Mel Tormé: Standing Room Only

Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for Mel Tormé, the Velvet Fog himself, not just one of the greatest singers but one of the finest overall musicians of his generation. Indeed, Tormé was so good, and so facile, that through no fault of his own he became almost a caricature of the lounge/big band/cabaret jazz performer. But those scaly, tuxedoed creeps who sleaze around the stages of Las Vegas don't have what Tormé had: namely, impeccable intonation, total control (over dynamics, timbre, and vibrato), the best scat singing chops of anyone other than Ella Fitzgerald, and, most of all, an unerring sense of swing. If that kind of praise strikes you as a bit over the top, then check out this hour-long Philadelphia concert from the late ‘80s, presented in PCM stereo. The emphasis is on several medleys: one from Guys and Dolls (with “If I Were a Bell,” “Luck Be a Lady,” and others from the popular musical), a tribute to Fitzgerald (a showcase for Tormé's virtuoso humorous scatting), and, best of all, a medley of Benny Goodman swing tunes, climaxing with Mel's remarkable stint playing drums on “Sing Sing Sing,” which was Goodman's showcase for Gene Krupa. Sure, there's the obligatory version of “The Christmas Song” (co-written by Tormé), but that can be forgiven, as this superb entertainer is in top form throughout here. Highly recommended. Aud: P. (S. Graham)