A wonderful mix of classic and contemporary jazz is on tap the weekend of Feb. 9-10 at the Carolina Hotel in Pinehurst. Heart and Soul Jazz Weekend, the ever-popular jazz festival which has become a tradition in the Sandhills, returns with the spotlight on the Freddy Cole Quartet and the Tierney Sutton Band.

Presented by the Arts Council of Moore County and the Pinehurst Resort, the weekend (formerly known as Jazz 'n January) is a time-honored opportunity for area jazz lovers to hear some of the best and the brightest jazz musicians in the country, as well as being a major fundraiser for the Arts Council.

According to Chris Dunn, executive director of the Council, this year's two-day happening is exceptional because it combines the music of Freddy Cole, who represents traditional well-known jazz stylings, with the vivid technique of Tierney Sutton who gives the old favorites a new 21st century spin.

Jan and Ed Schnell, who have co-chaired the glamorous occasion for the better part of the last 20 years, believe that every year is special, in that they try to create a new and interesting blend of talent and surprises for the weekend.

"Every year the effort is to bring top-notch artists in the jazz world to come and entertain, and this year we have secured two of the finest with enormous repertoires," says Jan Schnell. "The Freddy Cole Quartet appearing on Friday evening offers a glorious tribute to the songbooks of Jerome Kern, Cole Porter, and, of course, Freddy's brother, the late Nat 'King' Cole. To cap it off on Saturday, a young and beautiful Tierney Sutton and her band will perform. Her incredibly unique style, phrasing and choice of numbers are sure to bring the house down."

Called by The New York Times "a serious jazz artist who takes the whole enterprise to another level," Tierney Sutton was first exposed to jazz at college. Educated at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, in the early days of her career Sutton became a semi-finalist in the Thelonious Monk Jazz Vocal Competition

After a move to Southern California from New England in the mid 1990s, she began a decade-long collaboration with her current band mates -- pianist Christian Jacob, bassists Trey Henry and Kevin Axt, and drummer Ray Brinker.

Their critically acclaimed CDs reveal what can be achieved by cooperative dialogue and a wholehearted group effort. Reviewers have commented that to listen to Sutton and her band is to hear a rare and powerful harmony.

For example, two releases in 2002 and 2004 quickly rose to the top ten on the jazz charts.

"Something Cool," an adventurous recording, includes swinging renditions of "Route 66," Willie Nelson's "Crazy," and one of Sutton's concert favorites, an unusual arrangement of "Ding, Dong! The Witch is Dead."

"Dancing in the Dark," which remained on the Billboard Jazz charts for over 15 weeks, coincided with Sutton's successful appearance at New York's legendary Oak Room, followed by her Carnegie Hall debut with the New York Pops. Her latest album, "I'm With the Band," was nominated for a Grammy, and she was also selected as Jazz Vocalist of the Year by JazzWeek Magazine.

Sutton is versatile in the studio, and her voice has been featured In films and on commercials. However, it is on stage where, as a premier entertainer, she really lights up.

The Friday night entertainer, Freddy Cole, grew up in a musical family. He was the youngest of five children in his family, and started playing piano when he was around five years old.

"Music was all around me," he recalls, "and my three elder brothers, Eddie, Ike and Nat, were all musicians." Visitors to the family home in Chicago included Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Lionel Hampton.

A particular influence on Freddy was the great Billy Eckstine.

"He was a fantastic entertainer, and I learned so much from just watching and being around him," says Cole.

Although Cole was eager to hit the road when he was 18, his mother objected, and so he continued his musical education at the Roosevelt Institute in Chicago. Later he moved to New York where he studied at the Juilliard School of Music and went on to receive a master's degree at the New England Conservatory of Music.

Back in New York, inspired by John Lewis, Oscar Peterson and Teddy Wilson, Cole laid the groundwork for a career that continues to flourish today. He developed a vast repertoire of songs in Manhattan bistros, and he ultimately has toured the United States, Europe, the Far East and South America.

There are certain unmistakable similarities in Freddy Cole's sound that remind listeners of his brother, Nat "King" Cole. He plays piano and sings and performs live with guitar and upright bass, just like Nat. Yet critics find Freddy's voice raspier, smokier, even jazzier. His phrasing has been compared to that of Frank Sinatra or Billie Holiday, and his timing is a little more swinging than his brother's.

Freddy Cole has been quoted as saying, "My brother was a very talented man and he used his talents well. I am talented and I had to learn to use mine. I had to learn to be strong enough to withstand a lot of temptation and not get beaten down mentally."

Just last year, Cole once again proved that he has definitely emerged from the awesome shadow cast by his elder brother, as he was named Outstanding Male Jazz Vocalist at the Playbill Nightlife Awards. Other recent honors paid to Freddy Cole include being a Grammy-nominated singer, an Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame inductee, and recipient of the Living Legend Jazz Award.

"We are in for two great nights of jazz, with unforgettable post-concert receptions each evening of pastries, desserts, wines, and Irish coffee," says Jan Schnell. "And a chance to meet the artists! We have so many loyal followers over the years, as well as newcomers, that we know will be delighted with their experience."

Major sponsors of Heart and Soul Jazz Weekend are Pinehurst Resorts, Progress Energy, and American Airlines. BB&T and Wachovia are sponsoring the post-concert receptions, and Lyne's Furniture Gallery is providing a $1,000 shopping spree as a door prize for an audience member. Both concerts start at 8 p.m.

Admission is $65 per person for one concert or $110 per person for both concerts. The ticket price includes the concert, the Meet-the-Artists Dessert Reception and a chance for the door prize.

A pre-concert dinner is offered at the Pinehurst Resort's Carolina Dining room for $30 per person (tax and gratuity included), and the Carolina Hotel is offering an attractive Valentine getaway at $179 per person. The overnight package includes the concert, reception, dinner, breakfast, accommodations and champagne delivered to the room.

For concert tickets, dinner reservations, and hotel accommodations, call (910) 235-8415.

Mary Elle Hunter is a Pinehurst freelance writer. She may be reached at mehunter10@hotmail.com.