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A Cozy Conception of Carmen is a 1962 jazz album by American jazz drummer Cozy Cole. Recorded in 1961, the album features jazz and lounge-style interpretations of themes from Georges Bizet’s famous opera, Carmen.

Cole’s interest in Carmen dated back to his performance in the 1943 Broadway musical Carmen Jones, a modernized version of the opera. This album was part of a successful period in Cole’s career following his 1958 hit “Topsy,” which had brought his drumming style to a mainstream pop and R&B audience.

Track listing
A1 Prelude 0:00
A2 Chorus Of Street Boys 3:11
A3 Habanera 6:35
A4 Seguidilla 9:21
A5 Entr’acte (Acts 1 & 2) 12:27
B1 Gypsy Song 15:05
B2 Castanet Dance 18:17
B3 Flower Song 21:44
B4 Sextet 25:09
B5 Entr’acte (Acts 3 & 4) 28:38

Personnel:

Arranged By – Dick Hyman
Baritone Saxophone, Clarinet (Bass), Clarinet – Jerome Richardson
Bass – Jack Lesberg, Milton Hinton
Drums – Cozy Cole
Percussion – Douglas Allen, Phil Kraus
Piano, Glockenspiel, Arranged By – Bob Hammer
Tenor Saxophone – John Hafer
Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet (Bass) – Al Klink
Trumpet – George Holt
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Bernie Privin

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Original Release: 1962 (Recorded in New York, 1961).
Label: Originally released on Charlie Parker Records; reissued on various labels including Fresh Sound.