release with long-time collaborator Joseph Daley, pays homage to this victim, and all victims, of brutal racialized violence. This duo album was recorded at the University of Virginia on March 29, 2012 and released on Jodamusic Records in April of 2015.

MidwestRecords.com writes: "These two pros return to the days of civil rights jazz in their tribute to Trayvon Martin and they know how to convey the anger and confusion the times bestow. Like prime period civil rights jazz, this isn't easy to listen to but it shows that listening in general is what's needed for any one that wants to seek a newer world[.]"

Downtown Music Gallery writes: "Each piece does a great job of capturing the spirit/vibe of what transpired that night and the mixed feelings we are all still dealing with due to too many other similar, continuing tragedies. This is an important, strong and immensely timely work that should be heard by many folks everywhere."

This album will soon be available to order and download on CDBaby. You can also purchase it from the Downtown Music Gallery (13 Monroe Street, New York, New York - also takes online orders) and The Bop Shop (1460 Monroe Avenue, Rochester, New York - also takes online orders), or order the CD via e-mail: just send your request to billcole@billcole.org. 

Released on December 29, 2014, "Sunsum" is the latest release from Bill Cole's Untempered Ensemble. It was recorded on July 7th, 2014 at the San Clemente Soto Cultural Center in New York as part of the Evolving Music Series of Arts of Art. It is the group's 8th album and features Bill Cole, Warren Smith, Joseph Daly, Lisette Santiago, Ras Moshe, and Gerald Veasley.

"Listen to Bill Cole—no matter what reed instrument he is playing—and you will never be the same again." - jazzdagama.com

"Sunsum" is now available to order and download on CDBaby - click here!

It is also available at The Downtown Music Gallery (13 Monroe Street, New York, New York - also takes online orders) and The Bop Shop (1460 Monroe Avenue, Rochester, New York - also takes online orders). You can also order the CD via e-mail: just send your request to billcole@billcole.org. 

The 8th album recorded by the Untempered Ensemble, "Politics" is a tribute to Cole's dear friend and long-term collaborator, poet Jayne Cortez, who passed away in 2012. The album features Bill Cole (Chinese sonas, hojok, piri, nagaswarm, shenai, Tibetan trumpet, digeridoo and Ghanaian flute), Warren Smith (percussion, glockenspiel), Joe Daley (euphonium, tuba), Shayna Dulberger (acoustic bass) and Ras Moshe (tenor sax) and daughter Althea SullyCole (vocals and kora).

This album is available at The Downtown Music Gallery (13 Monroe Street, New York, New York - also takes online orders) and The Bop Shop (1460 Monroe Avenue, Rochester, New York - also takes online orders). You can also order the CD via e-mail: just send your request to billcole@billcole.org.

"[This album] put[s] together performers both young and old, established and up-and-coming, to forge music representing Bill Cole’s singular vision of Eastern and African enhanced jazz." (S. Victor Aaron for Something Else Reviews).

Recorded live in the Black Box Theater of Syracuse University and released in 2011, this self-titled album marks the seventh work released by Bill Cole's Untempered Ensemble. It features Cole on Chinese sonas, Korean hojok and piri, Indian nagaswarm and shenai and Tibetan trumpet, as well as the Australian digeridoo and Ghanaian flute. It also features master percussionist Warren Smith (percussion, glockenspiel), Joe Daley (euphonium, tuba), son Atticus Cole (hand drums, percussion), Shayna Dulberger (acoustic bass) and Ras Moshe (tenor sax) and daughter Althea SullyCole (vocals). Recorded and mastered by Check Eller. 

This album is available at The Downtown Music Gallery (13 Monroe Street, New York, New York - also takes online orders) and The Bop Shop (1460 Monroe Avenue, Rochester, New York - also takes online orders). You can also order the CD via e-mail: just send your request to billcole@billcole.org. 

The critically acclaimed "Billy Bang / Bill Cole" duet album is a rare recording of a live performance given at UVA's University Chapel 2009. It features six improvised works performed live by Bill Cole on shenai, nagaswarm, flute, digeridoo, and sona and the late master Billy Bang on violin.

"The meeting of these two whack jazz masters holding little back is a real treat for fans of both of them." (S. Victor Aaron - Something Else Reviews)

"Two Masters Live At The Prism," recorded in 2004, is the sole duo recording of long-term collaborators William Parker and Bill Cole. They album exhibits the mastery of their techniques on an extensive list of instruments from around the world; with Bill Cole on Didgeridoo (Australia), Flute (Ghana), Sona (China), Shehnai (India), Nageswaram (India), Hojok (Korea), and Voice; and William Parker on Bass, Doson Ngoni (Mali), Flute (Indonesia), Dunno (Talking Drum), Whistle, and Voice.

