Album artwork courtesy of the label
On the turntable
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Mel Tormé Swings Shubert Alley
Mel Tormé · 1960
Mel Tormé interprets the golden age of Broadway with sophisticated panache, transforming theatrical classics into elegant jazz standards.
Why it matters
Recorded in 1960, Mel Tormé’s "Swings Shubert Alley" sees the "Velvet Fog" at his most assured, backed by a stellar big band arranged by Russell Garcia. This is not merely a collection of Broadway show tunes; it is a masterclass in vocal improvisation and interpretation, where Tormé’s urbane delivery elevates already iconic melodies. He avoids the theatrical bombast often associated with the stage, opting instead for a cool, effortless swing that invites rather than insists.
His choice of material, drawn from the likes of Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Loewe, and Jule Styne, is impeccable, and his vocal instrument is deployed with characteristic precision and warmth. The album serves as a definitive statement on the enduring quality of these compositions, demonstrating how they transcend their original context to become vehicles for jazz expression. It is a work that rewards repeated listening, revealing new subtleties in its arrangements and Tormé’s nuanced phrasing with each play.
The Continental setting
A late autumn evening, just after supper. A low lamp casts a warm glow across a leather-bound armchair. A good Irish whiskey, neat, perhaps a Cohiba Espléndidos in hand, the city lights twinkling beyond the window panes. Allow the room to fill with the sound of a master at work.
Start here
- 01Too Close For Comfort
- 02On The Street Where You Live
- 03Get Me To The Church On Time
An essential for any connoisseur of vocal jazz, offering unparalleled sophistication and swing from a mid-century titan.
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