Plays Nat King Cole en Español is an album by saxophonist David Murray's Cuban Ensemble with guest vocalist Daniel Melingo released on the Motéma label.^[1][2] The album was inspired by Nat King Cole's albums Cole Español (Capitol, 1958) and More Cole Español (Capitol, 1962).

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Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]
The Guardian	[4]

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The AllMusic review by Thom Jurek stated: "Plays Nat King Cole en Español is among the most imaginative and well-executed recordings in Murray's large catalog. He found something mercurial, graceful, and dignified in Cole's voice, and used it as inspiration to create a work that is respectful but utterly his own".^[3] The Guardian review by John Fordham awarded the album 3 stars noting "even by Murray's open standards, this is an unusual venture... It's a warm and very mellifluous album for Murray. These swaying songs glow with knowing life: the vivacious arrangements for strings and horns buoy up Murray's rich tenor sound, operating in a smoky Ben Websterish manner, without swamping it".^[4]

JazzTimes observed "His charts, which feel Latin but aren’t idiomatically so, strip the original iterations of syrup and cheese, balancing Murray’s ebullient ensemble dissonances with keen attention to melody".^[5] On All About Jazz, James Nadal said "Plays Nat King Cole en Español is wonderful music intended for dancing and romancing".^[6]

1. "El Bodeguero" (Richard Egües) – 9:20
2. "Quizás, Quizás, Quizás" (Osvaldo Farrés) – 6:07
3. "Tres Palabras" (Farrés) – 8:28
4. "Piel Canela" (Bobby Capó) – 7:11
5. "No Me Platiques" (Vicente Garrido) – 8:04
6. "Black Nat" (David Murray) – 6:43
7. "Cachito" (Consuelo Velázquez) – 6:44
8. "A Media Luz" (Carlos Cesar Lenzi, Edgardo Donato) – 6:23
9. "Aqui Se Habla En Amor" (Jack Keller, Noel Sherman) – 7:49
10. "El Choclo" (Ángel Villoldo) – 4:37
11. "Quizás, Quizás, Quizás" [Radio Edit] (Farrés) – 3:54

• David Murray – tenor saxophone, bass clarinet, conductor, arranger
• Daniel Melingo – vocals (tracks 2, 8, 10 & 11)
• Juanjo Mosalini – bandoneón (track 11)
• Roman Filiu Oreilly – alto saxophone
• Ariel Briguez Ruiz – tenor saxophone
• Mario Felix Hernandez Morrejon, Franck Mayea Pedroza – trumpet
• Denis Cuni Rodriguez – trombone
• Abraham Mansfarroll Rodriguez – congas
• Jose "Pepe" Rivero, Reiner Elizarde Ruano – bass

Sinfonieta of Sines coordinated by Jose Avelino Castro Pinto

• Rui Guimaraes, Joana Cipriano, Joao Andrade, Joana Dias, Maria Jose Laginha – violin
• Joao Gaspar, Goncalo Ruivo – viola
• Tiago Vila, Catarina Anacleto, Rita Ramos, Samual Santos – cello