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Having led the sugary, post-war vocal group the Mel-Tones and subsequently been saddled with the "Velvet Fog" moniker, Mel Tormé probably found it hard to prove he was a legitimate vocal talent. This fine compilation from Verve should help clear the air for those still in doubt. Comprised of songs from Tormé's prime period of 1958-1961, Compact Jazz: Mel Torme spotlights the singer's impeccable phrasing and wide vocal range on 16 topnotch cuts. Showing range in taste as well, Tormé enlivens both old standards like "Body and Soul" and (for the time) modern jazz material such as Thelonious Monk's "'Round Midnight." And along big-band lines, Tormé veers toward the rarefied with obscure gems like Count Basie's "Blue and Sentimental" and Ivie Anderson's classic Ellington vocal "Truckin'." Getting back to more progressive fare, Compact Jazz also includes four top examples of Tormé's work with West Coast bebop arranger Marty Paich, including "Too Close for Comfort" and "Whatever Lola Wants." Not to stop there, the disc features four stunning Tormé originals in "Stranger in Town," "Welcome to the Club," "Born to be Blue," and the holiday favorite "The Christmas Song." And with arranger Johnny Mandel adding his very valuable two cents plus a cameo by the Mel-Tones thrown in for good measure, this collection qualifies as a great introduction to Tormé's music.
© Stephen Cook /TiVo
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MARTY PAICH, Piano, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Red Callender, Tuba, AssociatedPerformer - Mel TORME, MainArtist - Joe Mondragon, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Stu Williamson, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Al Porcino, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Perkins, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - GEORGE DAVID WEISS, ComposerLyricist - Jerry Bock, ComposerLyricist - Mel Lewis, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Art Pepper, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Hood, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Russ Garcia, Producer - Norman Granz, Producer - The Marty Paich Orchestra, FeaturedArtist - Val Valentine, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Vince Derosa, French Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Holofcenter, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1960 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Mel TORME, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1960 Polydor Inc.
Duke Ellington, ComposerLyricist - JOHNNY MANDEL, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Bob Russell, ComposerLyricist - Mel TORME, MainArtist - Joe Mondragon, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Stu Williamson, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Perkins, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Jack Sheldon, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Mel Lewis, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - JIMMY ROWLES, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Al Hendrickson, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - FRANK ROSOLINO, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Val Valentin, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Russell Garcia, Producer - Joe Maine, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Ed Theodore, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1962 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Edward Heyman, ComposerLyricist - Frank Eyton, ComposerLyricist - Robert Sour, ComposerLyricist - Mel TORME, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - John W. Green, ComposerLyricist - Norman Granz, Producer
℗ 1958 UMG Recordings, Inc.
MARTY PAICH, Piano, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Red Callender, Tuba, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Rodgers, Composer - Mel TORME, MainArtist - Joe Mondragon, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Stu Williamson, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Al Porcino, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Perkins, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Mel Lewis, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Oscar Hammerstein II , Author - Art Pepper, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Hood, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Russ Garcia, Producer - The Marty Paich Orchestra, FeaturedArtist - Val Valentine, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Vince Derosa, French Horn, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1960 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Mel TORME, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1961 Polydor Inc.
Jimmy Rushing, ComposerLyricist - JOHNNY MANDEL, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Count Basie, Composer - Mel TORME, MainArtist - Joe Mondragon, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Stu Williamson, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Perkins, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Jack Sheldon, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Mel Lewis, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - JIMMY ROWLES, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Eddie Durham, ComposerLyricist - Al Hendrickson, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - FRANK ROSOLINO, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Val Valentin, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Russell Garcia, Producer - Joe Maine, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Ed Theodore, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1962 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Tom Kenny, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - MARTY PAICH, Conductor, Recording Arranger, Celesta, Conductor/Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Ted Koehler, ComposerLyricist - Mel TORME, Vocals, Vocal Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Jack Sheldon, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Rube Bloom, ComposerLyricist - Art Pepper, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Vic Feldman, Vibraphone, AssociatedPerformer - The Meltones, FeaturedArtist - Ginny O'Connor, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Bernie Parke, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Sue Allen, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1960 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Mel TORME, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Robert Wells, ComposerLyricist - Wally Stott, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Wally Stott & His Orchestra, FeaturedArtist
℗ 1960 UMG Recordings, Inc.