"[T]his record serves as an illuminating example of the intuitive relationship that Cole and Parker share." (Jerry D'Souza, AllAboutJazz.com)

This album is available at The Downtown Music Gallery (13 Monroe Street, New York, New York - also takes online orders) and The Bop Shop (1460 Monroe Avenue, Rochester, New York - also takes online orders). It can also be found on Amazon.com. You can also order the CD via e-mail: just send your request to billcole@billcole.org. 

"Seasoning The Greens," recorded live in 2001 in Burlington, VT, has been heralded as a great feat in the fusion of world music and free jazz. Featuring Bill Cole (sona, hojok, piri, nagaswarm, shenai, Tibetan trumpet, digeridoo and Ghanaian flute), Cooper-Moore (percussion, self-made instruments), Warren Smith (percussion, glockenspiel), Joe Daley (euphonium, tuba), William Parker (acoustic bass), Sam Furnace (tenor sax), and Atticus Cole (percussion), it is a free-jazz world tour worth taking.

"Bill Cole's music is a treasure for all the world to hear, beautiful art inspired by and borrowed from all cultures and delivered back with love. Seasoning the Greens (both the piece and the album) may be the reedman's most heartwarming and downright irresistible work yet.... Seasoning the Greens is a must-have." (Francoise Couture, AllMusic.com)

"Seasoning The Greens is successful not only because free jazz and many types of nonwestern music share characteristics, but also because Cole knows how to add up their differences in a natural way." (Charlie Wilmoth - Dusted Magazine)

"A worthwhile listen for the geographically curious jazzer." (Peter Marsh - BBC Review)

"An education for the ear, an essential disc for listeners with geographical aspirations or interests in a different musical palette." (Dan McClenaghan - All About Jazz)

This album is available at The Downtown Music Gallery (13 Monroe Street, New York, New York - also takes online orders) and The Bop Shop (1460 Monroe Avenue, Rochester, New York - also takes online orders). You can also order the CD via e-mail: just send your request to billcole@billcole.org. 

"Proverbs For Sam", the sixth album release by the Untempered Ensemble, is tribute to Bill Cole longtime musical partner Sam Furnace. Sam Furnace blew a mighty and brave but warm alto saxophone aside Cole until his untimely death from cancer in 2003. These live performances from the Vision Festival in New York City and at the Burlington, VT based Flynn Center in 2001 feature Bill Cole (sona, hojok, piri, nagaswarm, shenai, Tibetan trumpet, digeridoo and Ghanaian flute), Cooper-Moore (percussion, self-made instruments), Warren Smith (percussion, glockenspiel), Joe Daley (euphonium, tuba), William Parker (acoustic bass) and Sam Furnace (tenor sax).

"A bracing merger of East-West traditions recorded in the presence of an appreciative audience, Proverbs for Sam is a vibrant investigation of pan-global musical possibilities and a celebratory ode to a beloved artist." (Troy Collins - All About Jazz)

"Proverbs for Sam is a fitting tribute and carries a spiritual weight not found in most run-of-the-mill world music projects." (Jeff Stockton - All About Jazz)

This album is available at The Downtown Music Gallery (13 Monroe Street, New York, New York - also takes online orders) and The Bop Shop (1460 Monroe Avenue, Rochester, New York - also takes online orders). You can also order the CD via e-mail: just send your request to billcole@billcole.org. 

"Bill Cole and the Untempered Ensemble: Duets and Solos Vol. I & II" are an engaging set of intimate improvisations from some of the most notable legends in free jazz. The recordings bear witness to musical relationships, decades in the making, between Bill Cole and his masterful collaborators in the Untempered Ensemble: William Parker, Warren Smith, Joseph Daly, Cooper-Moore, and Sam Furnace.

"Whether [Bill Cole is] sounding like Dewey Redman's unhinged twin alongside veteran Warren Smith's trap set, or taking the background drone role on the digeridoo to accompany Cooper-Moore's "horizontal hoe-handle harp", the results are never less than engaging on a level above their preternatural sonics." (James Lindbloom - One Final Note)

This album is available at The Downtown Music Gallery (13 Monroe Street, New York, New York - also takes online orders) and The Bop Shop (1460 Monroe Avenue, Rochester, New York - also takes online orders). You can also order the CD via e-mail: just send your request to billcole@billcole.org.