Although Mel Torme spent most of his career as a singer, he was also a drummer, pianist, arranger, author and prolific song writer. Since the age of 4, when he made his first stage appearance, and for the next 60 years, he entertained worldwide audiences with a unique, finely tuned voice that earned him the nickname of “The Velvet Fog” … much to his chagrin. As you listen to his renditions of A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square (L) and When Sunny Gets Blue (R) you’ll have to form your own opinion about smoooth.
Sorry, no scat singing this time. If you want to hear ‘scat’ just follow this link to our March 31, 2017 post with Mel Torme and Buddy Rich as they blow the lid off the place! I’ve moved my 1989 interview with Mel from our Jazz Scene Podcasts page to this week’s post so you can enjoy it below.