MARTY PAICH, Piano, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Red Callender, Tuba, AssociatedPerformer - Mel TORME, MainArtist - Joe Mondragon, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Stu Williamson, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Al Porcino, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Perkins, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Mel Lewis, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Adler , ComposerLyricist - JERRY ROSS, ComposerLyricist - Art Pepper, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Hood, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Russ Garcia, Producer - The Marty Paich Orchestra, FeaturedArtist - Val Valentine, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Vince Derosa, French Horn, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1960 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Thelonious Monk, ComposerLyricist - Mel TORME, MainArtist - Bernie Hanighen, ComposerLyricist - Cootie Williams, Composer
℗ 1959 Polydor Inc.
JOHNNY MANDEL, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Mel TORME, MainArtist - Joe Mondragon, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Stu Williamson, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Perkins, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Jack Sheldon, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Mel Lewis, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Billy Strayhorn, ComposerLyricist - JIMMY ROWLES, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Al Hendrickson, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - FRANK ROSOLINO, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Val Valentin, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Russell Garcia, Producer - Joe Maine, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Ed Theodore, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1962 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Richard Rodgers, Composer - Lorenz Hart, Author - Mel TORME, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Russell Garcia, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Norman Granz, Producer - The Marty Paich Orchestra, Orchestra
℗ 1960 UMG Recordings, Inc.
MARTY PAICH, Piano, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Jule Styne, Composer - Red Callender, Tuba, AssociatedPerformer - Mel TORME, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Mondragon, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Stu Williamson, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Al Porcino, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Perkins, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Mel Lewis, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Art Pepper, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Adolph Green, ComposerLyricist - Betty Comden, ComposerLyricist - Bill Hood, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Russ Garcia, Producer - The Marty Paich Orchestra, FeaturedArtist - Val Valentine, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Vince Derosa, French Horn, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1960 UMG Recordings, Inc.
William Basie, ComposerLyricist - Mel TORME, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Mondragon, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Stu Williamson, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Perkins, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Jack Sheldon, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Mel Lewis, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Mack David, ComposerLyricist - Jerry Livingston, ComposerLyricist - JIMMY ROWLES, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Al Hendrickson, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - FRANK ROSOLINO, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Maini, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Teddy Edwards, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Russell Garcia, Producer
℗ 1961 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Mel TORME, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Robert Wells, ComposerLyricist - Wally Stott, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Wally Stott & His Orchestra, Ensemble, FeaturedArtist
℗ 1961 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
Having led the sugary, post-war vocal group the Mel-Tones and subsequently been saddled with the "Velvet Fog" moniker, Mel Tormé probably found it hard to prove he was a legitimate vocal talent. This fine compilation from Verve should help clear the air for those still in doubt. Comprised of songs from Tormé's prime period of 1958-1961, Compact Jazz: Mel Torme spotlights the singer's impeccable phrasing and wide vocal range on 16 topnotch cuts. Showing range in taste as well, Tormé enlivens both old standards like "Body and Soul" and (for the time) modern jazz material such as Thelonious Monk's "'Round Midnight." And along big-band lines, Tormé veers toward the rarefied with obscure gems like Count Basie's "Blue and Sentimental" and Ivie Anderson's classic Ellington vocal "Truckin'." Getting back to more progressive fare, Compact Jazz also includes four top examples of Tormé's work with West Coast bebop arranger Marty Paich, including "Too Close for Comfort" and "Whatever Lola Wants." Not to stop there, the disc features four stunning Tormé originals in "Stranger in Town," "Welcome to the Club," "Born to be Blue," and the holiday favorite "The Christmas Song." And with arranger Johnny Mandel adding his very valuable two cents plus a cameo by the Mel-Tones thrown in for good measure, this collection qualifies as a great introduction to Tormé's music.
© Stephen Cook /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 16 track(s)
- Total length: 00:52:03
- Main artists: Mel Tormé
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Polydor
- Genre: Jazz
© 1987 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. This Compilation ℗ 1987 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
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